Shetland - 40 Coast and Country Walks

Enjoy the world's top knitting destination - on foot!

Shetland is a magnificent terrain for walkers, especially those who love to explore and get away from the beaten track. The coastal walking here includes some of the finest in the country, with superb cliffs, towering sea stacks, caves and natural arches seemingly around every corner. Added to this is Shetland’s better known claim to fame for its spectacular seabird colonies – huge gannetries, moorland packed with Arctic and great skuas, Arctic terns in the more sheltered spots, and everyone’s favourite – the puffins. The islands also enjoy a dense population of otters, many seals, and a chance to see killer whales or other giants of the deep. Beyond all this natural grandeur, Shetland’s history is fascinating, too. The archaeological attractions are much less known than those on Orkney, but sites such as Jarlshof have preserved remains from prehistory right up to more recent times. These include Iron Age villages, chambered cairns, Viking longhouses, Pictish carvings and circular stone Iron Age towers, or brochs as they are known. The most impressive and complete of these in existence is on the island of Mousa.

Choose sturdy footwear and carry waterproof clothing. The summary at the start of each walk should help you choose what will be appropriate. The sketch map accompanying every walk is meant as an outline guide rather than a navigational aid, so for all but the most straightforward routes an Ordnance Survey map is essential.