Szetlandy.pdf

Shetland

Front cover: St Ninian’s Isle

This page: Fiddler

GETTING TO SHETLAND

LOCATION MAP

Never have the one hundred or so islands that make up the Shetland archipelago been so

accessible to the rest of Britain, and yet they are all a world away in character and culture.

For so long part of the Norse Empire, the islands and islanders have retained much of their

traditional heritage, seen in the unique craftwork, the music which fills local pubs and halls, and

in the fire festival of Up Helly Aa which celebrates the Viking legacy. Awe-inspiring cliff scenery,

abundant wildlife, world-class seafood and

convivial natives complete the picture in

Scotland’s very own ‘land of the midnight sun’.

welcome

Disabled Access

Shetland is more accessible than ever now,

with a range of air and ferry options available.

By air, direct flights to Sumburgh Airport with

British Airways , operated by Loganair ,

are available from Glasgow, Edinburgh,

Inverness and Aberdeen, with connections

available throughout the UK and international

airport network (www.ba.com). NorthLink

Ferries depart daily from Aberdeen and

Kirkwall, providing a cruise-style experience

which will add to the enjoyment of your

holiday. The approach to the islands as the

sun rises is memorable, and the facilities and

accommodation on board are outstanding

(www.northlinkferries.co.uk). Those seeking a

dual destination holiday have further options

thanks to Smyril Line , which sails from the

islands to Denmark, Norway, the Faroe

Islands and Iceland.

Baltasound

DON’T MISS

£ Paid Entry

Seasonal

Hearing Loop

Dogs Allowed

Tea-Room

Gift Shop

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UNST

YELL

Mid

Ye l l

FETLAR

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Hillswick

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Brae

1. Jarlshof – Records

show human occupation at

Jarlshof dating back some

5,000 years. Here, at this

extraordinarily well preserved

site, you can enjoy a walk

through the millennia, taking

in oval-shaped Bronze Age

houses, an Iron Age broch

and wheelhouses, not to

mention a medieval

farmstead and 16th-century

laird’s house. (HS)

2. Noss – The island of

Noss, off the east coast of

Shetland, is one of the most

awe-inspiring examples of

cliff scenery and seabird

habitat in Europe. The Noss

National Nature Reserve is

ideal for those seeking to

experience Shetland’s vivid

wildlife. If you visit in spring

or summer, prepare to

encounter around 100,000

densely packed seabirds

and dozens of seals at close

range. (Guide dogs allowed

on ferry – call in advance,

01595 693345)

3. Walk Shetland Week –

At the end of August, a free

event comprising more than

15 guided walks over the

course of a week allows

visitors to explore Shetland’s

rich built and natural

heritage. Admire some of the

best preserved

archaeological finds on earth,

stroll atop the blowholes,

caves and arches of

Eshaness, or test your head

for heights on the 370m-

high Kame of Foula, Britain’s

second-highest sea cliff.

4. Shetland Folk Festival

– Taking over a range of

very individual venues

throughout Shetland each

spring, this popular festival

brings together local

musicians and well-known

figures in the folk scene for a

programme of concerts held

over a long weekend.

Immerse yourself in the folk

traditions of Shetland,

mainland Scotland, Ireland

and beyond!

5. A trip to Foula – one of

Britain’s most remote

inhabited islands. Gaze at

the breathtaking 1200 ft.

sheer drop at the back of

the Kame which competes

with Conachair in St Kilda as

having the highest sea-cliff in

Britain. The name means

‘Bird Island’ in Old Norse

and Foula is designated as a

Special Protection Area for

birds, a National Scenic Area

and a Site of Special

Scientific Interest for its

plants, birds and geology.

This island leaves a lasting

impression on everyone

who visits.

