Bigton lies on the Atlantic coast of the island overlooking St Ninian's Isle and within view is the island of Burra, further to the north. It is 18 miles by road from Lerwick, just off the B9122 and lies just north of the settlement of Scousburgh. The smaller settlement of Ireland adjoins Bigton.
Facilities include a post office/shop[2] and a cafe. Bigton Kirk[3] was sold by the Church of Scotland in 2021 to Bigton Collective who converted it into a community centre.[4] Farming in the area is a mixture of arable and mixed livestock.[5][6]
The author, film-maker and painter Elizabeth Balneaves and her husband Dr James McLauchlan Johnston lived in the old manse, Bigton for the last 20 years of Balneaves' life.[7]