Nesting is a coastal island parish, which lies in Shetland Council Area, some 8 miles (13 km) southeast of Brae and 13 miles (20 km) north of Lerwick in Shetland and includes 8 other small offshore islands.
It is located in the old county of Shetland, which disappeared following the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1974.
The parish has an area of 105.6 sq. km (40.8 sq. miles). Nesting has Delting and Tingwall as its neighbouring parishes.