Mousa, Protected island in Shetland Islands, Scotland
Mousa is an island situated about 1 mile (1.6 km) off mainland Shetland, rising to about 55 meters and composed of sandstone and limestone. The approximately 180-hectare terrain features moorland and open grassland.
The Mousa Broch, an Iron Age roundhouse built around 300 BC, stands about 13 meters tall and served as a defensive structure against Norse attacks. Later, the island was worked by crofters until they abandoned it during the 1800s.
The island holds traces of different inhabitants, from Bronze Age mounds to abandoned crofts and the remains of a Norse mill. These remnants tell the story of people who lived and worked here across centuries.
The island is reached by ferry from Sandwick, which operates between April and September as the main means of transportation. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and waterproof clothing, as the island is exposed and windswept.
The island hosts around 6,800 breeding pairs of European storm petrels, representing about 8 percent of the British population. These nocturnal seabirds return to their nests after sunset, creating loud and eerie sounds in the darkness.
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