Shetland Islands: Archaeology, Coast and Island Culture

A torchlit procession and the burning of a galley are the highlight of Up Helly Aa in Lerwick. The festival takes place every year on the last Tuesday in January. If you want to plan your trip around it, check the event details for your chosen year.

Cultural history and crafts

Jarlshof contains more than 4,000 years of human settlement at a single site. Visible remains include oval Bronze Age houses, an Iron Age broch and roundhouses, Norse longhouses, a medieval farmstead and a 16th-century laird’s house. The different building types bring the site’s long history to life.

The Shetland Museum and Archives also devotes its extensive collections to Shetland’s history, heritage and culture. If you are particularly interested in life at sea, Unst Boat Haven has handmade boats from Shetland and Scandinavia, including the “Far Haaf” Sixareen, as well as maritime artefacts. The exhibition explores Unst’s relationship with the sea and highlights the historical importance of fishing, coastal angling and sailing regattas.

The Shetland Craft Trail takes you to craft workshops, open studios and workshops showcasing traditional and contemporary textile techniques across the islands. Participating craftspeople and dates may change, so check current listings if you are planning a visit or workshop.

Brochs, coastal paths and wildlife watching

Mousa Broch is the best-preserved example of an Iron Age broch and is open to the public. Mousa itself is accessible only by boat: a ferry runs from Sandsayre and Leebitton from April to September. Mousa Boat Trips offers day trips as well as night trips, when you can watch storm petrels returning to their breeding sites in the broch. Check trips and connections for your planned visit.

On Unst, the cliffs of Hermaness NNR are home to more than 100,000 breeding seabirds. Hermaness can be reached from Shetland Mainland via two ferry crossings. The Saito Trail and Muckle Flugga Trail offer cliff walks and views of the lighthouse. Check ferry connections and trail conditions before setting off.

The Eshaness Coast Trail follows the coast past Calders Geo and Breigeo to Grind o da Navir. The Mousa Circular is a loop along the coast and through moorland around the RSPB reserve on Mousa. For both trails, local conditions and access are useful things to check before setting out, especially near cliffs.

Shetland is a UNESCO Global Geopark and has more than 1,500 miles of coastline. At many locations, paths are suitable for walking, cycling or horse riding. Seals can be spotted year-round; between May and August, orcas may also appear close to shore. Mousa Sound is one of the best places in Britain to watch porpoises, known on Shetland as “Neesick”. Wildlife sightings depend on the season and conditions.

Shetland’s distinctive coastal geography also includes the 500-metre land connection at St Ninian’s: it links St Ninian’s Isle with Shetland Mainland and is technically not a beach. If you are planning watersports rather than coastal walks, Shetland’s accessible coastline offers opportunities for sea kayaking, surfing, stand-up paddleboarding and diving. Check conditions and local options for the activity you have in mind.

Plan your interests and hotel stay

When planning your stay, it helps to prioritise your interests: Jarlshof and Mousa Broch showcase archaeological remains, while trails such as Hermaness and Eshaness focus on coastal walks. This can help you choose a hotel location based on the experiences that matter most to you, then check the connections that suit your travel dates.

Shetland Travel Information supports trip planning and provides current bus, ferry and flight times through its app. This is especially useful if your plans include a ferry connection. It is also worth checking what is currently available among local seafood: featured products include mussels, herring, mackerel and salmon. Mussels are served, among other places, at Frankie’s Fish & Chips on Busta Voe and at Fjarå Café; check current availability at each location.

Discover more destinations: Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Hillswick, Stirling, Angus, West Dunbartonshire, Midlothian and Highland.

For the main travel overview: Scotland.