Have you ever wondered about the Shetland Islands and what it might be like to visit them? If you’re planning a trip to Scotland, you must have, at least a little bit, possibly before cinching up your mouth into a brief, regretful grimace and moving on to more accessible regions. This dismissal happens all too often. Today I’m doing my part to combat the “Shetland write-off” by giving you some concrete reasons to visit.

I have largely focused on specific topics throughout the life of Traveling Savage, but now I’m providing you with information at a higher level to help in your Scotland trip-planning, idea-generation phase. These Scotland Itinerary Ideas articles collect many of my previous posts on the selected region into one place, along with my assessment of their criticality for the visitor and a bevy of useful tidbits that might’ve gotten lost along the way. At the end of the day, these articles should be useful cheat sheets to refer to when you begin planning your next trip to Scotland.

As always, don’t hesitate to pepper me with questions.

The Shetland Islands

A view over one of Shetland's many shining sea lochs

Today’s most northerly outpost of Scottish civilization was for most of its human occupation a Norwegian settlement, and this ancestry shows prominently in Shetland’s culture and place names. For reasons I still can’t fathom, I expected Shetland to be a gray and rocky monotony, but I found a hilly and windswept landscape saturated in green and glittering blue. Brilliant white sand beaches hopscotched earth-tone pebbled coves sparkling with bits of sea glass. Along the perimeter of Shetland’s mainland and out to Unst and Yell great headlands rise up as if to fight the incessant sea, and in that clash are born towering sea stacks and cliffs pocked with seabird colonies. There is a distinct edge-of-the-world feeling to Shetland, and those that live here are proud to be its sentinels. There are few beaten paths out here under the wide northern skies – plenty of space to listen to that interior vibrating voice so often lost amidst the clamor of society.

The beach at Reawick

Things You Can’t Miss

Jarlshof. The archaeological jewel of Shetland, Jarlshof is a prehistoric settlement dating back to the Neolithic that gives Orkney’s Skara Brae a run for its money. The site at the very southern tip of Shetland’s mainland, near Sumburgh Head, has been home to many cultures over the millennia, including Picts and Vikings, with the ruins of their buildings built on top of and around each other. Jarlshof is the civilization equivalent of sedimentary rock – a true wonder – and is a huge reason to visit Shetland. On a clear day, you might even see Fair Isle.

The ancient settlement of Jarlshof

The Shetland Folk Festival. Each May, the people of Shetland host one of the world’s great folk music festivals: The Shetland Folk Festival. Bands from around the world ferry up to Shetland for several days of rollicking music across the breadth of the islands, for the music is truly for the Shetlanders. Visitors are welcome, of course, and during the festival I traveled far and wide from Lerwick into the hinterland to listen to Norwegian folk, Scottish trad, American bluegrass, and Mississippi riverboat ragtime music. The festival is a serious party for four straight days. I advise you to get some tips before you come.

The Shetland Folk Festival

St. Ninian’s Isle. There are few things finer than serendipity, but St. Ninian’s Isle is a place you should not miss on a trip to Shetland. There’s nothing overly fancy about this small tide island, but it is undeniably beautiful and perfect in a natural way. Beyond its gorgeous beach is a bit of interesting history, for here in 1958 a boy discovered a hoard of early medieval treasure beneath a church’s floorboards. The collection of wrought and gilded silver bowls, jewelry, and other pieces date from 800 AD – probably the worldly goods of some great Viking lord.

The ayre of St. Ninian's Isle

Things You Shouldn’t Miss

Up Helly Aa. The end of January in Shetland bears witness to the Up Helly Aa fire festival, which is a Norse celebration of the end of Yule. Historically, young men would drag barrels of burning tar on sledges through the streets while generally causing mischief. These days, a crowd bearing flaming torches processes to a replica Viking longship. Once there, they cast their torches upon the longship and cheer as the boat is consumed in the conflagration. Drinking commences. Up Helly Aa is celebrated in ten locations across Shetland, and the spectacle is the primary reason for braving the Shetland winter.

The Broch of Mousa. Located on a small island off the east coast of southern Shetland, the Broch of Mousa is the tallest standing broch left in the world. Brochs are Iron Age drystone dwellings that look like ancient nuclear reactors. They functioned as dwellings for families and the skill of their construction is mind-boggling. Of the 500+ brochs around Scotland, the broch of Mousa is one of the smallest. At 2,000 years old it’s a marvel it still stands. Will our skyscrapers be standing in 4014 AD?

The Broch of Mousa

A wildlife cruise. With its miles of rocky coastline, Shetland is the perfect place to charter a boat or book a wildlife cruise. With good weather and any luck, you’ll be able to spot gray seals, pods of dolphins, minke whales, sea otters, puffins and loads of seabirds, or maybe even orcas chasing seals. Even if you don’t see any wildlife (which would be rare), a cruise is a great way to change your perspective and see Shetland from a different angle.

