Where was Gone Fishing filmed in Shetland?

Revered comedians turned fishermen, Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse’s light-hearted angling adventures around the UK have become one of TV’s most whimsical hit shows. Now in its ninth series, Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing visited Shetland, where the duo experienced the islands' spectacular fishing opportunities and scenery.

From fly fishing a freshwater loch for trout to dramatic shore fishing on the edge of the Atlantic, the programme highlighted just a small part of what makes Shetland a choice destination for anglers.

The show is available to UK viewers with a TV licence via the BBC iPlayer.

We’ve compiled more information about where the programme was filmed and why Shetland continues to attract visiting and local anglers.

One of the locations featured in the programme was Tingwall Loch, in the heart of Shetland’s Central Mainland. It is a large freshwater loch situated just a short drive from Lerwick or the village of Scalloway, where the pair stayed. More on that village later.

Surrounded by rolling hills and open landscapes, Tingwall Loch is known for its wild brown trout fishing. It’s also a haven for wildlife, including colonies of seabirds like black-headed gulls and tufted ducks. Like many Shetland lochs, it offers anglers the chance to fish in a peaceful setting where nature, wildlife and wide-open views are all part of the experience.

Whether you're a seasoned fly fisher or simply looking to experience one of Shetland's best-known trout lochs, Tingwall is a great spot to try your luck from the shore or from a boat.

What makes fishing in Shetland particularly special is the variety of waters available. With hundreds of lochs spread across the islands, there are plenty of options from easily accessible roadside water to more remote locations reached on foot.

Tingwall can be a good introduction to trout fishing in Shetland. And if, like Mortimer and Whitehouse, you don't get a nibble, there are many other lochs to choose from! You can find out much more about Tingwall and many other lochs on the Shetland Anglers Association website.

The programme also visited the coastline near Minn Beach in Burra, where Bob and Paul tried their luck from the rocks.

Before speaking about the fishing, it’s worth remembering that the beach itself and the surrounding coastline are spectacular. If you’re heading there to fish, casting from the rocky coastline around Burra can produce a variety of species depending on the season and conditions, including pollack.

The appeal is not only the fishing itself. Shetland's coastline offers dramatic scenery, crystal-clear waters, spectacular views and a sense of space that is increasingly rare elsewhere in Britain.

While not out filming, the pair stayed in a small cottage overlooking Scalloway harbour, one of the islands’ main commercial ports. Scalloway is Shetland’s ancient capital and is at the centre of the Central Mainland, giving easy access to Tingwall, the islands of Trondra and Burra, and other communities including Whiteness and Weisdale and the West Side.

As Bob and Paul discovered, the harbour attracts plentiful marine wildlife, including seals. Occasionally. Orcas can also be spotted from the harbourside.

The village itself is well known for its castle and museum. As well as telling the story of Scalloway, the Scalloway Museum’s most significant exhibition focuses on the Shetland Bus, the covert operation that provided a naval link between occupied Norway and the UK during the Second World War.

With so many lochs stocked with brown trout, hundreds of miles of rugged coastline, and several ports and marinas to access the Atlantic or North Sea, It's easy to see why Shetland continues to attract anglers.

The islands offer:

• Hundreds of lochs supporting wild brown trout.
• Accessible shore fishing around much of the coastline.
• Opportunities to charter a boat for sea fishing adventures.
• Remarkable scenery and abundant wildlife.
• A chance to experience truly wild fishing.

Anyone visiting Shetland to fish should be prepared for that to be just one part of the experience. A day on the water can be followed by exploring coastal landscapes, archaeological sites, local food and welcoming communities across the islands.

Whether you're interested in targeting wild brown trout on lochs such as Tingwall or exploring Shetland's spectacular coastline from places like Burra, you'll find countless opportunities to enjoy some of the UK's most rewarding fishing.

Start planning your trip at shetland.org/angling and discover why Shetland is a lure for so many anglers.