Pool of Virkie

The Pool of Virkie is a tidal lagoon in the parish of Dunrossness, south Mainland, Shetland.

The Pool of Virkie, during the late 15th and early 16th centuries, when it was much deeper than it is today, became the main Hanseatic trading centre for the south end of Shetland.

The actual Dutch visitors were called Hollanders.

[1] Flint stones are to be found around the shores of the Pool and as flint does not occur naturally in Shetland, it is assumed these are discarded ballast stones from the continental boats.

Because of the large area exposed by the ebb tide, the Pool of Virkie has become an important site for bird watching in the South Mainland.