Fair Isle

The southernmost- and probably the most well-known- of the Shetland Islands is a lovely island of sheep and wild flowers; the name itself- Fair Isle- is extremely evocative. Although the island is inhabited, a large part of it is still unspoilt, and a wild but picturesque place of migratory birds and wild flowers. It’s a great place to go if you’re fond of nature, or want to do shopping- Fair Isle knitwear, multicoloured and distinctive, is a specialty. To get to Fair Isle from the Shetlands, you can take one of the ferries which do the trip from Grutness (near Sumburgh Airport), or take a chartered flight from Lingwall.

The Broch of Mousa

The pre-historic broch of Mousa is on the island of Mousa, an uninhabited isle, approachable by boat from Lerwick, and is considered to be the best extant example of an Iron Age broch tower. Forty ft high and fifty ft in diameter, the broch is in very good condition for its age- and certainly disproves the theory that man was a primitive savage in the Iron Age!

Unst

The most northern of Britain’s islands, Unst can be got to by ferry or even a short flight from Mainland- and it’s worth the trip. And if you’re keen on history, Unst is one island you must visit- the entire place is steeped in history, with old churches, a castle and ruins galore. The castle of Muness, sacked by invading troops (still without a roof) is an important landmark of Unst, as is St Olaf’s Chapel, very old and also roofless (was carrying away a roof essential when plundering a place?!). However, Unst isn’t all historic buildings; also on its list of attractions are natural beauties. Along much of the coastline, otters, seals and other marine life are to be seen, and protected areas like the Keen of Hamar and Hermaness (a bird reserve, with more than 10,000 birds- mainly puffins and skuas) are excellent places to visit if wildlife interests you.

There are, of course, many other sights to see in the Shetlands: the wild, and rather untamed, beauty of the islands is a sight in itself, and there are ancient and medieval castles, ruins, and churches aplenty. Lochs, steep, wind-blown cliffs and beaches are simply made for long treks and nature studies, and even if you don’t head anywhere in particular, there’s a lot to see.