The districts of Hillswick, Eshaness, Heylor, Assater, Urafirth and Hamar are all part of Northmavine which is the largest and most scenic region in the north of Mainland Shetland, but its assumed remoteness has played some part in its depopulation over the years.
With no major employers in the area, most workers either commute or move nearer to job opportunities, and it is this loss of young, economically active people from these areas that continues to cause concern locally, because the majority of inhabitants being left behind are elderly.
The areas which HEARD encompasses are primarily small crofting settlements, scattered around the village of Hillswick. Several of those crofts are used only for grazing sheep and often by people not resident in the area, in some cases this has resulted in croft houses going to ruin or being sold on to an ever increasing in-migration of early retirees, whereby causing even more depopulation among the young folk through lack of affordable housing and limited availability of croft land for young aspiring crofters.
The area has social housing provided by Shetland Islands Council and the Hjaltland Housing Association, with sheltered accommodation for the elderly or disabled at Urafirth and Hillswick. In 2011 Hjaltland Housing Association in built two much needed family houses in Eshaness. There are a limited number of houses available for let within the area.
Comercial fishing has changed dramatically over the years, few boats are now local to this area, the seas are exploited by boats coming from the continent of Europe. Locally based boats, commercially catching crab and lobster are scarce and with the demise of local white fish boats, the former fish processing factory at Ronas Voe changed to process Crab. Unfortunately that also ended and the factory was for a time used for processing farmed mussels, but again things changed and that also closed its doors. Happily there is currently some prospect of the buildings coming back into use and providing employment locally. Mussels continue to be grown in the clear, clean waters of this area and around the coast of Shetland, producing an excellent product. Salmon Farming still exists in this area but sites are getting fewer.
Several small businesses operate here, amongst them are Da Barn who grow and sell plants, shrubs etc. Esme Wilcock Jewellery who designs and makes Shetland Jewellery. Braewick Agri Services who provides engineering support to the agricultural and marine industries, Shetland Adventure Tours who offers Jet ski tours around what has been described as the most scenic coastal areas of Shetland. Good Gub Soap, a local entrepreneur who makes various soaps for sale.
This area has a number of valuable amenities benefiting those who do live here and those who visit.
In the village of Hillswick there is a Doctor's Surgery and Health Centre, the community owned Hillswick Shop which as well as stocking a great selection of groceries, has an off license, fuel pumps and cash dispenser, also a part time Post Office operates from the shop. In the centre of Hillswick stands the St Magnus Bay Hotel providing accommodation and meals. Zetgas a bottled gas supplier also have their headquarters in Hillswick. Next to the beach is the Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary where rescued seals and otters may be seen, Opposite the shop is the Weaving Shed Art Gallery, currently the gallery opens by appointment only, but it also puts on exhibitions from time to time. Hillswick also has a small Community Fire Station and Coastguard Rescue Station. As you come in the road to Hillswick, just before the road branches off to Eshaness, sits the community owned Hillswick Public Hall. The hall provides community facilities for youth clubs, meetings, exhibitions also available for weddings, birthday parties etc. The hall also holds various functions and during the Sumer months has 'Sunday Tea's' for locals and visitors to come and enjoy. Commercial users can hire the hall to carry out activities e.g. providing Chinese and Indian take away's to the local community. Northmavine Fiddle and Accordion Club have a practice session here each Tuesday night at 8pm where anyone is welcome to visit, either to listen or to bring an instrument and join in.
At Tangwick in Eshaness there is a small museum, Tangwick Haa Museum which has annual displays of community interest and where information on local genealogy can be found for anyone looking for relations from here, and the staff also provides knowledge of this area to visitors. Eshaness also has a Café Restaurant at Braewick. This location also has a Caravan Park and Wigwams for people to stay when visiting. At Hamnavoe there is the Johnnie Notions Camping Bod, where people can camp with a roof over their heads. Eshaness also has a Community Centre where various social activities can take place.
Across the area there is limited Bed and Breakfast accommodation but there are a number of Self-Catering accommodation providers for visitors wishing to stay and enjoy the beauty of our area.
There is a Daily Bus Service (except Sundays) between here and Brae through to Lerwick allowing people that work in or around Lerwick to commute daily.
Popular drive to spots for visitors are at Stenness and the Eshaness Lighthouse where spectacular coastal scenery can be seen even from the car. If you are walking then here are a few suggestions; Around the Hillswick Ness, Roesound (below Zoar) walking towards Braewick, walking from the Eshaness Lighthouse to the Grind of the Navier or walking from Tingon to the enterance to Ronas Voe or if your fit all the way around to Heylor, this will give great views of costal scenery, and see seabirds, seals and Shetland flowers and plants. Whales can often be seen around our shores and Orcas can be spotted pursuing seals. Shetland Orca Watch allows Facebook posts of whale sighting so anyone wishing to see them can get an indication of where around the coast of Shetland to look.
In 2004 Northmavine was granted Initiative at the Edge status because of the fragile nature of its communities.
For anyone looking for advice in developing a business in this area, Northmavine Community Development Company (NCDC) is a charitable organisation which operates across the whole of Northmavine including this area and whose mission is to support the community of Northmavine and have a development worker who will give impartial advice if required.
To find out more about our areas amazing Geoliogy, History, Birds, Flowers and Wildlife and discover something about its well known people and give a taster of the spectacular scenery to be found around this area click on the links below.