Off the Beaten Track: Shetland's Islands, United Kingdom

Closer to Norway than mainland Scotland, the remote islands of Shetland offer a wealth of stunning scenery, abundant wildlife and rare flora.

Shetland's islands boast a varied and spectacular landscape of over 100 islands with scenery from heather-clad hills and fertile farmland to a 900 mile long rugged coastline boasting secluded sandy beaches, sea caves, rocky inlets and towering cliffs.

As you are never more than 3 miles from the coast in Shetland, the sea has an overwhelming presence. The coastline nurtures a wide array of marine wildlife including elusive otters and common and grey seals, while pods of porpoises, dolphins, minke whales and orcas hunt in the surrounding waters. The Isle of Whalsay, meaning ‘island of the whale’ in Old Norse, is a great spot for whale watching.

Shetland boasts five seabird colonies with more than one million nesting birds. You can join a tour of one of these colonies and spot seabirds such as puffins, guillemots, kittiwakes, razorbills and gannets. Pay a visit to the Fair Isle Bird Observatory and join a ranger on an early morning walk to spot rare migrant birds.

Rich in history, Shetland’s main town of Lerwick is characterised by its harbour-front location and the network of narrow lanes stretching up from the shop-lined Commercial Street. The bustling Victoria Pier comes alive during the summer months with sailing races and regattas and is often the hub for outdoor events and festivals, including the famous Up Helly Aa, as well as traditional live music in local pubs.

As well as a good variety of shops, cafés, restaurants and accommodation, Lerwick has modern facilities with the Clickimin Leisure Centre and the Shetland Museum and Archives. Attractions include the archaeological site of Clickimin Broch, an example of Iron Age and Bronze Age architecture, beautiful clifftop scenery at The Knab and some lovely gardens, such as the King Harald Street Flower Park.

Scalloway is Shetland’s second largest town and, as the ancient capital, is home to a wealth of history. Here you can see the ruins of Scalloway Castle and discover the local history at the Scalloway Museum, including the internationally famous story of the World War II Shetland Bus.

Characterised by steep valleys, hills and sheltered harbours, Delting is home to the lively settlements of Brae and Voe and also the Sullom Voe oil terminal, while the scenic isle of Muckle Roe is joined to the mainland by a bridge.

Due to its northerly location, Shetland is home to some of Britain’s rarest plants from arctic-alpine flowers to summer meadows and the colourful wildflowers which cling to rocky ledges, known as the ‘hanging gardens’ of the cliff-tops. The Isle of Feltar, known as ‘the garden of Shetland’, is home to 300 species of flowering plant and is a great place to begin exploring the unique flora of the islands.

Looking for that uniquely different vacation destination. Call Rawhide Travel and Tours today 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com. We can help!

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