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Tours and Trips

In Shetland, we have a range of operators providing internal tours - by both land and sea. Most specialise in a particular area, allowing you to build your holiday around your favourite elements or pick and choose to gain an overall view.

Listed below are our internal tour and trip operators.

...Over Land

Allied Taxis
As well as a 24hr taxi service, Allied also offer customised tours.  Find out more about Shetland from the qualified tour guide drivers.

Blue Sky Studios
Blue Sky offer a range of art classes and workshops focusing on Shetland's fantastic natural and built landscapes. Whether you want regular classes, a full weekend workshop or just for a few hours, they will do their best to meet your requirements.

Island Trails (4*)
Island Trails have a range of guided walks and bespoke tours available on request.  Whether you want a short walk around Lerwick to discover it's past or a longer tour around the islands, Island Trails can meet your requirements.

See Shetland with Sarah McBurnie
Sarah offers a variety of guided tours around Shetland.  Choose from an existing tour or have one tailor made to meet your own individual interests.

Shetland Field Studies Group
A series of guided walks all around Shetland led by local experts.  Bookings can be made at the Lerwick visitor information centre.

Shetland Geotours (3*)
Do you have a passion for the great outdoors? Do you want a holiday with a difference? Geotours offer a range of guided walks and scenic tours to the mysterious, scenic and wilder parts of Shetland.

Shetland Islands Tourist Guides Association
The Tourist Guides Association is made up of a large number of tour guides, each with their own individual talents and specialities.  The Association covers a wide range of interests and languages, ensuring a suitable guide is available for any visitor requiring their services.

Shetland Nature Holidays & Tours (4*)
Shetland Nature offer a range of packaged holidays to Shetland to include travel, accommodation and wildlife watching opportunities.  In addition, Shetland Nature Holidays and Tours can also offer on arrival tours and trips to meet your individual requirements.

Shetland Otters
Shetland Otters' guides Terry Holmes and John Campbell have over 40 years experience watching otters and combined guiding experience of 25 years.  Join them on one of their packaged holidays or arrange a personalised tour.

Shetland Ranger Service
Learn about Shetland's nature with a variety of guided walks from one of Shetland's knowledgeable rangers.

Shetland Small Group Tours (2*)
Shetland Small Group Tours offer personalised tours around most areas of Shetland with Roy Greenwald for groups of up to 6 people. Airport and ferry transfers. Alternatively, take your own car to enjoy the guide only service.

Shetland Wildlife
Shetland Wildlife is an award-winning company specialising in week-long wildlife holidays with experienced local guides. The comprehensive service covers all travel and accommodation and their experts will ensure you get the most out of your time in Fair Isle, Mousa, Noss and the North Isles of Shetland.

Textile Mini-Tours - NEW!
The Centre for Creative Industries, Shetland will be organising 3 textile mini-tours in 2011 with dates in April, July & September.  The tours will include visits to numerous sites of interest across Mainland Shetland before heading north to Unst and Yell for the workshops.

Wool Holiday - NEW!
Join Jamieson & Smith in the campaign to promote real wool.  The wool holiday, which takes place 11th-16th October 2011, includes knitting and spinning in their Lerwick shop, master classes in traditional Shetland knitting techniques and a week-long scavenger hunt at the Shetland Museum & Archives.  Other activities include visiting a local crofter, grading and sorting demonstrations and viewings of the renowned Shetland Lace collection. Download itinerary

Boat Trips: Explore Shetland by Sea

Cycharters (4*)
Cycharters skipper John Tulloch, based in Scalloway, runs exhilarating boat trips on the west coast of Shetland, including regular excursions to the amazing cliffs of Foula, world HQ of the famous Great Skua or Bonxie.  Private charters and sea angling by arrangement.

Dim Riv Sailings
Sailing trips on Viking Longship 'Dim Riv'.  Departure from the small boat harbour slipway in Lerwick. Scheduled sailings June - September, Wednesdays at 7pm.  For bookings, email neil.robertson@shetland.gov.uk or text 07970 864189.  Private charters also available.

Northmavine Charters
Most northerly mainland charter boat, Northmavine Charters is ideal for fishing trips including wreck fishing/sight seeing tours for groups or individuals.  Choose from 3hr, 5hr or full day trips. Refreshments, rods,tackle and bait included.  Contact Kevin Tait on 07765907818 or kevintait@nothmavine-charters.shetland.co.uk for bookings.

Seabirds and Seals (4*)
Seabirds and Seals operate daily sailings to the seabird cities and seal colonies at Noss with award-winning wildlife guide Dr Jonathan Wills.  Join them onboard the twin-engined excursion vessel Dunter III complete with underwater TV cameras to show you Shetland beneath the waves.  Dive boat charters available by arrangement.

Shetland Marine Charters
Shetland Marine Charters is a boat hire business operating from the Brae marina and is aimed at visitors and locals who want to fish in coastal waters or who are interested in having a close quarters encounter with local marine mammals and birds whilst enjoying the magnificent coastline of Delting and Muckle Roe.

Shetland Sea Charters (1*)
Daily boat trips with expert guides around Bressay and Noss onboard the MV Alluvion.  Private charters available by arrangement. Bookings can be made at the Lerwick information centre or by contacting 01595 692577.

Shetland Yachting Limited
Shetland Yachting Limited's newly acquired Bavaria 37, "Reach North", will be available for charter from May 2011 and bookings are being taken now.  "Reach North" has three double cabins, one forward and two aft, and is capable of accommodating up to eight people. 

Simmer Dim Charters
Experience beautiful scenery, birds, widlife, sea angling and much more.  For bookings, please phone 01595 810 494.

St Magnus Bay Charters (3*)
St Magnus Bay Charters, operated by Victor Gray, offers boat trips from Aith Marina passing out into St Magnus Bay. Spectacular sea cliffs, stacks and caves. Private charters by arrangement.

The Swan
The Swan Trust offers voyages around the Shetland Islands, and to other destinations such as Faroe, Norway, Iceland and Amsterdam.

Thule Charters (4*)
Join the crew onboard the 'Ruby May', a Wildcat 40 motor yacht with a fly bridge. Based in Lerwick, Thule Charters operate marine sightseeing and wildlife tours to some of Britain's most famous landmarks, wildlife and nature reserves. Tours are available all around Shetland and private charters by arrangement.

Mousa Boat Trips (4*)
Visit Mousa to see the world famous broch and wildlife. A 20 minute boat trip from Aithsvoe, Cunningsburgh takes you to the small island, with a few hours to explore the island on foot. Evening trips are available from late May to late July to see storm petrels returning to the broch after a day at sea.
Ranger service guided walks on Mousa are available in the summer season.

Muckle Flugga Charters (4*)
Visit the world-famous Hermaness National Nature Reserve which also covers the Muckle Flugga rocks and Out Stack as well as the seabird cliffs and moorland of Hermaness.  Scheduled tours from Baltasound Pier in Unst. All tours are undertaken by experienced, fully qualified skippers. Muckle Flugga Charters also offer private sightseeing, sea angling and diving trips by arrangement.