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Muckle Roe

WHALSAY

Papa Stour

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Sandness

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FOULA

Lerwick

BRESSAY

Scalloway

13 18 21

Sandwick

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Sumburgh

FAIR

ISLE

To find out more about

accommodation in these areas,

call 0845 22 55 121

or click on visitscotland.com

Principal photography © Paul Tomkins, VisitScotland/Scottish Viewpoint

Additional photography: I Sargent, Harvey Wood and VisitScotland Shetland

All information checked in August 2005. VisitScotland can accept no responsibility for errors.

HS: Historic Scotland

ESSENCE OF SCOTLAND

WILDLIFE

HISTORY & HERITAGE

WALKS

GOLF

6. Sumburgh Head – A unique spot for bird-watching,

Sumburgh Head RSPB nature reserve has numerous species

nesting on the cliff faces, including guillemots, razorbills and

gannets. Of particular interest are the puffins that appear on

the grassy verges above the cliffs each spring. Visit in autumn

and winter to take in the wild scenery and crashing waves

where the Atlantic meets the North Sea.

10. An ongoing archaeology project at the Old Scatness Broch site, by Fitful Head in

the South Mainland, offers a tantalising glimpse of an ancient way of life. The team has

so far unearthed a broch standing over 4 metres high, surrounded by an Iron Age

village, containing houses over one storey high.

14. St Ninian’s Isle is connected

to the South Mainland of Shetland

by the best example of a sand

tombolo in Europe. This beautiful

spot hit the headlines in 1958,

when a schoolboy helping at an

archaeological dig on the island's

tiny Celtic chapel discovered a

hoard of silver bowls and

ornaments. Replicas of the

treasure, which is thought to date

from around 800AD, can be seen

at the Shetland Museum. You can

however get a real taste of the

island’s history by walking out from

Bigton. Allow 2-3 hours for the

return trip, or take a picnic to make

a day of it!

cliffs encircle the bay. From this

point, follow the track south to

South Ham and continue along

the coastline, heading back down

through the moorland to the car

park. Allow up to 5 hours for the

circular route.

Golf in Shetland is a joy at any time

of year, but is particularly renowned

during late spring and early summer,

when golfers can enjoy the ‘Simmer

Dim’, a period of extended twilight

which results in light skies at midnight

on the longest days.

11. An intimate look at life in Shetland through the years, the Tangwick Haa Museum

is situated within a restored 17th-century mansion. The collection contains personalised

photographs, family memories and unique artefacts including a wedding dress and

china dating from around 1840.

7. Fair Isle – Situated half-way between Sumburgh Head in

the South Mainland of Shetland and North Ronaldsay in

Orkney, Fair Isle is an ornithologist’s dream and worth a visit

year round. Spring and autumn are peak times for rare

migrants, all recorded at the island’s famous bird observatory,

while early summer is peak seabird season. The rugged

coastline swarms with guillemots, fulmars, puffins and more.

17. Papa Stour is famed for its

fascinating rock formations and

can be reached via ferry from

West Burrafirth in the West

Mainland. From the pier in Housa

Voe, walk round the North Ness to

the head of West Voe. A track from

the beach leads to the road back

down to the pier. Look for

prehistoric homestead sites, burnt

mounds, caves and natural arches.

Shags, terns and skuas can also

be seen in spring and summer.

The walk should take a couple

of hours.

18. Dale Golf Course at Dale Gott

is a challenging 18-holer and is home

to Shetland Golf Club. Covering both

sides of a scenic valley just outside

Lerwick, the course offers great value

for money and a fantastic clubhouse

to top off your round.

12. The Fetlar Interpretive Centre on the small island of Fetlar in north-east

Shetland, preserves, records, interprets and displays the social and natural heritage of

the island for the benefit of future generations and visitors alike. Exhibits include a 1,000-

year-old Viking brooch, unearthed by Channel 4’s ‘Time Team’ – their single-most

valuable item ever found. There is also information on the island’s famous RSPB reserve,

which protects 90% of the UK’s red-necked phalarope population.

