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Visitor Attractions

There are a number of visitor attractions all across Shetland which are worth visiting during a trip to Shetland.

South Mainland

Crofthouse Museum (2*), Boddam, Dunrossness, tel. 01595 695057. Very popular seasonal museum.  The house is a typical thatched crofthouse of the 19th century restored with traditional materials letting visitors experience life in the 1870s. Open May - September.

Jarlshof - Prehistoric and Norse Settlement, Sumburgh.  This site is of great historical importance and consists of a number of ancient settlements dating back to the Bronze Age. Also of significance are the remains of an entire Viking settlement and late 16th century mansion house.  Jarlshof was discovered in the late 19th century when violent storms uncovered the remains.

Hoswick Visitor Centre (3*), Sandwick, tel. 01950 431406.  Large radio collection, weaving exhibits and local history.  Teas, homebakes and light lunches also available and souvenirs/crafts for sale.  Hoswick Visitor Centre is a local information point.  Open May - September.

Mousa Broch, Island of Mousa. Mousa is the finest and the best preserved broch in the world and can be accessed by a short ferry run from Sandwick. Ferry operates April - Sept.

Old Scatness Broch and Iron Age Village, Virkie, Dunrossness, tel. 01595 694688. Discover Shetland life 2000 years ago with experienced guides.  Enter Iron Age houses, learn ancient crafts and games or dress up like a Pict or Viking.  Visitor centre, workshops and events throughout the summer.  Open end May-start September (closed Fri & Sat).

Quendale Water Mill (3*), Dunrossness, tel. 01950 460969.  Beautifully restored 19th century water mill complete with visitor centre. A video shows the original mill machinery in action.  Craft shop, tea/coffee/cold drinks. Disabled access and local information point.  Open April - October.

RSPB Shetland Office, East House, Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, tel. 01950 460800.  Shetland's most accessible seabird colony.  Puffins and seabirds easily seen.  Phone for information about Sumburgh Head and our other Shetland reserves, Fetlar, Mousa and Loch of Spiggie.  Open all year.

Shetland Collection, Exnaboe, tel. 01950 460 340.  Visit the knitwear studio/workshop to see a wide variety of Shetland knitwear.

Shetland Designer, Swarthoull, Cunningsburgh, tel. 01950 477 257.  Knitwear workshop and showroom where knitwear can be seen at different stages of production.

Lerwick

Böd of Gremista (3*), Gremista, tel. 01595 694386. This 18th century fishing böd, located on the outskirts of Lerwick, was the birthplace of Arthur Anderson, co-founder of the P&O shipping company. The building houses the collection of the Shetland Textile Working Museum, specialising in the beautiful textiles that have become synonymous with the Shetland name. Operated by dedicated volunteers, the displays incorporate a room for "hands-on" activities, and a room which features the themed exhibition for the year. Open 1st May - 12th September (closed Sun & Mon).

Clickimin Broch, South Road.   Clickimin Broch is located in south Lerwick and is easily accessible.  A good example of a broch tower with associated secondary buildings of Iron Age date.  Open access.

Fort Charlotte, Charlotte Street.  Fort Charlotte was originally built in the 17th century, destroyed by the Dutch during a war with England, and finally reconstructed in the 1782 and named after the wife of King George III.  Open access.

Lodberries, Commercial Street.  The shore is lined by the houses, stores and piers which are collectively called lodberries (from the Norse, "hlad berg" = flat stone). Take a walk along these picturesque houses with thick walls, slipways and fish-drying sheds.  Open access.

Shetland Museum & Archives (5*), Hay's Dock, tel. 01595 695057.  View over 3000 artefacts, including world famous textiles, Pictish art and boats hanging in the Boat Hall.  Explore Shetland's history further through the extensive archive collections.  The Shetland museum also houses a cafe/restaurant and gift shop.  Museum open daily.  Cafe/restaurant open daily.

Up Helly Aa Exhibition, St Sunniva Street.  Taste of the celebrated Fire Festival showing a replica galley, costumes, shields, paintings, photos and video which make up this unique festival.  Open May - September, Tues, Fri & Sat only.

