New lease of life for Burrafirth shore station

PART OF a former visitor centre and shore station in Unst looks set to be officially turned into a two-bedroom residential unit.

The original centre was based in a flat at the shore station in Burrafirth, which looks out to Muckle Flugga.

It was used by people visiting the Hermaness nature reserve before being sold by owners NatureScot several years ago.

The flat previously provided warden’s accommodation as well as being a visitor centre.

NatureScot said it had made the decision to sell the property because it no longer had a warden on site and the shore station “wasn’t ideally placed for the entrance to the Hermaness nature reserve”.

“It was felt it would be more beneficial for visitors to access the national nature reserve information and have toilets at the reserve car park where it was much more convenient for them,” it added. A new visitor hub and extension to the boardwalk was opened in May 2022.

New owner Stephen Butcher has applied for consent to change the use of three of the rooms in the building to residential, with plans for two bedrooms, a lounge, kitchen and bathroom.