Bigton

Bigton
A view over Bigton and across the sea to Foula
Bigton is located in Shetland
Bigton
Bigton
Location within Shetland
OS grid referenceHU377211
Civil parish
Council area
Lieutenancy area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townSHETLAND
Postcode districtZE2
Dialling code01950
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament
List of places
UK
Scotland
59°58′26″N 1°19′23″W / 59.974°N 1.323°W / 59.974; -1.323

Bigton is a small settlement on South Mainland, Shetland, Scotland. Bigton is within the civil parish of Dunrossness.[1]

Bigton lies on the Atlantic coast of the island overlooking St Ninian's Isle and within view is the island of Burra, further to the north. It is 18 miles by road from Lerwick, just off the B9122 and lies just north of the settlement of Scousburgh. The smaller settlement of Ireland adjoins Bigton.

Facilities include a post office/shop[2] and a cafe. Bigton Kirk[3] was sold by the Church of Scotland in 2021 to Bigton Collective who converted it into a community centre.[4] Farming in the area is a mixture of arable and mixed livestock.[5][6]

The author, film-maker and painter Elizabeth Balneaves and her husband Dr James McLauchlan Johnston lived in the old manse, Bigton for the last 20 years of Balneaves' life.[7]

  1. ^ "Details of Bigton". Scottish Places. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  2. ^ Staff. "Bigton Post Office at Bigton in Shetland". Royal Mail, UK. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  3. ^ Staff (26 March 1997). "BIGTON, ST NINIAN'S CHURCH (CHURCH OF SCOTLAND), INCLUDING BOUNDARY WALL AND GATEPIERS (LB44537)". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  4. ^ "5. Structural Inspection: Bigton Kirk". Civil And Structural Engineering Shetland. 26 April 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  5. ^ Taylor, Claire (14 December 2019). "This farming Life's Budge sisters: A new legacy on Shetland". The Scottish Farmer. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  6. ^ Staff (2018). "Far away on a Scottish island: The Shetland sheep and beef showcase". Farmax, New Zealand. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  7. ^ Staff (11 November 2006). "Elizabeth Balneaves (Obituary)". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 1 July 2023.