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    | Puffin in Shetland

    Wildlife Adventures

    The Shetland Isles

    137 reviews


    Deposit From: £734£734
    Region: Orkney and Shetland Isles
    Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights
    Confirmed: When 2 Travellers Book

    All you need to know about your trip, this essential document is a must for all adventures.

      From: £2,695 View Prices & Dates

      Trip Overview

      Created by: Stevie Christie


      Join us on an unforgettable walking adventure to the Shetland Isles – a remote archipelago of more than 100 exposed islands off the northern tip of Scotland. 

      A UNESCO Global Geopark, the geology of Shetland gives rise to a unique habitat for wildlife – from the eclectic birdlife that nest on the plunging cliffs to the otters, seals, and dolphins that play in the salty waves. In the company of your highly knowledgeable guide, gain a privileged insight into the culture, heritage, and biodiversity of this beautiful place. With a human history that stretches back over 5,00o years, explore ruined forts, ancient houses, and standing stones. Hike out to the island’s wildest, most dramatic corners and stroll along quiet, sandy beaches that stretch out beneath the sky. If you’re familiar with the gripping TV crime drama ‘Shetland’, which grew out of Ann Cleeves’ award-winning detective novels, then you’ll be gifted with many recognisable backdrops – from machair fringed dunes to the sandstone houses of Lerwick. Enjoy every day – soaking up the tranquillity of nature while learning about the island’s fascinating ecology. As the sun sinks below the horizon, relax in hand-picked accommodation, enjoying delicious food and lovely company.

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      Day by Day
      Itinerary

      Day 1 – Walking in the Shetland Isles Read Less

      Day 1

      Walking in the Shetland Isles

      This morning, you will meet your guide at the ferry terminal in Lerwick to start your Shetland wildlife holiday. The trip begins shortly after the arrival of the overnight ferry from Aberdeen, or you may choose to fly to Shetland and stay in Lerwick the night before. We drive over to the northwest coast of the mainland, where you will enjoy a stunning walk to ease you into our week on the Shetland Isles. Afterwards, settle into our accommodation. Tonight, before dinner, your guide will then formally welcome everyone to Shetland and deliver a full trip briefing.

      Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner

      Day 2 – Jarlshof and Bird Watching on Shetland Read Less

      Day 2

      Jarlshof and Bird Watching on Shetland

      Visit Jarlshof pre-historic site and walk to Sumburgh Head RSPB Reserve for some birdwatching. Set out on a wonderful coastal walk with excellent views of seabird colonies, including gannets, auks, and bonxies. Keep your eyes peeled for whales, which can sometimes be spotted offshore. If time permits, we will explore the Ness of Burgi Stone Age Fort.

      Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

      Day 3 – Coastal Walk on Shetland Read Less

      Day 3

      Coastal Walk on Shetland

      One of the best hiking routes in Shetland is found just a short drive north of our hotel at the superb headland of Eshaness. Here, join your friendly guide on a coastal walk to explore the fascinating coastal scenery around the Villains of Ure, the Grind of the Navir, and the Holes of Scraada.

      Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

      Day 4 – Walking up Ronas Hill: Shetland’s Highest Peak Read Less

      Day 4

      Walking up Ronas Hill: Shetland’s Highest Peak

      Today, we head north from our hotel and cross the narrow isthmus of Mavis Grind to Northmavine – a northern peninsula of Shetland. Here, walk through an Arctic landscape to the summit of Ronas Hill, Shetland’s highest peak at 450 m/1,476 ft.

      Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

      Day 5 – Bird-Watching Cruise to Noss and Bressay Read Less

      Day 5

      Bird-Watching Cruise to Noss and Bressay

      The cliffs of Noss and Bressay are a haven for seabirds. Today is the perfect opportunity for photography as you visit one of the world’s prime locations for bird-watching. The Noss National Nature Reserve is home to thousands of gannets, guillemots, kittiwakes, and puffins, as well as hundreds of razorbills, black guillemots, shags, and skuas. Enjoy a cruise around the spectacular cliffs in what is sure to be a highlight of this trip.

      Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

      Day 6 – Walking on the Islands of Yell and Unst Read Less

      Day 6

      Walking on the Islands of Yell and Unst

      Today, travel by ferry to the islands of Yell and Unst in northeast Shetland. On Unst, take in the rugged landscape as you walk to Herma Ness, one of the world’s largest breeding colonies of bonxie. This is a superb and wild spot to gaze out across the sea to the sensationally placed lighthouse on the island of Muckle Flugga and the tiny rock of Out Stack, the most northerly point of land in the United Kingdom.

      Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

      Day 7 – Coastal Walk on St Ninian’s Isle Read Less

      Day 7

      Coastal Walk on St Ninian’s Isle

      This morning, hop in the van on a drive to southern Shetland. Walk across a beautiful sandy tombolo that connects to St Ninian’s Isle for great views out to the island of Foula. Afterwards, we head back into Lerwick for a short walk around The Knab before your walking holiday in Shetland ends where it started: at the ferry terminal. 

      Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

      X
      Wildlife
      The Shetland Isles

      To download a PDF copy of our Trip Itinerary, containing full details about this holiday, please complete the form below:

      Fields marked with * are mandatory

      The phone number field is not required but if you would like us to give you a call to help find the trip for you, then enter your telephone number including the country code.

      Trip Dates & Prices

      All payments taken in local currency GBP

      Trip Dates for 2025AvailabilityStatusPriceBook
      12th Apr - 18th Apr 20258 place(s) leftAvailable £2,695Book Now
      26th Apr - 2nd May 20258 place(s) leftAvailable £2,695Book Now
      10th May - 16th May 20256 place(s) leftAvailable £2,695Book Now
      17th May - 23rd May 20256 place(s) leftGuaranteed £2,695Book Now
      24th May - 30th May 20258 place(s) leftAvailable £2,695Book Now
      14th Jun - 20th Jun 20258 place(s) leftAvailable £2,695Book Now
      5th Jul - 11th Jul 20256 place(s) leftGuaranteed £2,695Book Now

      Make This Trip Private

      Fancy this trip just for your group? Get together with family and friends spend quality time exploring wild places. A private trip allows you to benefit from all the features of the group departure, including hand-picked accommodation and expert local guides but with the advantage of the flexibility to tailor the days to your group. Make the trip more or less challenging depending on your experience or choose to add in some optional extras like castle or distillery visits depending on your interests. The price of a private trip will depend on the number of travellers in your group. Let us know your preferred departure date and we'll take care of the rest.

      Enquire Now
      X
      Wildlife
      The Shetland Isles

      For private departure enquiries, please complete the form below:

      Trip Details

      Accommodation Read More

      Accommodation on this trip is at the wonderful Busta House Hotel, well regarded as the best hotel in the Shetland Isles. Located on the shore of sheltered Busta Voe on mainland Shetland, Busta House blends history, romance, and intimacy with an attention to detail which makes for a perfect stay. The house was built during the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries and is steeped in history – it is even said to have a resident ghost! It’s the perfect location to base ourselves to take advantage of the best of Shetland’s walks.

      Single Rooms

      There is no supplement charged to solo travellers, however, you will be required to share a room with another person of the same sex. If you request a double room for single occupancy, a supplement of £450.00 is charged.

      Due to the nature of the accommodations we use, single supplements are limited and are allocated on a first come first served basis.

      Meals Read More

      This trip is ‘All Inclusive’. At Busta House, food plays a major role in your experience – especially local Shetland produce such as Shetland hill lamb, free range pork from Unst, and fresh seafood from all around the islands. Also, most recently and a world-first; organically farmed cod from Johnson Sea Farms at Vidlin.

      We will dine at Busta House several times during the week, where you can choose from its excellent restaurant, or extensive bar, menu.

      Included dinners are two courses as standard.

      Inclusions Read More
      • Six nights accommodation in a country house hotel.
      • All meals throughout from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 7.
      • A boat trip to the Noss National Nature Reserve to view the prolific birdlife.
      • Entrance fees to the Jarlshof centre.
      • The services of an experienced and knowledgeable guide / driver throughout.
      • All transport throughout the trip, starting from the ferry terminal on Day 1 and finishing there or at Sumburgh Airport.
      • All ferry transfers while on Shetland.
      Grading Read More

      Green Graded 1-3

      Green graded walking holidays are suitable for active travellers who are reasonably fit and enjoy moderate hikes. We walk at a comfortable pace and you can expect to be out for 5-6 hours a day. The terrain will be mostly good paths and hill trails but these can still be muddy and rough in places. Some hikes may involve an ascent up to a max of approx 1,500 ft/450 m. Distances will be typically 8-10km but there may be the odd slightly longer day. Daily hike details are available in the itinerary.

