Lunna Ness facts for kids
Lunna Ness is a beautiful peninsula located in the northeast part of Mainland, Shetland, Scotland. A peninsula is a piece of land almost surrounded by water but connected to the mainland on one side. It's found near a village called Vidlin. The small island of Lunna Holm is also very close by. During World War II, this area was a secret base for a brave operation known as the Shetland Bus.
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Amazing Natural Features
Lunna Ness is home to some truly unique natural sights. These features tell us a lot about the history of the Earth and the forces that shaped this land.
The Stanes of Stofast
One of the most impressive sights here is called the Stanes of Stofast. This is a massive rock, weighing about 2,000 tonnes! It's known as a glacial erratic. This means it's a huge boulder that was carried a long distance by a glacier (a giant sheet of ice) during the last Ice Age. When the ice melted, it left the rock behind on a high hilltop, where it still sits today.
A Special Place for Otters
Lunna Ness is also very important for wildlife. It has been named a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This special title means the area is protected because it has a large and healthy population of otters. Otters are playful, semi-aquatic mammals that love to hunt for fish and other food in the waters around the peninsula. Protecting their habitat helps these wonderful creatures thrive.
History and Ancient Discoveries
The land around Lunna Ness holds many secrets from the past, including ancient stones and historic buildings.
The Mysterious Lunnasting Stone
An important historical artifact found here is the Lunnasting stone. This is a tall, upright stone, also known as a monolith, that has a special ogham inscription carved into it. Ogham is an ancient alphabet used mainly in early medieval Ireland and parts of Britain.
The stone was discovered in 1876 by a reverend named J.C. Roger. He found it in a small cottage, but learned it had been dug out of a "moss," which is another word for a peat bog. Peat bogs are wetlands where layers of partially decayed plant matter build up over thousands of years. The stone was found about 1.5 meters (five feet) below the surface. Today, you can see the Lunnasting stone at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.
Lunna House and the Shetland Bus
Lunna House is a historic building from the 17th century. It was once the home of a "laird," which is a Scottish term for a landowner or lord. The house is famous for having the best historic "designed landscape" in Shetland. This means its gardens and surrounding grounds were carefully planned and shaped to create a beautiful and artistic outdoor space.
In the 20th century, Lunna House played a crucial role during World War II. It became a secret base for the Shetland Bus operation. This was a brave and dangerous mission where Norwegian fishing boats secretly transported people, supplies, and agents between Shetland and German-occupied Norway. Lunna House provided a safe haven and a base for these vital operations.
