In a single location, Jarlshof spans more than 4,000 years of human settlement. Its remains include oval Bronze Age houses, an Iron Age broch and roundhouses, Norse longhouses, a medieval farmstead, and a 16th-century laird’s house. The range of these buildings brings Shetland’s long history of settlement to life through its very different periods.
History Between Brochs and Boats
The Shetland Museum and Archives also devotes its extensive collections to the history, heritage and culture of the islands. Unst Boat Haven offers a different perspective on the maritime past: it displays handmade boats from Shetland and Scandinavia, including the “Far Haaf” Sixareen, alongside an extensive collection of maritime artefacts. The exhibitions convey Unst’s relationship with the sea and explore the historical importance of fishing, inshore angling and sailing regattas.
In Lerwick, Up Helly Aa is a highlight of the events calendar: the festival takes place every year on the last Tuesday in January and culminates in a torchlit procession and the burning of a galley. Check the event details for the year of your trip. Craft offers another perspective on island culture. The Shetland Craft Trail leads to workshops, open studios and workshops focused on traditional and contemporary textile techniques. Check which craftspeople are taking part and the dates before your trip.
Mousa Broch tells another chapter in the islands’ history. It is the best-preserved example of an Iron Age broch and is open to the public. Here, the focus is on its construction and its long historical context; on Unst, meanwhile, Unst Boat Haven combines material collections with the history of life at sea.
Coasts, Wildlife and Island Trails
Shetland is a UNESCO Global Geopark and has more than 1,500 miles of coastline. In many places, the terrain is suitable for walking, cycling or horse riding. The coast also offers opportunities for sea kayaking, surfing, stand-up paddleboarding and diving. This wide range is best illustrated by individual landscapes: the Eshaness Coast Trail follows the coast via Calders Geo and Breigeo to Grind o da Navir. The Mousa Circular is a coastal and heathland loop around the RSPB reserve on Mousa.
On Unst, the cliffs of Hermaness NNR shape the coastal landscape; they are home to more than 100,000 breeding seabirds. The Saito Trail and Muckle Flugga Trail offer cliff walks and views of the lighthouse. Check trail conditions before setting out. Hermaness is on Unst and can be reached from Shetland Mainland by two ferry crossings. Check the timetables for this connection before your trip.
Mousa offers a different focus: the island is accessible only by boat. From April to September, a ferry runs from Sandsayre and Leebitton; Mousa Boat Trips offers day trips as well as night trips, when storm petrels can be watched returning to their breeding grounds in the broch. It is also worth checking travel options in advance. The two places therefore involve different planning considerations: Hermaness requires two ferry crossings, while Mousa requires a boat journey and involves seasonal services.
Wildlife Watching and Local Seafood
Seals can be spotted along Shetland’s coast year-round; orcas may also be seen close to shore between May and August. Harbour porpoises are one of the special wildlife-watching opportunities in Mousa Sound. The Sound is one of the best places in Britain to see them; in Shetland, harbour porpoises are also known as “Neesick”. These different viewing seasons bring changing highlights to the coast throughout the year, without guaranteeing a sighting.
Local seafood is also part of the islands’ character, with mussels, herring, mackerel and salmon among the highlights. Mussels are served, among other places, at Frankie’s Fish & Chips on Busta Voe and at Fjarå Café; check current availability. For bus, ferry and flight times, Shetland Travel Information supports trip planning with up-to-date information in an app. This helps you coordinate practical connections and seasonal services with the cultural and coastal destinations you want to visit.
Discover more destinations: Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Hillswick, Midlothian, Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, Clackmannanshire, Perth And Kinross.
For the main travel overview: Scotland.
