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Welcome to Shetland

Scenery

Shetland's Scenery - Varied and Spectacular

Shetland's scenery is surprisingly varied for such a small area - and often spectacular. The islands offer everything from rocky crags and heather hills to fertile farmland, from sand dunes and pebble beaches to stupendous cliffs.

Stunning EshanessStunning Eshaness

From five miles up, on a jet flying between Europe and the west coast of North America, the islands look like a child's jigsaw scattered over the ocean, a delicate fretwork of rock, heather and water.

The prospect from sea level has been likened to the half-submerged skeleton of a huge dinosaur and, indeed, Shetland is formed by the sunken stumps of the ancient Caledonian Mountains which once (long before the dinosaurs) stood as high as the Himalayas.

Aeons of erosion and repeated glaciations, followed by the sea flooding the valleys, have worked on the complex geology of Shetland to create long ridges of hills and an extraordinarily indented coastline. It's water, water everywhere - nowhere is more than 5km (3 miles) from the sea and the landscape is studded with thousands of freshwater lochs, large and small.

Because the coastline's so very long and winding, you're sure of finding a sheltered spot with a stunning view and peace and quiet. In the unlikely event that your chosen beach does have half a dozen people on it already - just move to the next one along. You'll probably have it all to yourself!

Muckle Flugga LighthouseMuckle Flugga Lighthouse

The network of well-maintained roads makes most of Shetland's scenery easily accessible to the visitor but it's well worth exploring off the main routes. For the motorist and cyclist, the side roads of Shetland are a special delight in spring and early summer when the verges are festooned with wild flowers.

The settlement pattern is fairly scattered outside the urban centre of Lerwick, with many croft houses in seemingly remote valleys still inhabited. There are numerous picturesque hamlets, usually at the edge of one of the long 'voes' or sea lochs that penetrate far into the land. The larger villages, such as Voe, have a shop and post office.

Bus tours from Lerwick take in some of the finest scenery. Boat trips operate sight-seeing tours on both the Atlantic and North Sea coasts, while some of the best views are from the inter-island ferries.

Driving or walking in Shetland, you come on unexpected new landscapes around every corner. The only place to see all of the islands at once, however, is the Ward Hill, Bressay. The track up to the TV masts is only suitable for 4WD vehicles but the reward for a brisk walk to the 226m (742') summit is a superb panorama, from Fair Isle in the south to Unst in the north, and from Foula in the west to Out Skerries in the east.

Top 30 Shetland Viewpoints (those accessible by car are in CAPITALS):

  • Hermaness, Unst
  • Vallafield, Unst
  • BRECKON, North Yell
  • NEAPOBACK, South Yell
  • WESTSANDWICK, Yell
  • Uyea, Northmavine
  • ESHANESS LIGHTHOUSE, Northmavine
  • Ronas Hill, Northmavine (at 450m - 1476' - the highest point in Shetland)
  • MANGASTER, Northmavine
  • Hams of Roe, Muckle Roe
  • HILL OF SWINISTER, Delting
  • HILL OF BELLISTER, North Nesting
  • WORMADALE HILL, Whiteness
  • SCORD OF SOUND, Weisdale
  • WESTERWICK, Skeld
  • HUXTER, Sandness
  • WATSNESS, Walls
  • SCORD OF SCALLOWAY
  • The Sneug, Foula
  • WARD OF CLETT, Whalsay
  • Housay, Out Skerries
  • GLETNESS, South Nesting
  • Ander Hill, Bressay
  • FLADDABISTER
  • LEVENWICK
  • BIGTON (St Ninian's Isle)
  • SCOUSBURGH
  • Fitful Head
  • SUMBURGH HEAD
  • Ward Hill, Fair Isle

To enjoy Shetland's scenery to the full, ask at the Tourist Information Centre for a selection of leaflets and books giving suggested walks or download a copy of the Walking Brochure.

What Next?

On This Site

  • Let a local guide show you around Shetland
  • See a different perspective of Shetland by taking a boat tour

From Other Sites

  • Allow renowned guide Hugh Harrop to show you Shetland Wildlife
  • Travel on an unforgettable tour around Bressay and Noss with Seabirds and Seals and the award winning guide Dr Jonathan Wills
  • Have the scenery explained to you by Allen Fraser of Shetland GeoTours
  • Sail with Mousa Boat Trips to Mousa, east of Sandwick and home to the Mousa Broch
  • Take a guided nature watching trip with Shetland Nature Cruises.
  • Don't miss out on a tour by Fethaland Tours to the abandoned haaf fishing station of Fethaland
  • Listen to the stories of Elma Johnson on her Island Trails
  • Let Cycharters take you on a scenic tour around Foula and the highest sea cliffs in Britain

Feature

free flights on us!

Join the VisitShetland VIP guest list and enjoy FREE flights on us...

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Advertising Feature

2009 Wildlife Holidays In Shetland

2009 Wildlife Holidays In Shetland

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Feature

2008 Photo Competition

2008 Photo Competition

VisitShetland are pleased to announce their fourth annual photographic competition, open to local and visiting amateur photographers. The competition seeks entries which capture the imagination and the role that the Shetland landscape plays in our cultural identity.

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Shetland Food Directory

Shetland Food Directory

From lamb to seafood, Shetland's produce is considered a benchmark for quality. A new website, The Shetland Food Directory, lists sources of fine Shetland food and drink and some of the wonderful places to eat out in Shetland.

www.foodshetland.com

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Buy Shetland Knitwear

Buy Shetland Knitwear

Choose from our wide range of Shetland knitwear including Fair Isle tank tops, cushion covers and bags.  Also a range of rugs made with 100% pure Shetland wool.

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Swan Trips 2008

Swan Trips 2008

Enjoy a trip on the Swan this summer and experience the world of a resilient vessel restored to glory. Join a crew who love the sea, and be part of a learning experience!

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Sunday Times article

News

Treasure Returns to Shetland

Treasure Returns to Shetland

Shetland Museum and Archives welcomes St Ninian’s Isle Treasure for three month loan...

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Loganair Revive Norway Connection

Scottish airline Loganair is filling the gap left by Faroese shipping company Smyril Line when it severed Shetland's link with its Norwegian neighbours last year.

Download Press Release

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