Tours
Start planning your ideal tour around Shetland
Your Shetland tour will be tailor-made for you! You decide where you want to go and what you want to see and learn about – this can include popular sights and/or you may want to venture off the beaten track. One of the best ways to experience Shetland’s wild and unspoilt outdoors is on a guided hike or walk. I offer tours for groups of up to 6 people and any combination of walking and driving is possible. If you are unsure where to go, just let me know what your interests are and how active you want to be, and let me plan a tour for you. Itineraries can be flexible to allow for the weather on the day and how you are feeling.
To get you in the mood, the locations of some popular hikes are shown on the map below. There are more walks and information to inspire you on the Promote Shetland website.
Your Shetland tour will be tailor-made for you! You decide where you want to go and what you want to see and learn about – this can include popular sights and/or you may want to venture off the beaten track. One of the best ways to experience Shetland’s wild and unspoilt outdoors is on a guided hike or walk. I offer tours for groups of up to 6 people and any combination of walking and driving is possible. If you are unsure where to go, just let me know what your interests are and how active you want to be, and let me plan a tour for you. Itineraries can be flexible to allow for the weather on the day and how you are feeling.
To get you in the mood, the locations of some popular hikes are shown on the map to the right. Click on any to find out more or scroll through them all below. There are more walks and information to inspire you on the Promote Shetland website.
How Much Will It Cost?
Prices start from £425 for a tour of up to 5 hours and every additional hour is charged at £75. This is for up to 6 people and does not include any entrance fees, refreshments or ferry fares.
Important Information
The weather in Shetland can be unpredictable at any time of year. It is said we can experience four seasons in one day! Make sure you bring warm and wind/waterproof clothing on all tours. There are few prepared paths and most walking will be over rough and often wet ground, so sturdy, ideally waterproof footwear is essential. I recommend wearing hiking boots.
Mousa
Don't miss a trip to this special island, full of history, seabirds and seals
Mousa is a small uninhabited island off Shetland’s east coast, reached by a short boat journey. It is home to the world’s best preserved broch – a 2000 year old Iron Age tower whose exact purpose remains a mystery. Mousa is also a nature reserve and home to many ground-nesting birds as well as breeding colonies of various seabirds, including storm petrels who nest within the walls of the broch. The sailing schedule leaves plenty of time for a leisurely walk around the island and a visit to the broch.
Duration: 3 hrs Grade: Easy
Noss
Visit the cliffs of Shetland's "Seabird City"
The island of Noss is a nature reserve, reached by first taking the ferry to Bressay and then an inflatable dinghy across Noss Sound (approx. 5 min crossing). The sandstone cliffs provide ideal nesting sites for many seabirds, including gannets, guillemots, razorbills, fulmars and puffins. The gannetry is the UK’s seventh largest and the sight, sound and smell are something to behold! We circumnavigate the island taking plenty of time to enjoy the views and birds. Walking is on a grassy track with a steep ascent to Noss Head.
Duration: 3-5 hrs Grade: Moderate to Challenging
Kettlaness
Walk along a pristine white beach and dramatic coast with fine views
Kettlaness is a headland at the southern-most tip of the island of Burra, reached by crossing two bridges. It is joined to Burra by a tombolo, flanked on one side by Minn Beach. We walk along the beach, then circumnavigate the headland with its dramatic coastline. During the summer months, red-throated divers can often be seen on the lochs. Walking is mostly on short grass.
Duration: 2-3 hrs Grade: Moderate
St Ninian's Isle
See the famous tombolo and hear about an amazing discovery
We cross the sandy tombolo – a natural causeway with waves breaking on either side – and then follow the coast around the island. There is plenty of rugged cliff scenery with stunning views, and on a clear day you can see the remote island of Foula to the west. Towards the end of the walk, we come to the site of a 12th-century chapel, where a young schoolboy found treasure dating back to about AD800. This is a walk not to be missed and can easily be shortened.
Duration: 2-3 hrs Grade: Easy to Moderate
Hillswick Ness
Enjoy views of stunning rock formations and the open sea
This walk takes us from the small village of Hillswick in the North Mainland around a remote headland with amazing rock formations including cliffs and sea stacks. The views out to sea and to other parts of Shetland Mainland are spectacular. The walk ends at a sandy beach, with the possibility of a paddle or even a swim! The route follows the clifftops and has some steep and some wet sections.
Duration: 4-5 hrs Grade: Moderate to challenging
Fethaland
Explore the northernmost point of Shetland Mainland
After taking the road as far north as we can, we continue on foot along the clifftops, enjoying spectacular views across to the island of Yell. We reach the remains of what was Shetland’s largest fishing station and a hive of activity in the summer months. Now deserted, this is a beautiful and atmospheric spot. Nearby, there are remains of a settlement dating back to Neolithic times. The route back is mostly along a good track. Some steep sections.
Duration: 4-5 hrs Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
Eshaness
Experience the forces of nature on this dramatic coastal hike
We begin at the Eshaness Lighthouse and follow the wild and rugged coastline to the Grind o’ da Navir, where the sea has carved out a natural amphitheatre and thrown large boulders inland. Fulmars soar along the clifftops and in early summer the ground is carpeted with sea pinks and other wildflowers. On the return leg, we divert inland to visit the Holes of Scraada, where the roof of a large sea-cave collapsed, and the Broch of Houlland.
Duration: 2-3 hrs Grade: Easy to moderate
Culswick
Discover an Iron-Age broch and some of Shetland's most spectacular coastline
Culswick lies in a fertile valley in the West Mainland. We start the walk with a visit to Culswick Chapel. Next, we take a peat track across some moorland, cross a short causeway and climb the hill to the remains of Culswick Broch – a 2000 year-old Iron-Age structure built from pink granite. We take in the view and then follow the stunning coastline with cliffs, sea stacks and red pebble beaches and explore an abandoned crofting settlement.
Duration: 2-3 hrs Grade: Moderate