Shetland Islands

Shetland Has Viking And Norse Heritage, With Jarlshof, A Multi Period Prehistoric And Norse Site At Sumburgh, The Broch Of Mousa, Sumburgh Head Puffins, Seals And Otters And The Up Helly Aa Fire Festival In Lerwick In January. Weather Is Windy And Changeable; Ferries And Flights Are Disrupted By Gales. · Lerwick, Scotland

Shetland is an archipelago of about 100 islands, roughly 20 inhabited, lying about 200 km north of the Scottish mainland, closer to Norway than to London. Norse settlers shaped the place names and the Viking inheritance remains strong. The scenery is treeless and wind-scoured: sea cliffs, long voes, peat hills, small crofts and a great deal of sky. Highlights include Jarlshof, a prehistoric to Viking settlement beside Sumburgh Head lighthouse, the Iron Age broch on Mousa, puffins in summer, seals, otters, Shetland ponies, knitwear and Fair Isle jumpers. Getting here is slow and weather-dependent: an overnight NorthLink ferry from Aberdeen to Lerwick, about 12 hours, or flights to Sumburgh. It suits people who like wild coasts, birds and history, and who can spare four days at least. It is not a quick stop. Gales can cancel ferries and flights, and summer brings the long light known as the simmer dim. Confirm travel details well ahead.

Archipelago of about 100 islands, 20 or so inhabited, off the north of Scotland, reached by overnight ferry from Aberdeen to Lerwick or by flights to Sumburgh, with Lerwick as the main town and Jarlshof, Sumburgh Head and Mousa as visitor stops, Lerwick, Scotland, United Kingdom

Shetland has no single opening time. Lerwick, the main town, keeps normal shop hours, with shorter hours on Sundays; Shetland Museum and Archives, Jarlshof and Sumburgh Head are generally open daily or most days in the main season and cut back in winter, so confirm each before travelling. Most beaches, cliff walks and hills are open access at all times under the Scottish outdoor access code. Boats to Mousa run seasonally, roughly April to September, and depend on tide and weather. Ferries and flights run all year but gales disrupt them. In midsummer daylight lasts nearly all night; in December it is only a few hours.

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