Timmy Mallett visits Shetland

Timmy Mallett visited Shetland as a painter seeking inspiration from the natural beauty and amazing views found around the islands.

He left with a gallery’s worth of new work and a newfound love for the islands and the people who call the place home.

From the stunning Sumburgh Lighthouse to the northernmost tip of the UK at Muckle Flugga, the TV presenter turned cycling artist discovered inspiration around every corner. His list of highlights includes iconic must-see locations like St Ninian’s Isle Beach, the Eshaness cliffs, and the narrow strip of land at Mavis Grind, separating the North Sea from the Atlantic Ocean.

But seeing the island on two wheels also took him to lesser-seen locations and led him to discover more about life in Shetland.

That’s how he discovered the friendly rivalry between Shetland’s ancient capital, Scalloway, and the modern version, Lerwick. That is how he found out that residents on the West Mainland know ‘West is Best’, and how he unearthed that Shetlanders can grow fruit that you normally expect to find in the Mediterranean (spoiler alert, they use a robust polytunnel).

But most of all, he left the islands with the impression that Shetland is home to a special kind of resilient, warm and genuine community – willing to help at short notice when Timmy’s beloved bike went kaput on a Saturday evening.

“It was a catastrophic fault on the bike. I don’t know what caused it, maybe it was damaged or took a knock, but the cog cracked and split from the ‘spider’ that holds it in place.”

Timmy feared the worst and thought his bike may have travelled its final mile. He hadn’t counted on Shetland’s famous community spirit and problem-solving prowess.

Within an hour of him posting about the damage on social media, a local engineer, Craig, had arrived to look at the fault. Even though it was Saturday evening, he took the bike away and “did a brilliant job welding it”.

But Timmy’s cycle woes didn’t end there. When Craig returned to reinstall the newly-fixed cog, the derailleur – a crucial part of the bike’s gear transition system – snapped. "Arrggghh!"

A quick phone call to Shetland cycling stalwart Robin Atkinson, and the issue was sorted.

“He arrived at breakfast time on Sunday morning. At 8.30 he was fitting a derailleur, and by 9 o’clock my bike was done!”

Timmy had gone from being at his wits’ end to celebrating with that well-known smile, all thanks to Shetland’s can-do attitude.

“The upshot was, ‘don’t worry, it will be done’. That’s the reaction from the people of this wonderful island, stepping up and saying, ‘Yes, we’ll get it done’.

“It melted my heart. I am absolutely thrilled because there’s a kindness and a generosity in Shetlanders’ DNA.”

Although it took an unfortunate incident for Timmy to discover the warmth of a true Shetland welcome, he was also mightily impressed by the landscapes, twists and turns, and solitude that can be found across the islands.

“It’s an extraordinary destination. It is the end of the British Isles, and being in an island does bring challenges, but people just seem to say, ‘right, I’m going to make the most of it’.

“I think that is something special, that attitude. It’s an absolute delight.”

And it’s not just the people that make Shetland a special place.

“First, you are blown away, literally, by the wind, and then you’re blown away by the stunning vistas and the great people. I have loved the sense of adventure.”

Nowhere is that more apparent than in Unst – the UK’s most northerly inhabited island, something which tickled Timmy’s enthusiastic spirit.

“Unst is brilliant with the most northerly this, that and the other!

“I sent something home to Mrs Mallett from the most northerly Post Office, and it travelled the length of the country, and it got there the next day. That was really impressive.”

Also impressive was the variety of subjects he found to paint – Bobby’s Bus Shelter in Unst, Eshaness cliffs with a strong westerly wind, Shetland ponies in the West Mainland, St Ninian’s Isle, standing stones and castles in Unst. The list goes on.

“The paintings have been getting a great reaction, which is really nice.”

The only downside is that Timmy wishes he could have seen and painted more (something he vows to do “next time”).

After experiencing Shetland’s famous wild weather and wonderful locations, what advice does Timmy have for would-be visitors?

For cyclists, his top tip is that the islands are much bigger than many people realise. Stretching close to 100 miles in length through lush valleys and windswept moors, and with about 1,700 miles of rugged coastline, there’s a ‘wow’ around every corner – and lots to explore.

“It feels longer than 100 miles when you’re cycling around and exploring.”

Timmy’s second recommendation, for all visitors, is to come with an open mind and warm clothes.

“Be prepared to be surprised, and don’t forget to pack an extra layer. It is worth the effort to travel to Shetland. It is so thrilling.”

Start planning your Shetland cycling adventure today.