The Shetland Islands September 2027

SUMMARY

Dates: Sunday 19th to Thursday 23rd September 5 days/4nights

Guide:  Sarah de Rees, lives on Orkney and has hiked extensively on Orkney and the Shetlands.

Walking Grade: Goat 3 coastal hikes to explore the very best of the Shetland Islands.

Max distance: 10 miles/16km

Maximum ascent: 450m the highest point on the Shetlands offering panoramic views of the islands.

Terrain: coastal paths, heather moorlands and some bogs 

Highlights:

• Huge cliffs home to seabird colonies
• Fascinating history and heritage
• A vibrant,beautiful island
• A feeling of remoteness and peace

Base: Brae Hotel on the end of the islands, right by the sea. A great base for your holiday.

Getting there: meet up is at the Brae Hotel .

We recommend travelling on the overnight ferry from Orkney to the Shetlands with Sarah, our guide. The ferry departs 23.45 and arrives 7.30am ( these are subject to any changes in 2027 – booking possible from Oct)

How to get to the Shetland Isles

There is an electric bus service throughout Scotland which is a cheap,sustainable way to travel Ember buses

Departure:  Thursday after breakfast .

For those travelling back to Orkney for our Orkney holiday starting at 17.00 on September 23rd we recommend flying Logan Air to Kirkwall.

Price: £1,900 per person ( or £1600 pp sharing)

• Bed and Breakfast in ensuite double room for solo occupancy
• Packed Lunches for your 4 walking days.
• All evening meals
• Minibus for walks to explore the island fully
• Experienced Guide throughout your holiday

Not included:

• Travel to Shetland and return
• Drinks from the bar
• Additional activities not in the itinerary

DETAILS

Shetland is a remote, dramatic archipelago of over 100 islands (16 inhabited) located 150 miles north of mainland Scotland.  It is known for having a strong community spirit, rich wildlife, and dramatic landscapes.

Shetland was ruled by Norway until the 15th century. It has been called the bridge between Scotland and Scandinavia.

There is plenty of wildlife to see and the islands are known as a world-class  birdwatching destination. You may see the famous Shetland pony, puffins, Great Skua’s,Arctic Terns and a whole host of bird life.

We believe the best way to discover these magical isles is to pop on your hiking boots and get out there!

ITINERARY

The itinerary may change depending on the weather and at the discretion of your guide. You will be briefed each day about the hike for the next day. Weather is very changeable on islands and your guide will select the best hike for the weather.

These are the 4 walks we intend to do – the order will depend on the weather ..

Eshaness and Tangwick Circular Walk.  14km, 330m ascent.

A stunning coastal walk with breathtaking clifftop scenery, sea birds, seals and maybe otters.  There is the option to stop for a cuppa and visit to Tangwick Haa Museum en route which tells the history of the Northmavine area.

Hermaness National Nature Reserve, Unst. Up to 8.5m/13km, 372m ascent.

A must do cliffwalk in Shetland!  Visit the most northerly point in the British Isles, overlook Muckle Flugga island with its most Northerly lighthouse in the UK. Visit Hermaness seabird city with 100,000 seabirds such as puffins, guillemots, razorbils, fulmars and Great skuas, and Hermaness Gannet Colony  where you can watch over 50,000 gannets nesting on the 170m towering cliffs.

Mu Ness and Sandwick Bay Circular, Unst.  Up to 16km.

A rewarding, scenic circuit beginning at Muness Castle, the most northerly castle in Britain, and following windswept Mu Ness headland for big skies, sea cliffs and wide views. The coastal path continues along the stunning Sandwick beach and full of Pictish, Viking and 19th Century history including the historic Framgord chapel and longhouse and passing the ruins of an abandoned township. The return via Hannigarth offers easier road walking to finish.

Uyea Circular from Sandvoe, Northmavine.  15km.

A fantastic circular walk along the northern coast of Mainland Shetland, returning via an inland path passing the Beorgs of Uyea, the remains of a Neolithic axe factory.

 Ness – The Otter Walk, Yell.  Circa 12km. This is more a 2 Goat walk but we may want to swop one of the other walks to see the otters. A beautiful coastal walk to Burra Ness broch.  Yell is argued to be one of the best places in Britain to see otters, and it was around this stretch of coast that Hugh Miles shot most of the footage for his award winning BBC documentary, On the Track of the Wild Otter.

There will be  shorter options we might do if weather is not good