places of interest
Shetland is ideal for people who love the great outdoors. The main website for a wide range of interests is Visit Shetland. For those seeking a full list of accommodation and travel information see Visit Scotland.com.
With six Royal Society for the Protection of Birds sites on the islands this really is a bird watchers' paradise. See rspb.org.uk/reserves for more information about the Shetland reserves and, of course, the world famous Fair Isle Bird Observatory is just half an hour away on an inter island flight. Other useful websites for the reserves include Nature in Shetland.
Fishing is very popular both in the lochs for brown trout and in the deeper waters around Shetland. Visit Shetland has a number of fishing locations and contacts for boat charters for those interested in sea angling.
Walk Shetland is the main website for walkers with a range of detailed walks across the islands, all catering for various abilities. In addition there are a number of guided walks, see Visit Shetland and specific walks and tours for those with a special interest in geology. See Shetland Geology.
Shetland's wildlife, especially in the summer months, can be a real experience to see. Orcas are regular visitors past these islands and seals are prolific. Otters have also established many habitats and a day spent with one of the experts can be most rewarding. John Campbell at Shetland Otters is based at Lunna just a short distance from Skjalbrei and is an excellent guide to otter watching.
For those interested in archaeology, Shetland has a host of sites, which are of interest to the enthusiast. Jarlshof and Scatness are excellent sites, which illustrate Shetland's ancient history and the Broch of Mousa is the finest example of its kind in the UK. It was constructed more than two thousand years ago and is still open to the public today. See Shetland Heritage for more information.
Finally, Shetland not only has an excellent Shetland Museum and Archive in the centre of Lerwick, but there are also a number of local museums including the Cabin Museum nearby in Lunnasting. Visit Shetland has further information.
