A planning application has been submitted for a single glamping pod at a working croft in Isbister, Whalsay, as the applicant proposes using tourism accommodation to diversify the croft while supporting its long-term viability.
Charlotte Polson has applied to build a pod with a double bedroom at Lochend croft. The proposed accommodation, which would be called Elsk at Lochend, is intended to provide an additional source of income while retaining the rural character of the site.
Writing to the planning department, Polson said the proposal is intended to “sensitively diversify the croft” rather than establish a larger tourism operation. She said the additional income could help sustain the working croft “for generations to come.”
“Beyond the physical development, Elsk at Lochend represents an opportunity to support the wider Whalsay community,” Polson wrote.
“Additional visitor accommodation will encourage guests to spend more time on the island, supporting local shops, local businesses and visitor attractions while helping to strengthen the local economy.
“We hope visitors will leave with a greater appreciation of Whalsay’s landscape, heritage and crofting traditions, encouraging longer stays and repeat visits to the island.”
The application proposes only one pod, according to Shetland News. According to Polson, the limited scale is intended to preserve the setting around Lochend rather than pursue a larger tourism development.
“The ambition is not to maximise development, but to create one exceptional, low-impact retreat that complements the existing croft, respects the surrounding landscape and demonstrates how sensitive rural tourism can support the long-term sustainability of crofting, biodiversity and island communities,” she added.
The pod would be positioned to take advantage of views across the loch while maintaining privacy. The name Elsk comes from a “Shetland word meaning ‘to love’ or ‘to hold dear’,” according to Polson.
She said that “reflects the ethos behind the project”.
“Our vision is to create a place where guests can slow down, reconnect with nature and experience the beauty of Whalsay.”
The proposal comes as glamping accommodation has expanded across Shetland in recent years. A project in Rerwick, Bigton, developed in 2021, is described as an early example of the area’s recent glamping development. Since then, planning approvals have been granted for pods in locations including Dunrossness, Ollaberry, Walls, South Whiteness, Burra and Gott.
Last week, council planners also approved plans for a glamping pod on Hoga Road in Voe. At the same time, an application for two self-catering pods at Lower Hillside in Gulberwick remains under consideration.
Wigwams at Burravoe in Brae and Eshaness in the North Mainland are generally recognized as among Shetland’s earlier glamping sites.
For outdoor hospitality operators, the Lochend proposal illustrates how small-scale accommodation can be incorporated into an existing agricultural or crofting operation rather than developed as a standalone tourism site.
The single-unit approach also places emphasis on landscape integration, privacy and maintaining the existing use of the property. The application will now be subject to the local planning process, with the final outcome determining whether the proposed accommodation can proceed.