A seal colony on seaweed-strewn rocks

Things to Do Off the Beaten Path

Hike the cliffs of Eshaness. To be fair, there’s not much of a beaten path on Shetland. Most everything is out of the way, but there are a few even-more-out-of-the-way places worth checking out. In the far northwest of Shetland’s mainland stand the awesome cliffs of Eshaness. Here the waves claw at the dark headlands like teeth dragged across a ripe plum. There’s no path that I found along the cliff tops, but you don’t really need one (just don’t get too close to the edge). Simply brave the wind and take in the mammoth views out across the Atlantic.

The cliffs of Eshaness

Go birding at Hermaness. The most northerly point of Shetland, on the most distant and northerly island of Unst, lies the Hermaness National Nature Reserve. It takes some effort to get here – a long drive, two short drives, and two short ferry rides one way – but if you’re an explorer or a birder at heart you will find this to be a most rewarding day out. Park the car at Cleva Ness and follow the path over the hills to the shredded cliffs of Hermaness. It’s a beautiful place. I don’t think I’ve ever been “farther” from civilization.

Birds of Shetland

Get lost in Nibon. Off the A970 beyond Brae the rocky hills of Nibon roll to the coast. The road out here is little more than a one-lane track of crushed up rocks the size of my fist – it’s neither friendly on your car nor your bladder. Whenever you choose to stop, take in the alien landscape and realize that people live out here. Well, a couple do. Soak in the beauty, maybe bring a bottle of something, and relax.

The rocky and desolate coast of Nibon

Logistics and Salient Bits

Bases. The primary base for a stay on Shetland is Lerwick. It is the only town of any size and it is very small – smaller even than Kirkwall on Orkney. Lerwick is pleasant and it possesses all the facilities you might need, not to mention it is the port for ferries to and from the mainland and Orkney. I recommend staying in or near Lerwick. Alternatively, you could book a self-catering cottage out in the hinterland, but I would stick to the south or west mainland as you will inevitably find yourself returning to Lerwick on many occasions and you don’t want to be too distant (unless you do).

The capital of Shetland, Lerwick

Transportation. Getting to Shetland is an obstacle, but you have a few options. The fastest route is to fly up to Sumburgh airport, which is at the southernmost tip of the Shetland mainland (near Jarlshof). You’ll need to then take a bus or a rental car up to Lerwick. If time isn’t so much a factor, you can take an overnight ferry from Aberdeen to Lerwick. This is how I got to Shetland (the same ferry with all the musicians arriving to the Shetland Folk Festival) but be aware that the seas can be very rough depending on the time of year and weather forecast. If sleeping isn’t important, don’t book a room. You can pass out in one of the sleeper seats. Finally, you can take a shorter ferry from Kirkwall to Lerwick if that fits your itinerary. Flying seems to be just as economical as taking the overnight ferry. Rent a car once you’ve arrived to Shetland. More than any other place in Scotland you’ll need it to get the most out of your explorations.

The ferry to Shetland

Food & Drink. I had more than my fair share of drinks while in Shetland, primarily thanks to the folk festival, but there were few bars that really stood out. Most of the drinking happened in hotel bars or assembly halls where there were performances, but I enjoyed the Lounge Bar in Lerwick and the Baltasound Hotel on Unst is supposed to be quite good. Food is a similar story. I had a nuclear plate of Vindaloo at the Gurkha’s Kitchen and the monkfish tail wrapped in bacon (below) at The Queen’s Hotel was tasty. Unfortunately, I can’t say much more about the food scene in Shetland, though I’m sure it’s more diverse and respectable than I experienced.

A fancy dinner out in Lerwick

Shetland is a haven for nature lovers and misanthropes alike. The festivals are a great reason to visit, but a solid three nights on any trip would be a worthwhile addition and a splash of variety.

Article Comments

  1. wanderingeducators February 13, 2014 at 10:16 am

    Love these suggestions!

    1. Edith August 2, 2022 at 7:56 pm

      Very much love your articles and passion about any landscapes you describe
      I am Swiss and love Scotland deep from my heart. When in Scotland, I feel home and complete. Take care. Thanks for your wonderful texts

      1. Aelyth Savage August 3, 2022 at 10:28 am

        Thank you, Edith!

  2. Steve February 25, 2014 at 6:52 am

    can’t say i’ve been to this part of scotland. is it really as sunny as in your photos? 😉

    1. Aelyth Savage February 25, 2014 at 8:56 am

      It was that sunny during my time there, but I understand that not every visitor can expect such prime weather. It’s impossible to plan your trip around the weather just about anywhere in Scotland.

  3. Wilson Ng February 28, 2014 at 4:46 pm

    Simply breathtaking view and hope to come to Scotland one day!

    Wilson

  4. Jacques March 9, 2014 at 12:26 pm

    Hello,
    I’m planning a trip to Scotland from March 22 through 29, and I would like to add Shetland island. However my questions are:

    – I plan to rent a car in Edinburgh to get around. Can I get to Shetland with the car?
    – How long would you consider staying in Shetland for March?
    – How long does it take the ferry to get from Lerwick to Kirkwall?

