Visitors have been coming to enjoy the fantastic scenery, deserted beaches, warm hospitality and abundant wildlife on Shetland for millenia. The Vikings are perhaps the best known arrivals and they enjoyed the islands so much, they never left!
Shetland, 150 miles northeast of the UK mainland, is a beautiful place for a walking holiday. The Shetland Islands offer some of Scotland's most dramatic scenery - various wild beaches, soaring sea cliffs and rolling moors. As we explore the islands on foot, we will have plenty of company with some of Britain's most charismatic birds and animals - puffins, seals, otters, dolphins and free roaming Shetland ponies.
We are based in Lerwick, the main town and capital of Shetland. There is some beautiful coastal walking directly from the hotel door, however to see the best of Shetland, we will travel a little further afield. We are based in the hub of the excellent public transport network, enabling us to reach the best walking on the islands, as well as using private hired transport as appropriate.
We are never far from the sea in Shetland, Everywhere we go keep an eye on the coastline for an excellent chance of seeing seals and otters and of course, a huge variety of ducks, gulls and waders. Anyone with an interest in the fauna, could hardly fail to be captivated by the ease with which the wildlife can be seen.
To the south of Lerwick and the most southerly point on the mainland is Sumburgh Head, where we will walk for perhaps the best chance of a close encounter with the sea life. From here, it's a short walk to the Jarlshoff Prehistoric and Norse Settlement where you'll journey from prehistory to history. Delve into more than 4,000 years of human settlement in the same location. Neolithic people first settled at this site in Shetland around 2700 BC, and it remained in use until the AD 1600s. Discoveries made here include an Iron Age broch, wheelhouses and oval shaped Bronze Age houses.
You might also be interested to know this holiday is combined with our Orkney tour; please see Orkney & Shetland Islands.