Brae (Old Norse Breiðeið, "the wide isthmus") is on Mainland of the Shetland Islands. It was a tiny fishing village then grew rapidly in the 1970s with the construction of Sullom Voe oil terminal, and in 2011 the population was 856. In Scots and Old English a "brae" means a hill or slope, but Shetland was Norse so here it means "broad". A relative term: the isthmus here is almost a mile across, but to the west it's pinched to the 100-yard-wide Mavis Grind by which the Northmavine peninsula clings onto the Mainland.

Get in[edit]

Brae is 23 miles by road north of Lerwick, reckon 30 min by car.

Bus 21 / 23 runs M-Sa every two hours from Lerwick via Tingwall and Voe, taking 50 min to Brae. Bus 21 continues 3 times a day to Hillswick on Northmavine. Bus 23 turns northeast to Sullom Voe oil terminal, Mossbank and Toft, for the ferry to Yell.

Scatsta Airport 3 miles northeast serves the oil terminal and its offshore rigs but has no public flights.

Get around[edit]

60°23′42″N 1°21′36″W

Map of Brae

The village straggles, and you need wheels to explore the area and Northmavine beyond the "Grind".

See[edit]

• 60.398056-1.3851 Mavis Grind is the narrow isthmus connecting Northmavine peninsula to Mainland.
• 60.39-1.3692 Busta Voe Standing Stone is the chunky boulder in the field below the lane towards Busta. It's granite, 3 m tall, and lichen-clad. A smaller nearby stone has fallen over.
• 60.367-1.4253 Muckle Roe is an island that was connected by bridge in 1905, halting the population decline. The bridge was rebuilt in 1947 and in 1999. A public road connects the farms along its east side. A hike brings you to sea stacks lining the rugged south coast. Inland is boggy heath with a central granite plug, hence "big red island" or Muckle Roe.

Do[edit]

• 60.39647-1.3527481 North Mainland Leisure Centre, Brae ZE2 8QJ, ☏ +44 1595 807710. M-Th 8AM-9PM, F noon-9PM, Sa Su 8AM-5PM. With swimming pool, fitness suite, squash court, pool table. (updated Nov 2021)
• Brae Marina at the head of Busta Voe has berths for visiting boats.

Buy[edit]

• The Co-op near the Leisure Centre is open daily 7AM-10PM.
• There's an ATM at the filling station by Brae Hotel.
• The pharmacy is in the Health Centre just south of Brae Hotel. It's open M-F 8:30AM-5PM, Sa 9AM-3PM.

Eat[edit]

• Frankie's Fish & Chips, Brae ZE2 9QJ (just north of Brae Hotel), ☏ +44 1806 522700. Daily noon-6PM. In a prefab more like a boardwalk cafe, this chipper (which claims to be the most northerly in Britain) has a good menu selection. A bit pricey for what you get. (updated Nov 2021)

Drink[edit]

• Mid-Brae Inn, Brae ZE2 9TY, ☏ +44 1806 522634. Daily 10AM-11PM. The village pub has a good selection of food. (updated Nov 2021)

Sleep[edit]

• 60.391691-1.3486731 Brae Hotel, Brae ZE2 9QJ, ☏ +44 1806 522456. Comfy modern place open all year, good food and service. B&B double £80. (updated Nov 2021)
• Drumquin Guest House, Brae ZE2 9QJ (Just south of Brae Hotel), ☏ +44 1806 522621. Comfy B&B in a converted Victorian schoolhouse. Normally open all year but closed in late 2021. No pets. (updated Nov 2021)
• 60.387-1.3482 Burravoe Wigwams, Brae, ☏ +44 1806 522575. Glamping pods, open all year. No dogs. (updated Nov 2021)
• Valleyfield Guesthouse a mile south of the village didn't open in 2021.
• 60.383854-1.3758393 Busta House Hotel, Busta ZE2 9QN, ☏ +44 1806 522506. Charming hotel in a 16th-century homestead, open all year. Great atmosphere, views and comfort though some facilities tired. B&B double £130. (updated Nov 2021)

Connect[edit]

As of Nov 2021, you might manage a mobile call in Brae with EE. There is no signal elsewhere in the district, or with other carriers.

Go next[edit]

• Cross Mavis Grind onto Northmavine, where the main village is Hillswick.
• The B-road northeast eventually brings you to Toft, where the ferry sails to Yell. Ferries from Yell reach Fetlar and Unst.
• Turn south for Lerwick and the rest of Mainland.