Rugged, Ancient, Wildlife
Shetland is a wild, windswept archipelago where Scotland meets Scandinavia. At the southern tip is Sumburgh Head, a towering cliff topped by a world-class lighthouse. It is arguably the best place in the UK to get face-to-face with puffins (locally called “tammie nories”) as they nest in the grassy burrows right next to the paths. If you look out to the churning Atlantic, it’s also a prime spot for spotting orcas. And of course there’s the Shetland Ponies!
A short drive away is St Ninian’s Isle, a stunning shell-sand tombolo that creates a natural bridge to a tiny island—walk across it and you’ll feel like you’re walking on water. In the main town of Lerwick, the “Lodberrie” houses sit right in the sea, famously serving as the backdrop for the Shetland TV series. You’ll be hard-pressed to leave Shetland without a memento of the Shetland’s wonderful knitwear heritage. For a final taste nothing beats a dram of locally distilled gin made with botanical botanicals foraged from the peat bogs.