Busta

Standing Stone, Busta. This imposing granite monolith (Fig. 525, SH 44), which must be fully twenty tons in weight, stands on the W cliff of Busta Voe, about 600 yds NNE of the pier at Busta. It is roughly square in section, the sides varying from 4 to 6 ft in width, and its greatest height is 10 ft 6 in. Around the base is a packing of small stones. A smaller stone, also of granite, which lies 26 ft farther E and has a present height of 3 ft 5 in, a width of 3 ft 3 in, and a length of 4 ft 3 in, may be a standing stone that has fallen on its side.

RCAHMS 1946, visited 11 July 1930.

OS map: xxix ("Stone").

This is a very impressive standing stone in a spectacular situation overlooking Busta Voe (colour photograph on p.32). A stout monolith of granite which is thought to weigh some 20 tons, this stone must have required considerable labour and effort to erect, and it is interesting to see the top layer of stones used to wedge it into position in its pit. Immediately to the north-east there is another smaller stone, a squat triangular block,which must have been brought deliberately to this spot. Popular tradition has it that the larger stone was thrown here by the Devil from some hill in Northmavine.

Information from ‘Exploring Scotland’s Heritage: Shetland’, (1997).