7 off-the-beaten track adventures in Shetland

Even in Shetland’s lively capital town, Lerwick, you can soon find yourself somewhere that feels wonderfully remote. A good example of this is the Ness of Sound, a promontory south of the town. It’s part of a circular walk, which should take you just over an hour to complete. As you walk along Sea Road and around the headland, you’ll enjoy uninterrupted views across to Bressay, the South Mainland and the island of Mousa – and you’ll also come across military remains dating back to the second world war. The walk concludes at Lerwick’s main beach, the Sands of Sound.

Shetland’s Westside has many a beauty spot waiting to be discovered, but one of its best kept secrets is the "Gairdins i Sand". These beautiful 60-acre gardens are free to visit and offer a sheltered oasis for a diverse collection of plants to thrive in. The gardens have a wooded area on their upper level, which is perfect for impromptu games of hide and seek. In the gardens’ lower level, there are large ponds, lawns and meadows stretching down towards the sea. It’s a perfect place for frog spotting in spring too.

At the northernmost tip of the Mainland, Fethaland isn’t the most accessible place on this list, but it’s one of the most fascinating, and you’re quite likely to have it to yourself. Not only will you find spectacular vistas and two rocky beaches, but you’ll also find the remains of Shetland’s largest and busiest haaf (deep sea) fishing station, where about 60 fishing boats known as sixareens, used to operate.

Fethaland has a special feel to it. The remains of the abandoned fishermen’s lodges contribute to its haunting atmosphere, and it’s strange to think how lively and productive this solitary place must once have been.

It’s perhaps strange to describe stones of this size as a ‘hidden’ treasure, but you could easily miss them, as they are over on the east side of the Mainland. A must-see for anyone interested in geology, these two enormous boulders are glacial erratics (meaning they have been carried to this spot by a glacier and deposited as the ice melted). To get a true sense of the enormous scale of these stones, you really need to see them in the context of their glacial landscape. This is a splendid place to enjoy a picnic, while quietly contemplating the power of nature.

The beaches on Shetland’s South Mainland are popular with visitors, and rightly so. Among these beaches, the picture-perfect tombolo at St Ninian’s Isle snaps up a lot of visitors’ attention, while its lovely neighbour Maywick is often overlooked. This is a shame because Maywick is a special spot, ideal for anyone seeking solitude.

More sheltered than the famous tombolo nearby, it has spotless sands, views over to South Havra and East Burra and a burn running down the beach (dam builders will be kept busy for hours!). The surrounding cliffs are a favourite nesting spot for fulmars, so it’s a good spot for birdwatching too.

What could be more exciting than a trip to a smuggler’s cave? Although the cave can be a little tricky to find you’re likely to have it to yourself, giving you peace to act out your pirate fantasies undisturbed. A rope ladder makes for an exciting descent, but you can also access the cave by sea if you are kayaking. Once inside the cave, let the roar of the sea pull you back into the past to the days of smuggling and piracy. And spare a thought for the young men who would once have hidden in caves like this to avoid being captured by the Press Gangs that patrolled Shetland.

Often overlooked by visitors, the Burn of Lunklet is a Westside treasure set in the heathery hillsides between Voe and Aith. A popular walk for locals, the highlight is the steep waterfall named ramnahol (pool of the ravens) after the ravens that once nested on its banks. Keep your eyes open and you may even be able to spot some ravens – or perhaps even mountain hares.

Lovely in all weathers, this walk is a good one to do after heavy rainfall to see the waterfall at its most impressive.

These are just seven hidden treasures of Shetland, but there are many more tucked away places just waiting to be discovered. Why not ask a local about their favourite ‘off-the beaten track’ place? Chances are they’ll be only too delighted to share it with you.

If you're planning a trip to Shetland and are looking for inspiring places to explore and exciting things to do, head over to the Visit section of our website.