Shetland Islands

The Bressay Heritage Centre is a local exhibition space at the Bressay ferry terminal that is dedicated to the history of the Shetland Islands. Opened in 1996, the center hosts a variety of rotating exhibitions throughout the year, focusing on different periods in the history of Bressay, which has been inhabited for the past 6000 years. Exhibitions include storyboards documenting the village’s role during World War I and a photographic display of Bressay’s beautiful flowers in the spring. Other notable attractions at the center include a reconstruction of a Bronze Age Burnt Mound next to the Heritage Centre, and visitors can enjoy self-guided tours of the facility.

Bressay, Shetland ZE2 9EL, United Kingdom, Phone: +44-15-95-82-07-50

The Broch of Clickimin is a well-preserved example of a broch, a typical stone-built roundhouse that is found only in Scotland. Situated on the southern shores of the Clickimin Loch south-west of Lerwick, the broch is built on a small bluff protruding into the loch and is approached by a stone causeway from the mainland. Thought to be over 1,000 years old, the historic site features a blockhouse, a tower, and several smaller structures, all of which are enclosed in a thick stone wall. A large stone on the causeway has been carved into a pair of feet and is thought to date back to the late Iron Age. The Broch of Clickimin is one of the most well-preserved broch sites in the Shetland Islands.

The Willows, 38 South Rd, Lerwick, Shetland ZE1 0RD, United Kingdom

The Crofthouse Museum is a beautifully preserved Shetland croft dating back to the mid-nineteenth century and an excellent example of how families lived off the land with just the bare essentials. Based in the picturesque parish of Dunrossness, the thatched croft house is divided into two sections, namely the ‘Ben End’ (bedroom) and the ‘But End’ (kitchen). The kitchen has a roaring fireplace where all the cooking was done over peat and a lovely garden in which vegetables and herbs were grown. Knowledgeable custodians tell visitors stories of the past and what it was like to live in a croft house and off the land.

Boddam, Dunrossness, United Kingdom, Phone: +44-1950 460557

The Fair Isle Bird Observatory is an ornithologist’s paradise. The world-famous bird observatory is home to a wealth of bird species and has long been a magnet for bird enthusiasts and scientists. The observatory runs a conservation and research program for the numerous local and migrating bird species, including ringing and tagging, and monitoring local puffin colonies. Visitors can enjoy ranger-led walks, watch birds being ringed, and learn about the cultural and social history of the island. The Fair Isle Guesthouse offers comfortable overnight accommodations, a cozy lounge-bar with fantastic views, and a small gift shop. A visitor center offers a wealth of information on Fair Isle, the observatory, and the surrounding Shetland Islands.

Fair Isle, Shetland, ZE2 9JU, United Kingdom, Phone: +44-15-95-76-02-58

Fort Charlotte is a historic artillery fort in the heart of Lerwick that was built in 1781. Named after the wife of George III, the current fort was built on the site where three previous forts had stood, the first of which was constructed in 1652. The five-sided artillery fort has bastions and half bastions on all the corners and has had various use from housing a garrison during the Napoleonic Wars to being a Royal Naval Reserve, a jail and courthouse, a custom house, and a coastguard station. Today, the fort serves as the base for the Army of Shetland and is managed by Historic Environment Scotland.

179 Commercial St, Lerwick, Shetland ZE1 0HX, United Kingdom

Based in the former Fair Isle School on Fair Isle, the George Waterston Memorial Centre, and Museum is a fascinating museum dedicated to the island’s history from prehistoric times to the present. Named after much-loved local George Waterston (1911–1980), who co-founded the Fair Isle Bird Observatory and was Director of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the museum features a comprehensive collection of a variety of objects relating to the history of the island. Displays include archaeological artifacts, fine, applied and decorative art, ancient coins and textiles, old medals, and handcrafted costumes, and the museum maintains a rich and diverse archive of materials.

Shetland ZE2 9JU, United Kingdom, Phone: +44-15-95-76-02-44

Go Shetland Tours offers a hassle-free way to explore and experience the Shetland Islands with a variety of guided and tailor-made tours. The travel company offers an array of services led by a friendly, professional team with extensive knowledge of Shetland, ranging from pre-planned tours that visit off-the-beaten-path and little-known places to customized journeys that cater for personal needs. Tours are conducted in comfortable vehicles ranging from taxis with drivers to buses, depending on the size of the group, and can take a few hours or several days. Go Shetland Tours also offers guided walks with the option of transport.

Phone: +44-15-95-83-03-83

The Hermaness National Nature Reserve is a spectacular landscape of rolling hills, windswept moorlands, and dramatic cliffs beaten by crashing waves. This remote island reserve is home to a wealth of endemic fauna and flora, as well as numerous species of birds, including fulmars, kittiwakes, great skuas, gannets, and puffins who nest high on the ridges of the towering cliffs. Fields of heather, bog bilberry, cotton grass, crowberry, and mosses extend for miles and is a carpet of color in the spring when the wildflowers bloom. Managed by Scottish Natural Heritage, the reserve is home to Muckle Flugga, Britain's most northerly point, and is one of Shetland’s natural gems.

Muckleflugga Shorestation, Haroldswick, ZE2 9EQ, United Kingdom, Phone: +44-15-95-69-33-45