Suggestions on places to visit in Shetland

It can be overwhelming when you start holiday planning, and there are so many places you will want to visit and so many suggestions for ‘things that you must do’. As a tour guide, I’ve spent a lot of time showing people the sites, and I have a fairly good idea of what people really enjoy seeing and doing in Shetland.

With 1,000 miles of coastline, there’s plenty of opportunity for coastal walking, so long as we all abide by the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. The best place for a bracing coastal walk is at the cliffs at Eshaness. Here you will walk through the flank of a dormant volcano and see some of Shetland’s best coastal features and geology.

Shetland’s history of habitation is fascinating, and you can’t visit the isles without taking in at least one archaeological site. If you see only one, go to Jarlshof Prehistoric & Norse Settlement. Jarlshof is pretty unrivalled, representing every period of occupation in Shetland. It has an (almost) uninterrupted chronology spanning 5,000 years of human history.

Allow a day or an afternoon to explore beyond Lerwick’s Commercial Street. Take a walk through the historic lanes area or trace the waterfront and get to know the iconic buildings of Lerwick’s past. Lerwick is a relatively new town, certainly in European terms, as it only grew from the 1600s. Look for Jimmy Perez’s house, paddle on Bain’s Beach, take in Fort Charlotte’s views, gaze at the Town Hall’s stained glass windows, take a coastal walk around the Knab.

Shetland has 16 inhabited islands, and they are all easy to get to (Foula and Fair Isle require a little more planning) using Shetland’s fantastic network of inter-island ferries. If you have a car, plan a visit to Unst, Yell or Whalsay. If you’re without a car, no problem, hop on the ferry at Lerwick and head to Bressay for the afternoon.

No trip to Shetland is complete without a trip to the uninhabited island of Mousa. Trips into the isle leave daily throughout the summer by The Mousa Boat. They also run an evening midsummer experience where visitors can marvel at the Storm Petrels (small seabirds who return to nest within the broch walls at dusk).

Shetland has no shortage of museums and heritage centres dotted throughout the isles – many of which serve home bakes, tea and coffee and sell locally-made crafts and knitwear. A few of the best small museums are Tangwick Haa Museum, Old Haa Museum, Unst Heritage Centre, Hoswick Visitor Centre and Scalloway Museum.

Shetland is an excellent place for the arts and crafts, and you can visit many of the local maker’s workshops on the Shetland Craft Trail. This will take you on a creative journey throughout Shetland, and you can download the Craft Trail Booklet before you leave.

Shetland has some fantastic beaches, and access to some of the best beaches is easy, and car parking is available. Take a walk along a beach, look for sea glass and beach treasure, or just soak in the sights and sound and marvel at the seabirds.

Look out for signs, or buy the local newspaper and check the what’s on section for this very Shetland experience. Sunday Teas are a Shetland institution whereby, for a few pounds, you can eat like a local and enjoy some of the best island hospitality, cakes and bakes. Every Sunday throughout the summer, a public hall somewhere in the islands will host a Sunday Teas. Sunday Teas are charitable fundraisers and are organised by volunteers. Here you will get a real sense of the rich community – and a full belly to boot.