Central Mainland

Bonhoga Gallery (3*), Weisdale Mill, tel. 01595 745750.  Former grain mill housing Shetland's first purpose-built gallery showing local, national and international exhibitions of art and craft. Also cafe and gallery shop.  Open year round (closed Mon).  Closed one week per month for rehanging.

Burland Croft Trail, Trondra, tel. 01595 880 430.  Tommy & Mary Isbister have been working their crofts since 1976.  The Croft Trail, an interesting Shetland attraction for visitors, offers the opportunity to walk around a traditional working croft and to meet and feed native animals.  Open May-Sept, Monday  - Saturday.

Scalloway Castle, Scalloway. Built by Patrick Stewart, Earl of Orkney, in 1600. In use for only a very short time the castle fell into disrepair after his execution in 1615, but remains still stand impressively by Scalloway harbour. Open to the public. Key available from the Scalloway Hotel. Open access.

Scalloway Museum, Castle Street. The brand new Scalloway Museum, opened 2011, has an interesting display telling the story of the "Shetland Bus Operation". Scalloway was a secret base of Norwegian freedom fighters during the WWII. An interesting collection of artefacts and photographs. Open daily, May - September.

Easthouse Croft, Papil, Burra, tel. 01595 859 669.  This renovated croft house is now a heritage centre, housing photographic exhibitions and other summer dislplays.  Open in the summer months, Sunday 2-5pm and at other times by request.

West Mainland

Jamiesons Spinning Shetland Ltd, Sandness Industrial Estate, tel. 01595 870 285.  Visit the mill to see pure Shetland fleeces being made into finest quality yarns.  Open Monday - Friday.

Thordale Stud & Driving Centre, Thordale, Walls, tel. 01595 809 432.  Learn to drive a Shetland pony & cart from our qualified instructor in our indoor school.  Alternatively, take a tour in a wagonette pulled by Shetland ponies and see the local scenery.  Open April - September (closed Mondays).  Booking essential.

Delting, Lunnasting & Nesting

The Cabin, Vidlin, tel. 01806 577 232.  A museum with a difference.  The Cabin museum houses a huge variety of World War memorabilia including uniforms, weapons, supplies and pictures. The Cabin is also a local information point.  Open April - September.

Northmavine

Tangwick Haa Museum (4*), Eshaness, tel. 01806 503 389. This museum is accommodated in a restored seventeenth century mansion. All aspects of life in Northmavine over the years are well illustrated there. The museum has many fascinating objects and photographs. A unique artefact is a wedding dress and china dating from around 1840.  Also a local information point. Open April - September.

Wildlife Sanctuary, Hillswick, tel. 01806 503 348.  Visit the sanctuary to see the wonderful work Jan and Pete are doing to help animals in need.  Although the main focus is on seals and otters, they've had a number of creatures including hedgehogs, turtles and birds.  There is also a cafe at the sanctuary which serves healthy light bites in an attempt to raise funds for wildlife.

Unst

Foords Chocolates, Saxa Vord Complex, tel. 01957 711 438.  Visit the workshop where the luxury handmade chocolates are created, and learn about the process.  There is also a 'Chocolate Experience' tearoom at the factory and a new RAF exhibition. Open Tues-Sat.  Other times available by request.

Muness Castle, Muness. Muness Castle is the most northerly castle in the British Isles; built for Lawrence Bruce in 1598. It takes the form of a tower house with circular towers and it has retained a number of fine architectural details. Open access.

Unst Heritage Centre (3*), Haroldswick, tel. 01957 711 528.  The history of Unst through displays depicting crofting, fishing, geology and unique examples of spinning and fine lace knitting, as well as information on family history.  The Heritage Centre is also a local information point.  Open May - September.

Unst Boat Haven (3*), Haroldswick, tel. 01957 711 809. A unique collection of traditional small fishing and sailing boats, fishing artefacts, photos and information covering all aspects of marine heritage.  Open May - September.

