Trondra was becoming rapidly depopulated until 1970, when road bridges were built to neighbouring Burra (West and East) and to the southern peninsula of the Shetland Mainland.

Settlements on the island include: Trondra is made up of steeply inclined dalradian rocks; mainly quartz and mica rich schists but with some crystalline limestone in the north which provide fertile soils around Cauldhame and Cutts.

The hills are covered in grass and heather, with trees being few and far between, much like the rest of the Shetland Islands.

There is a variety of other wildlife present on and around the isle, such as hedgehogs, sparrows, starlings, seals and porpoises.

Trondra usually enters a male and female squad in the Scalloway Fire Festival, which takes place in early January each year.