Whalsay glamping pod could sustain croft ‘for generations’
WHALSAY could be set to join the glamping revolution with a pod which could help sustain a working croft “for generations to come”.
An application has been lodged by Charlotte Polson to build a pod with double bedroom on the Lochend croft in Isbister.
Writing to the council’s planning department, Polson said the idea was not just to build holiday accommodation – but to “sensitively diversify the croft”.
The development, which would be called Elsk at Lochend, could create a sustainable income that helps secure the future of the croft “for generations to come”, she said.
“Beyond the physical development, Elsk at Lochend represents an opportunity to support the wider Whalsay community,” Polson wrote.
“Additional visitor accommodation will encourage guests to spend more time on the island, supporting local shops, local businesses and visitor attractions while helping to strengthen the local economy.
“We hope visitors will leave with a greater appreciation of Whalsay’s landscape, heritage and crofting traditions, encouraging longer stays and repeat visits to the island.”
Only one pod is proposed, which Polson said reflected their commitment to maintaining the “quiet, rural nature of Lochend” instead of “pursuing a larger-scale tourism development”.
“The ambition is not to maximise development, but to create one exceptional, low-impact retreat that complements the existing croft, respects the surrounding landscape and demonstrates how sensitive rural tourism can support the long-term sustainability of crofting, biodiversity and island communities,” she added.
The pod would be “carefully positioned” to maximise views across the loch while maintaining privacy.
The name Elsk comes from a “Shetland word meaning ‘to love’ or ‘to hold dear’,” Polson wrote.
She said that “reflects the ethos behind the project”.
“Our vision is to create a place where guests can slow down, reconnect with nature and experience the beauty of Whalsay.”
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A number of glamping sites have appeared across Shetland over the past five years, following the development of a project in Rerwick, Bigton in 2021.
Pods have since been green-lit by the council in areas such as Dunrossness, Ollaberry, Walls, South Whiteness, Burra and Gott.
Plans for a glamping pod in the Hoga Road of Voe were approved last week by council planners, with an application currently pending consideration for two self-catering pods in Lower Hillside, Gulberwick.
Wigwams at Burravoe in Brae and at Eshaness in the North Mainland are generally acknowledged to be among the first glamping sites in Shetland.
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