Hermaness NNR and Visitor Centre (3*), Shore Station, Burrafirth, tel. 01957 711 278.  During summer, Hermaness NNR is home to over 100,000 seabirds.  Spectacular coastal scenery includes views over Muckle Flugga and Out Stack - Scotland's most northerly point. The reserve is open all year and any time.  The visitor centre, which is housed in Shore Station near the reserve entrance, is open April - August, weekdays approx 9am-6pm.

Hillsgarth Studios, Baltasound, tel. 01957 711 801.  A collective of local craft and textile workers producing unique handmade pieces, who draw their inspiration from the traditional skills and materials found in the Shetland Isles.

Viking Unst, tel. 01595 694688.  Discover our Viking past in Shetland's most northerly isle.  Excavated Longhouse sites, a full size replica Viking longship, living history, and Viking events and activities throughout the summer.

Yell

ASF Shetland, 4 Sellafirth, tel. 01957 744 355.  ASF Shetland welcome visitors who can come to the Centre in Sellafirth, looking at the equipment and trying out weaving if there is a warp on, speaking about Shetland textiles and weave in particular, using the yarn store and reference library.  Prior arrangements recommended.

GlobalYell Music, 4 Sellafirth, tel. 01957 744 355.  GlobalYell runs workshops and classes to teach singing and vocal production. They work with all ages, focusing mainly on good vocal technique and presentation for young people, and communal activities for adults including work with choirs.  Prior arrangements recommended.

Bayanne House, Sellafirth, tel. 01957 744 219 / 07788 852 765.  Visit Bayanne to learn more about genealogy, textile art and archaeology.  Daily tours and demonstrations available. Closed Mondays.

Old Haa (3*), Burravoe, tel. 01957 722 339.  The Old Haa of Burravoe is now a museum and was built in about 1672. Yell's oldest building contains local arts and crafts, photographs and eye-witness accounts relating to the German ship Bohus which was wrecked off the island in 1924. It is also the local information point. Open end April - end September (closed Mon & Wed).

Fetlar

Fetlar Interpretive Centre (3*), Beach of Houbie, tel. 01957 733206.  The Interpretive Centre at the Beach of Houbie tells a story of Fetlar history, natural heritage and folklore. Visitors can browse through albums of old photographs, listen to recordings of local history or see film of the island dating back to the 1930s.  The centre is also the local information point.  Open May -September and by request during October and November (Please phone 01957 733369/ 01597 733378 or 01957 733240 - while every effort will be made to open on request at short notice, if you could let us know the day prior to your visit, it would be appreciated and will help avoid disappointment.

Whalsay

Whalsay Heritage Centre, Symbister, tel. 01806 566 523. The Heritage Centre houses exhibits which look at some of last century's events in Whalsay, concentrating on the Kirk, the Lairds, Healthcare before the NHS and a ‘schools’ exhibit.  The heritage centre also has a family history room with its Parish and Census Records which can be seen on microfilm. The History group members will be happy to help anyone interested in research. Open June-September (Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun) and October-May (Wed only).

Fair Isle

George Waterston Memorial Centre & Museum, Utra, tel. 01595 760 244.  George Waterston , the former Scottish Director of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, co-founded the Bird Observatory in 1948. Dr Waterston's Memorial is a fascinating museum in the former Fair Isle School, which studies local social history and particularly the famous knitting traditions and patterns, plus natural history and archaeology.  By appointment only.

Textile Workshop, Upper Leogh, tel. 01595 760 248.  The workshop offers demonstrations and tuition in textile techniques including knitting, hand spinning, felt making, tapestry weaving, patchwork and quilting.  Open year round by arrangement.

Bressay & Noss

Bressay Heritage Centre, Leiraness, tel. 01595 820 750. Annual summer exhibition consisting of the historic and natural heritage of the island of Bressay.  Also the local information point.  Open May - September.

Noss National Nature Reserve, Noss, tel. 01595 693345.  Walk around this spectacular island and witness the amazing cliffs of 'Da Noup', home to thousands of seabirds.  Inflatable boat from Bressay.  Freephone 0800 1077 818 to check ferry schedule and for other information.  No dogs allowed.  Open mid April - end August.

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