16. Muckle Roe is a strikingly

beautiful island connected by a

bridge to the North Mainland near

Brae. The walking route follows a

red granite path from the end of

the island’s road, inland through

peat and heather moorland and

past an old mill to reach the coast

at North Ham. Here, spectacular

8. Hermaness – Overlooking Muckle Flugga lighthouse at

the northernmost tip of the British Isles, the cliffs of Hermaness

house some 100,000 seabirds in spring and summer. More

than 50,000 puffins alone arrive at this dramatic site to nest

each year. Great skuas abound on the adjacent moorland,

ready to prey on unwary birds, and to scare off unsuspecting

humans!

13. Up Helly Aa is the islands’ celebrated Viking festival, held on the last Tuesday of

January each year and involving thousands of Shetlanders, many decked out in

traditional garb, following a torch-lit procession through the streets before burning a full-

size Viking longship. The islands can get busy around the time of the festival, so why not

visit the exhibition which celebrates and explains the event, open throughout the

summer on Lerwick’s St Sunniva Street. An audio-visual presentation is included.

19. Asta Golf Course at Tingwall

is a relaxing 9-hole option overlooking

the beautiful Loch of Asta and

provides a quiet alternative to Dale.

15. Eshaness in the North

Mainland offers some of Scotland’s

most breathtaking coastal scenery,

comprising a series of blowholes,

caves and arches. Starting at

Eshaness lighthouse, follow the cliff

tops before reaching the Holes of

Scrada. Continue to Eshaness

cemetery and then onwards to

Stenness. Follow the coast back to

the lighthouse. Allow 3-4 hours,

and in summer look out for a

variety of seabirds.

9. Mousa – Renowned for its 2,000 year-old broch

(defensive tower), which is home in late spring and summer

to 6,000 nesting pairs of tiny storm petrels, Mousa sits just

off the south-east coast of the Mainland. While the island is

home to a significant breeding colony of common seals

during June and July, it is

nevertheless possible to see

some of Shetland’s 6,000-

strong seal population

around the archipelago’s

coast year-round. (HS)

20. Whalsay Golf Course at

Skaw Taing (18 holes) is Britain’s

most northerly course, and is set in

stunning surroundings which offer as

much for wildlife enthusiasts as for

golfers! Seabirds, seals and porpoises

can often be seen while you’re

enjoying a round.

At Mavis Grind near Brae, it has

often been said that you can throw

a stone from the shore of the North

Sea into the Atlantic Ocean.

From September to March, Shetland’s

skies are often illuminated by the

Merry Dancers, also known as the

Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis.

Shetland

For more information, call 0845 22 55 121 or visitscotland.com

FOOD & DRINK

Eshaness

21. If you’re seeking innovative modern cuisine using fresh, local

produce, Monty’s Bistro in Lerwick is the place to go.

22. Fresh seafood, purchased daily from the nearby fish market is a

speciality in Da Haaf Restaurant , found within the North Atlantic

Fisheries College building in Scalloway.

23. Ideal for a bar supper, the family-run Maryfield House Hotel

Restaurant is only five minutes away from Lerwick, on the neighbouring

island of Bressay.

24. The Baker’s Rest is a family-run tea-room in Walls offering a

wide range of hot and cold snacks including soups and oatcakes,

filled bannocks, sandwiches and much more. All fresh from the famous

Walls bakery.

25. Valhalla Brewery – travel to the island of Unst to visit the most

northerly brewery in Britain and see how these Shetland Ales are made.

Hotels, pubs and shops throughout the islands sell these ales which

include White Wife, Simmer Dim and Auld Rock.

26. Treat yourself to a delicious meal at Busta House Hotel

Restaurant in Brae. Dine by candlelight in the Pitcairn room or relax in

the 18th century bar. Superb cuisine, fine wines and mature malts are

on offer. Local and home-grown produce is a speciality.

Shetland seal

For more information, call 0845 22 55 121 or visitscotland.com

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