VisitShetland

Fetlar

Fetlar - The Garden of Shetland

Strolling around the varied landscapes of this beautiful island, visitors can trace human settlements from the Stone Age, through the Picts and the Norse, to the 19th century when the laird evicted whole townships of people to make room for sheep. The Clearances left gloomy ruins and empty lands where hundreds of people once scraped a living. But this man-made wilderness contains a rich variety of ancient sites, exquisite flowers and perfect habitat for ground nesting birds.

Brough Lodge Pier, Fetlar

The Bay of Funzie

Although there are now fewer than 100 inhabitants, the social life of the island is varied and visitors are always welcome at local gatherings. Of particular interest are the Sheep Dog Trials in July and the Home Produce Show in August, each with a dance in the hall in the evening.

Getting There

If you're taking a car to Fetlar it's best to book the ferries in advance (Tel. 01957 722 259, Mon-Sat 0830-1700).

NB: There is no public transport in Fetlar itself and no petrol or diesel fuel for sale.

The 'Overland' bus for the North Isles of Yell, Unst and Fetlar leaves the Viking bus station in Lerwick daily except Sundays at 0800, calling at the Northlink ferry terminal at 0810. This connects at Ulsta in Yell with a bus to catch the Fetlar ferry at Gutcher in North Yell. In summer there's also a through bus and ferry connection leaving Lerwick for Fetlar on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1600.

The crossing from Gutcher in Yell takes 25 minutes, passing the islands of Linga and Sound Gruney (another RSPB reserve) on the way. This is a really good area of coastline to watch seabirds and often turns up many sighting of porpoises. Watch out too for Common and Grey Seals and occasional dolphins, Minke Whales and Basking Sharks.

Viking Landers

The name Fetlar means 'the island of the fat land' in Old Norse and its rich grazings and fertile soils were a prime attraction even before the Vikings colonised it 1,200 years ago. Local tradition says Gruting in Fetlar was the site of the first Norse landing in Shetland (although Haroldswick in Unst may dispute this!) What is certain is that Fetlar has been inhabited for at least 5,000 years.

Funzie's Fabulous Phalaropes

Fetlar is the summer home of one of Britain's rarest breeding birds, the Red Necked Phalarope, a remarkably tame, brightly-coloured bird which in June and July can be seen at very close quarters from the RSPB hide at the Mires of Funzie (pronounced 'Finnie') and as they feed along the shores of the Loch of Funzie.

For almost 20 years the RSPB, local crofters, landowners and Scottish Natural Heritage have co-operated in a successful programme to maintain and improve the breeding grounds of this delightful little bird. As a result, although Red Necked Phalaropes have drastically declined throughout Britain and Ireland, the Fetlar population is recovering, with 30-40 pairs (90% of the UK population) breeding on the island.

...and Other Rarities

About 80 pairs of Whimbrel (15% of the UK breeding population) also nest in Fetlar. Whimbrels are very similar to their larger cousins, the Curlews, but have a pale stripe through the centre of the crown and a characteristic and evocative call. A good place to see them is along the road to the airstrip. Fetlar was once home to Britain's only pair of breeding Snowy Owls. Recorded in 1967 by the late Bobby Tulloch, they bred successfully each year until 1975.

Other Fetlar bird life includes Red-Throated Diver, Golden Plover, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Eider Duck, Arctic Skua, Great Skua, Arctic Tern and Oystercatchers. Storm Petrels and Manx Shearwaters are usually around the Wick of Tresta in the late summer evenings and early mornings, while Fulmars, Black Guillemots, Kittiwakes, Shags and Puffins can be seen all around the coast.

Nowhere in Shetland are the summer wildflowers more luxuriant than in the rich soils of Fetlar. From April to August a succession of blooms brightens the landscape. The rarer varieties include the Frog Orchid, Creeping Willow, Water Aven, Knotted Pearlwort and Lesser Twayblade.

The RSPB warden on Fetlar is always pleased to help visitors enjoy the wildlife of the island. Although the 'Statutory Bird Sanctuary' (part of the RSPB reserve on Fetlar) is closed from 1st May to 11th August, to reduce the disturbance to breeding birds, all the species breeding in the area can be seen elsewhere on the island.

More information:

• View our interpretive leaflet on Fetlar or Fetlar Interpretive Centre.
• Learn more about Fetlar from the children at Fetlar Primary School.

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