St Magnus Bay, a spacious bay on the W coast of the mainland of Shetland. It measures 12⁵/8 miles across the entrance, expands to 14 miles, and indents the land to a depth of 13⁷/8 miles. It enters between the headlands of Esha Ness on the N and the Ness of Melby on the S; but has in its mouth, 1 mile from the latter, the island of Papa-Stour; so that it is reduced at the entrance to an open channel only 9¼ miles broad. Around its inner verge are the islets of Vemantry, Meikle Roe, Papa Little, and Linga, besides various holms and skerries; and projecting from it into the land are various bays or voes, which contain safe and excellent anchorage for any number of vessels of any burthen-particularly Ura Firth, Olna Firth Voe, Gon Firth, and Aith Voe.

(F.H. Groome, Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland (1882-4); © 2004 Gazetteer for Scotland)