Region guide
Family days out in Shetland
Puffins, seals and Up Helly Aa, on the northernmost islands in Britain.
Shetland is closer to Norway than to Edinburgh, and it feels it — dramatic cliffs, huge seabird colonies, and wildlife-watching that's hard to match anywhere else in the country.
It takes a ferry or a flight to get here, so this tends to be a trip rather than a day out, but the islands are compact enough to see a real cross-section in a long weekend.
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Historic
Jarlshof
Extraordinary site layering 4,000 years of settlement from Bronze Age to Viking times.
Nature
Sumburgh Head Lighthouse and Visitor Centre
Clifftop lighthouse with a nature centre and, in summer, puffins at close range.
Museum
Shetland Museum and Archives
Free waterfront museum in Lerwick covering Shetland's history, boats and culture.
Historic
Clickimin Broch
Ancient Iron Age broch on the edge of Lerwick, free to explore and easily reached on foot from the town centre.
Nature
Eshaness
Spectacular volcanic sea cliffs in the north of Shetland's Mainland, with a lighthouse and dramatic coastal walks.