View Of One Of Several Lochs On Oxna With Ruins Of Settlement In Background

-- Where is it ? --

Oxna is one of the Scalloway islands which are to be found west of Burra on the Southern Mainland of Shetland.

-- History --

When Oxna was inhabited the main settlement was at Sandy Voe, an inlet on the North east of the island facing towards Papa. It seems that the first world war was the beginning of the end for Oxna. With the men away it was nigh on impossible for the women and children to maintain a viable community in such demanding environment.

Difficulties of transport and communications, fishing and subsistance crofting, hard enough at the best of times must have become almost insurmountable. Even when the war was over many of the islanders simply never returned...either as a result of war or the wish for a life away from Oxna.

-- Books --

None available to my knowledge with any great content about Oxna. This is not an island which seems to have merited much space in the history of our country. Several Shetland/Scottish Islands books mention Oxna in passing but nothing to merit buying any of them for information on this abandoned isle. As ever please contact lonely-isles if you know of any books you think would be of interest and we'll add them to the site !!

-- DVD's & Videos --

None available to my knowledge....please contact lonely-isles if you know of any and we'll add them to the site !!

-- Links --

Cycharters - Trips to several Islands to the West of Shetland, including Oxna, can be arranged through Cycharters.

Sadly information on many of the abandoned isles around Shetlands is very hard to find. Lonely Isles will continue to attempt to find as much information as possible on all of the islands featured on our site. Please continue to return to this page with the assurance that if any worthwhile links do appear for Oxna then they will be added to the page.

Please email Lonely Isles if you know of any suitable links.