Sumburgh Head – Puffins by the Lighthouse
A few hours.
The route
Sumburgh Head is the southern tip of Shetland's Mainland, a Stevenson lighthouse on high cliffs that are an RSPB nature reserve.
In spring and summer puffins nest in the grassy slopes beside the path, with guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes on the ledges below. The lighthouse buildings hold a visitor centre.
The day
Sumburgh
A couple of hours on the cliff paths by the lighthouse, with the visitor centre for when the wind gets up.
About two hours
Sumburgh Head Lighthouse
An attraction
Sumburgh Head is at the end of the road south past Sumburgh Airport. Park in the free customer car park about 0.3 miles below the lighthouse and walk up the road; there are four disabled bays at the lighthouse itself. The cliffs are an RSPB nature reserve, open all year. From April to early August puffins nest in the slopes beside the path, and guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars crowd the ledges. Look out to sea for harbour porpoises, and now and then minke whales, white-sided dolphins or orcas; common and grey seals often lie on the rocks below. The lighthouse visitor centre opens from late March to early October, with its foghorn engine room, marine life centre and exhibitions. Tickets are sold in the gift shop: £6 for adults, £2 for children and £12.50 for a family, at the time of writing. The toilets in the Stevenson Centre are open when the centre is, and the Observatory has self-service hot drinks and traybakes. Keep to the paths and behind the walls at the cliff edges, and hold children's hands.
If it rains
The visitor centre's engine room, marine life centre and exhibitions are indoors, open from late March to early October. The cliffs are open to the weather: in rain or a strong wind keep the visit short.
Photographs by Roger Unwin and Gavin Stone via Google