Nesting is a parish in the Shetland Islands, Scotland. It includes a part of the east Shetland Mainland, measuring about twelve miles (19 km) by four, along the seaboard from Gletness to Lunna Ness, and also the island of Whalsay and the Out Skerries. The coast is deeply indented by and headlands. The arable land comprises only about 1,000 acres (4 km2), the remainder being mostly open moorland.
One of the old parishes of Shetland, the ancient parishes of Lunnasting and Whalsay were merged into it. The parish church, St Ola's Kirk, stands some 10 miles north of Lerwick near the war memorial at Brettabister.
Nesting is generally divided into a north and south district. The population in 1958 was 1549.
Settlements in Nesting include:
The main village of Whalsay is Symbister and there are several notable Neolithic sites on the island, including Benie Hoose, the Standing Stones of Yoxie, and the Pettigarths Field Cairns.
This article incorporates text from - Wilson, Rev. John The Gazetteer of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1882) Published by W. & A.K. Johnstone
Coordinates: 60°18′N 1°8′W / 60.300°N 1.133°W