      Travel - Arrival and Departure Read More

      You will be met by your Wilderness Scotland Guide at Lerwick Ferry Terminal at 8.30am on Day 1 of your trip. If staying in Shetland the night before, we recommend finding accommodation in Lerwick.

      The trip will conclude at Lerwick Ferry Terminal at 2.30pm on the final day of the trip. We can also offer a drop off at Sumburgh Airport before we head to Lerwick if requested–please let us know.

      Shetland is reached by an overnight ferry from Aberdeen to Lerwick (operated by Northlink Ferries). Alternatively, Loganair operates flights to Sumburgh Airport from Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen, and Edinburgh. Please note that Sumburgh Airport is 25 miles from Lerwick and is served by bus or taxi.

      Upon booking the trip, please confirm whether you will travelling to Shetland by ferry or plane. If you are flying to Shetland, please arrive the day before the trip starts to ensure a prompt start for the group on Day 1.

      For advice on getting to and from Scotland, please see our travel advice page: www.wildernessscotland.com/faq/travel-to-scotland/

      If you would like to use your own vehicle on the trip, please get in touch with our team to discuss.

      Speak to an Expert

      Bridget Brown

      Our friendly office team hail from across the world but share a passion for the outdoor and wild spaces of Scotland. We are committed to providing you with the best customer service and are more than happy to chat through options and provide help and advice. Get in touch to find your perfect adventure.

      Ask Bridget a Question

      Difficulty Grades Explained

      Green Graded 1-3

      Green graded walking holidays are suitable for active travellers who are reasonably fit and enjoy moderate hikes. We walk at a comfortable pace and you can expect to be out for 5-6 hours a day. The terrain will be mostly good paths and hill trails but these can still be muddy and rough in places. Some hikes may involve an ascent up to a max of approx 1,500 ft/450 m. Distances will be typically 8-10km but there may be the odd slightly longer day. Daily hike details are available in the itinerary.

      Find Out More

      Trip Reviews

      Rated 4.92 out of 5 based on 137 review(s) of Wildlife Adventures – The Shetland Isles

       

      Every client receives a feedback survey when they return from their guided, self guided or tailor made holiday with us. Once completed the review is published on our website just as soon as our database updates. The little touches and details are important to us and where issues are raised we make positive changes to our trips to improve your experience.

      That’s why we read each of our client’s reviews and although we don’t respond to all of them, if it’s glowing feedback then we get the satisfaction of helping to make your holidays truly memorable.

      EU

      Emmanuelle Umiglia

      Reviewed on 28/07/2024

      Age: 50 - 60
      Country: Switzerland
      Trip Date: 06/07/2024
      Trips Taken: 1

      The Bottom Line

      The Bottom Line

      Fantastic discoveries, especially because I hardly knew anything about birdlife ! It certainly lived up to my expectations, and above... thank you!

      DC

      David Cope

      Reviewed on 20/07/2024

      Age: 60 - 70
      Country: United Kingdom
      Trip Date: 06/07/2024
      Trips Taken: 1

      The Bottom Line

      The Bottom Line

      Excellent experience. It truly was all inclusive with only drinks to pay for.

      MK

      Meg Kenny

      Reviewed on 01/07/2024

      Age: 70 - 80
      Country: United States
      Trip Date: 15/06/2024
      Trips Taken: 1

      The Bottom Line

      The Bottom Line

      I really did read and re-read the itinerary. I felt it was more "hiking" than walking - I was really not prepared to do very long hikes on rolling hills. I did it buy was looking for a bit more birding than the trip offered. The poles you provided were really great - that was relayed to me when asking if I should pack a pair. I think the hotel, our guide and the few birding intense days made this a very special and enjoyable trip. We are big "Shetland, the series" fans so traveling there was something we really wanted to do. For me, the price/value of the trip was spot on.

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