    Thanks

    1. Aelyth Savage March 10, 2014 at 10:04 am

      Hi Jacques,

      You can get your vehicle to Shetland by taking a car ferry from Aberdeen. I would recommend three nights in Shetland (the ferry from Aberdeen is an overnight one). I’ve never taken the ferry from Lerwick to Kirkwall, but according to the Northlink Ferries site, the journey appears to take 5.5 hours.

  5. Marie Scovell September 14, 2015 at 3:27 pm

    Any suggestions for places to stay for 2 nights in Shetland? My sister & I live in Oregon, USA and are trying to plan our own trip to the Scottish Highlands. After reading your comments, we’ve decided not to miss Shetland. We will fly from Kirkwall to Sumgurgh and stay for 2 nights. We are mostly interested in archaeological sights. Any suggestions you can make as to accommodations would be hugely appreciated.

    1. Keith Savage September 14, 2015 at 4:21 pm

      Hi Marie,

      Once you land, visit Jarlshof right away – it’s literally next to the airstrip at Sumburgh. I would start looking for accommodation in Lerwick and try to stay near that town. Unfortunately, I don’t have a great accommodation recommendation because the time I spent there I was forced to take what was available given the craziness of the Shetland Folk Festival. I definitely would not want to stay more than 15 minutes from Lerwick unless seclusion is what you seek.

      1. Marie Scovell September 14, 2015 at 6:31 pm

        Thanks for the heads -up on Jarlshof. It is definitely one of the places we want to visit. Do you happen to know whether there are people (guides) at each site we can hire to show us around? Would be nice to know exactly what we are looking at. ~ Marie

        1. Keith Savage September 14, 2015 at 6:39 pm

          The vast majority of sites, including Jarlshof, are self-guided, but the amount of information they provide on placards and in books is impressive. Rarely have I felt wanting regarding information. Alternatively, you could hire an independent guide.

  6. Tierza November 8, 2015 at 6:19 pm

    Hi … I’m debating taking the ferry over from Aberdeen for a 1 day adventure (so getting off ferry / back on ferry in the same day). Will be in Scotland the first week of January (yes, I know it’s cold / dark early then). Is there enough stuff I can walk to since I won’t be able to rent a car? I found a tour guide through tripadvisor.com but it looks like he’s no longer leading tours so I’m at a loss as to whether this is worth the trip over (w/ 2 nights on the ferry).

    1. Keith Savage November 9, 2015 at 9:31 am

      Hi Tierza,

      I would not recommend two nights on the ferry for one night in Shetland in January. Too much of your time is being spent in process of traveling through the black North Sea. Your days in January are incredibly short as it is. I love Shetland, but it isn’t worth it.

      Cheers,
      Keith

  7. Yolanda Martinez March 6, 2016 at 3:32 am

    Hello Keith

    We plan to be in Shetland for 7 days and will stay at a B&B. I am looking forward to seeing this beautiful place.

    I just hope 7 days will be enough. I am overwhelmed with the thought of traveling there that I am hard-pressed to think of questions. We most likely will rent a car to visit as many places as possible. Thank you for your recommendations of sites to see.

    Yolanda

    1. Keith Savage March 6, 2016 at 10:03 am

      Hi Yolanda,

      Having a car on Shetland is a good idea if you want to get out, explore, and see more than Lerwick. I think a week there will be plenty of time.

      Best,
      Keith

  8. Mary May 26, 2016 at 7:14 am

    I will be visiting Lerwick in August via cruise ship, docking from 7am to 5pm. I’ve booked an excursion from 10am to 2pm to see Northern Shetland/Eshaness Cliffs. Shetland has so many beautiful sights to see. I’ve narrowed down to Eshaness and St Ninian’s Isle as my most desired places to visit. I’d love to also visit Jarlshof and Scalloway. I’ve thought of renting a car or taking a taxi. I saw your blog and thought you might be able to share your thoughts. Do you think I should keep the excursion (it’s reasonably priced) and try to get a car to St Ninian’s, tour on my own, or should I just accept that I can’t truly see/enjoy Eshaness, St Ninian’s, Jarshof, and Scalloway during a 10 hour visit?

  9. Cat March 10, 2017 at 6:26 am

    I just found your site. Thank you. We will be visiting Scotland and Shetland is on our list! Right now we have a flexible schedule, but we are planning to fly into Edinburgh, stay one night and then fly out to Sumburgh. We can stay anywhere from 2-5 nights? We are avid walkers, cyclists and nature lovers, and well as history buffs. What would you suggest best how we spend our time in Shetland? How many nights would you suggest? Any other advice? Thanks so much, Cathy, Indianapolis, IN, USA.

    1. Keith Savage March 10, 2017 at 7:50 am

      Hi Cat. The number of nights to spend in Shetland depends partly on your goals for the rest of the trip. In a vacuum I’d suggest three nights as a good round number. This post really collects my personal highlights for Shetland and it should serve as your cheat sheet. If you’re looking for more in-depth help, I do provide trip-planning services.

      Best, Keith.

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