Shetland’s Attractions.
Beautiful scenery, spectacular wildlife, and a warm welcome awaits you….
Uncover the inspiration behind Anne Cleaves gritty, iconic crime stories on which the hit TV series is based, such as Eshaness which can boast one of the highest energy coastlines in the world. Blasted by the full force of the North Atlantic it displays a stunning array of stacks, blowholes and geos.
Visit the enchanting island of Mousa with its magnificent Iron Age Broch and wonderful wildlife. Don’t miss the summer evening tour to watch the spectacular returning of hundreds of storm petrel birds after a day feeding at sea.
Our five star, award winning museum and archives is a multi functional visitor attraction. Start your journey though the history of our beautiful islands here with an enjoyable and interactive experience discovering our world renowned collection.
A visit to Sumburgh head is a must with one of the most accessible seabird’s colonies in Britain.
The cliffs surrounding the site are teeming with birds during the summer breeding season puffins, guillemots, razorbills kittiwakes and fulmars can all be found here.
Looking out to sea from here you may be lucky enough to spot sea mammals breaking the waters surface perhaps a white sided Dolphins, Harbour Porpoise, Killer Whale or Minke whale. Closer to shore the Common and Grey Seal can often be seen basking at the bottom of the cliffs.
Jarlsholf is located at Sumburgh Head at the southern tip of mainland Shetland. This extraordinary site has a complex of ancient settlements which cover more than 4,000 years of human history. You will be amazed to find such a range of archaeological treasures in one place, including late Neolithic houses, a Bronze Age village, an Iron Age Broch and Wheelhouses, a Norse Longhouse, a medieval farmstead and a 16th century laird’s house.
Shetland is home to one of Scotland’s most unique winter festivals, Up Helly Aa, which celebrates the islands Norse traditions. The procession begins with a spectacular parade of Viking warriors and guisers marching with flaming torches, before a longship is set alight.
However, during the summer months’ visitors can learn the history about this fascinating tradition at the Up Helly Aa Exhibition in Galley Shed, which roots can be traced back to the 1880s. The exhibition contains information on the history of Up Helly Aa with many photographs documenting the event. There is also an exhibition of Jarl Squad suits from the previous 10 years on display along with various other suits used by squads participating in the festival.