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Attractions in Shetland

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Unst Heritage Centre
3 stars Unst Heritage Centre

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.

Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement © Crown Copyright Historic Scotland. www.historicscotlandimages.gov.uk
4 stars Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement (HS)

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.

Quendale Watermill
3 stars Quendale Watermill

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.

Mousa (RSPB)
Mousa (RSPB)

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.

Fetlar (RSPB)
Fetlar (RSPB)

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.

Noss National Nature Reserve
Noss National Nature Reserve

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.

Keen of Hamar National Nature Reserve (SNH)
Keen of Hamar National Nature Reserve (SNH)

Unst, Shetland, Scotland, UK

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

Hermaness National Nature Reserve(SNH)
Hermaness National Nature Reserve(SNH)

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.

Cycharters
Cycharters

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.

Mousa Boat Trips
Mousa Boat Trips

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.

Noss Pony Pund
Noss Pony Pund

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.

Loch of Spiggie (RSPB)
Loch of Spiggie (RSPB)

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.

Fort Charlotte © Crown Copyright Historic Scotland. www.historicscotlandimages.gov.uk
Fort Charlotte (HS)

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 'Temple' (HS)
Stanydale 'Temple' (HS)

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.

Fetlar Interpretive Centre
Fetlar Interpretive Centre

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.

1 Unst Heritage Centre Haroldswick, Shetland, ZE2 9ED 3 stars
2 Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement (HS) Virkie, Mainland, Shetland, ZE3 9JN 4 stars
3 Quendale Watermill Dunrossness, Shetland, ZE2 9JD 3 stars
4 Mousa (RSPB) East of Sandwick, Shetland, Scotland, UK
5 Fetlar (RSPB) Baelans, Fetlar, Shetland, ZE2 9DJ
6 Noss National Nature Reserve East of Bressay, Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland, UK
7 Keen of Hamar National Nature Reserve (SNH) Unst, Shetland, Scotland, UK
8 Hermaness National Nature Reserve(SNH) Baltasound, Unst, Shetland, Scotland, UK
9 Cycharters Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0PW
10 Mousa Boat Trips Sandwick, Shetland, ZE2 9HP
11 Noss Pony Pund Island of Noss, Shetland, ZE2
12 Loch of Spiggie (RSPB) Scousburgh, North West of Sumburgh, Shetland, Scotland, UK
13 Fort Charlotte (HS) Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0JN
14 Stanydale 'Temple' (HS) Stanydale, Shetland, ZE2
15 Fetlar Interpretive Centre Beach of Houbie, Fetlar, Shetland, ZE2 9DJ

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