Shetland

The first full-length guide from a major travel publisher to focus exclusively on Shetland.

Lying closer to the Arctic Circle than to Manchester—and closer to Norway than to the UK mainland—Shetland is a natural and historical treasure-trove. Famed for its archaeological sites, seabird colonies, and Viking-infused heritage, this fascinating northern Scottish archipelago offers experiences found nowhere else in Britain. In a landscape where nowhere is more than 3 miles from the sea, this comprehensive guide covers all 16 inhabited islands plus several uninhabited but accessible ones.

Shetland's largest island, Mainland, is crammed with places worth exploring: Lerwick, a traditional fishing port and the archipelago's capital; the puffin-flanked cliffs of Sumburgh Head with its southernmost lighthouse; remarkable archaeological sites including Jarlshof and the Iron Age Mousa Broch; and West Mainland's enticing coastal scenery. Other islands offer equally unique experiences—Noss is a traffic-free nature reserve home to one of Britain's greatest seabird colonies; Out Skerries attracts divers to explore wreck-strewn waters; Unst's stunning beaches lie just across the sea from the Arctic Circle; Fair Isle is renowned for its distinctive knitwear; and Foula claims the title of Britain's most remote inhabited island.

Few UK destinations boast the variety of outdoor pursuits available without the crowds. Some 1,700 miles of coastline beckon kayakers, canoeists, and coasteerers. Hikers can tackle 19 Marilyns (mountains of a certain classification), while wildlife watchers can spot orca pods, Europe's highest density of otters, rare shorebirds like red-necked phalaropes, and two of the UK's largest gannet colonies. Whether you're chasing the simmer dim (summer's midnight sun), the aurora borealis, the atmospheric Up Helly Aa fire ceremony, or the steps of detective Jimmy Perez from the BBC's Shetland series, this guide has you covered.