‘Stargazer’ glamping pod could allow folk to watch night sky from bed
A BIGTON glamping site is seeking to expand with the addition of a glass domed third pod, named “Stargazer”.
Maurice Sutherland has applied for planning permission to build a third glamping pod at his Mirriemora Starpods site in Yaafield.
The Stargazer structure would allow those staying in the pod to enjoy the night sky from the comfort of their accommodation through its glass domed roof.
Currently there are two pods – named Starlight and Starview – at the development, which was granted full planning permission in April 2023.
Mirriemora’s Elsa Sutherland said the Stargazer pod “would offer a completely fresh take on visitor accommodation in the isles”.
She said the dome would feature expansive overhead glazing, which would make it “perfect for enjoying Shetland’s spectacular skies, stars and Northern Lights.”
The Yaafield glamping site was approved by council planners in 2023 despite concerns from people in the area about the increased traffic on the private access road to the site, which is maintained by its residents.
The roads department said that while the glamping site would likely result in an increase in traffic on the road, and would potentially incur greater maintenance costs, there were no access concerns for the council.
Maurice Sutherland said that the addition of a third glamping pod “represents the modest expansion of an existing rural tourism business”.
“Rather than creating a substantial tourism complex, it represents an incremental addition to an already established operation using existing site infrastructure and management arrangements,” he said.
A proposed additional utility building would also be built as part of the expansion plans.
This was required to provide additional space for the servicing of the three pods, Sutherland said, including laundry facilities, washing and drying equipment, linen and towel storage and cleaning supplies.
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He said that the scale of the Mirriemora site “remains modest” and the additional pod would not fundamentally alter the character of the site.
“Mirriemora Starpods contributes directly to Shetland’s visitor economy, provides accommodation within the South Mainland and encourages visitors to stay within and spend within the local area,” he added.
Speaking to its domed structure, Sutherland said this would provide a “different visitor experience” and had intentionally been designed a “visually distinctive” pod.
“Importantly, this form of structure is not without precedent in the immediate locality,” he said.
“A glass dome structure is already situated within the grounds of the neighbouring residential property in the immediate vicinity of Mirriemora.”
He said the nature and scale of the proposal “are not considered likely to result in an unacceptable effect upon neighbouring residential amenity”.
Sutherland encouraged the council to consider the plans as the “modest and logical expansion of an established rural tourism business”, and to approve the application.
Glamping has become a hugely popular source of accommodation in Shetland, even more so in recent years, with sites and individual pods dotted throughout the isles.
Plans were lodged for a pod on a working croft in Whalsay last month, with applicant Charlotte Polson saying they could sustain the croft “for generations to come”.
In the past five years pods have 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 month 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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