Attractions in Shetland

Haroldswick, Shetland, ZE2 9ED

The centre tells the story of Unst with exhibitions on crofting, fishing and geology. There are good displays of spinning and fine lace knitting.

Virkie, Mainland, Shetland, ZE3 9JN

An extraordinarily important site spanning 3000 years, including Bronze Age houses, an Iron Age broch, Viking long houses, and a 16th century Laird's house.

Dunrossness, Shetland, ZE2 9JD

This beautifully restored mill with its overshot wheel, is in full working order. There are displays on local history and small craft shop.

East of Sandwick, Shetland, Scotland, UK

This attractive island, with its famous broch, is the place to see storm petrels. Evening boat trips are arranged. Also good for arctic terns, arctic and great skuas, and common seals.

Baelans, Fetlar, Shetland, ZE2 9DJ

A wealth of birds breed here, including 90% of the British population of red-necked pharalopes. These fascinating waders can be seen from the hide at the Mires of Funzie.

East of Bressay, Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland, UK

This spectacular island reserve with its towering cliffs supports huge colonies of guillemots, gannets, fulmars and kittiwakes. Visitor centre. From Bressay by inflatable boat.

Unst, Shetland, Scotland, UK

This almost lunar landscape of apparently barren serpentine scree supports a unique and fascinating collection of plants.

Baltasound, Unst, Shetland, Scotland, UK

This splendid reserve overlooking Muckle Flugga, Britain's most northerly point, is a haven for over 100,000 seabirds including many gannets and puffins. Visitor centre. Trail.

Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0PW

The 'Cyfish', 38ft long, with a spacious cabin, up to 12 passengers, runs scheduled trips to Foula, with some of the most spectacular sea cliffs and sea bird colonies in Britain, and also to the islands west of Scalloway.

Sandwick, Shetland, ZE2 9HP

This ferry service to the Isle of Mousa offers great wildlife viewing with arctic and great skuas, black guillemots, arctic terns, porpoises and killer whales being regularly seen. Special evening storm petrel trips.

Island of Noss, Shetland, ZE2

This square enclosure on the island of Noss was built by the Marquis of Londonderry in 1870 for the breeding of Shetland ponies. They were required for use in his coal mines in County Durham.

Scousburgh, North West of Sumburgh, Shetland, Scotland, UK

This shallow loch attracts large numbers of wildfowl during the autumn and winter, including whooper swans, wigeon and teal. In summer arctic terns, arctic and great skuas can be seen bathing here.

Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0JN

An artillery fort, it was built in 1665 to protect the Sound of Bressay from the Dutch, but taken by them and burned in 1673. It was rebuilt in 1781.

Stanydale, Shetland, ZE2

This amazing building, perhaps the hall of a chieftain, is at the centre of group of smaller houses dating from around 2500 BC. Excavations revealed that its roof was supported on two large spruce poles - driftwood from across the Atlantic.

Beach of Houbie, Fetlar, Shetland, ZE2 9DJ

Dynamic community-run museum, displays on crofting and the sea. Award winning exhibition on the history of antiseptic surgery.