Best picnic spots in Shetland

Everyone loves a picnic, and there are some fantastic beauty spots in Shetland to enjoy your lunch al-fresco. The first thing to bear in mind is that you might need to find shelter. Shetland is windy, which can make it feel cool, so shelter is a must.

One of the best places to ensure that you’ll find some shelter is in some trees; Kergord, Michaelswood or Sand Gairdins are all great for finding a space out of the wind.

Another place that you’re almost guaranteed to find some shelter is up a burn. A couple of the best burns to enjoy a picnic up are the Burn of Lunklet near Aith and the Burn of Valayre near Voxter.

The beach is one of the best places to enjoy a picnic – provided you don’t mind sandy sandwiches. Many of the beaches are a short walk from the car and, for those who are feeling adventurous, there are plenty of out-of-the-way beaches to visit that will involve a bit of a hike and effort to reach.

If you choose to take a picnic to the beach, it may be worth checking the wind direction and selecting a beach in the ‘lee’ [shelter] from the wind. A cold, stiff breeze off the sea is sure to make even your thermos feel chilled.

Accessible beaches (that you can drive almost to the beach itself) that are great for a picnic include; St Ninian’s Isle, Westvoe, Maywick, Scousburgh, Hillswick, Heylor, West Sandwick, Norwick, Dale of Walls & Norby. Beaches that involve a reasonably big hike and will take the most part of a day to walk to and from include Hams of Roe on Muckle Roe; Uyea, Fethaland and Da Lang Ayre in Northmavine; and Deepdale on the West Mainland.

The island of Mousa off Shetland’s east coast is another great picnic spot. Mousa is an uninhabited island with the best-preserved broch anywhere in the world. Daily boat trips operate into the isle throughout the summer, and guests are encouraged to pack their own picnic. Who wouldn’t like to enjoy a bite to eat within the confines of a 2,000-year-old Iron Age round tower?

Lerwick isn’t somewhere that instantly springs to mind when we think about picnic spots, but it’s a fantastic place to enjoy a picnic. You could buy a picnic lunch from the Peerie Shop or get a fish supper from the Fort Chip Shop. Bain’s Beach, a small sandy beach in the centre of town, is a relaxing place to while away an afternoon. Go when the tide is out, as the beach disappears at high tide. Ps – for those who follow the Shetland series, this is the beach beside the house of Jimmy Perez. Lerwick’s King George V Flower Park is another good spot to enjoy a bite to eat. The walled confines of the park provide the perfect shelter, and the thoughtful planning ensures that there is something to see all year round – you’d be surprised what the determined gardener will get to grow.

What if it’s raining? Park up somewhere with a view and have your picnic from the car. Good car picnic spots include; Wormadale viewpoint, The Knab in Lerwick and Sumburgh Head.