With an area of 515 hectares (1,273 acres) it is the twelfth largest of the Shetland Islands.

The roofless, plain, Old Haa (manor or laird's house) of Houss is a prominent feature.

From Houss, it is possible to walk the two kilometres or so to the cliffs at the southern end of the island.

From there, the island of South Havra, nowadays home only to sheep and seabirds, can be clearly seen.

Collins Encyclopedia of Scotland suggests that the name "Burra" is a corruption of "Borgarey" (island of the broch),[7] and while this is unlikely, and no broch is extant, the place name Brough, on West Burra lends some support to this case.