Shetland/Sealtainn trail

This is made up of about one hundred Islands of which sixteen are populated. The main island is known as Mainland where the capital of Shetland Lerwick is located. The islands are about fifty miles northeast of Orkney and one hundred and seventy miles southeast of the Faroe Islands. To the east of Shetland is the North Sea and to the west the Atlantic. The Shetland has strong Scandinavian and Norwegian links having been colonised by the Norse in the late eighth and ninth centuries and along with Orkney formed the Northern Isles. Although the fate of the people who had inhabited the island prior to the Norse invasions is not known, if the Isle of Man is used as a possible guide then it is likely they were incorporated into the incoming peoples. Shetland did not become part of Scotland until the fifteenth century. The islands have been inhabited at least since the Neolithic period through to Bronze Age, Iron Age, Pictish and Viking times and there are many archaeological sites in the islands. Shetland is serviced by flights from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Orkney. Ferry services arrive at Lerwick from Aberdeen, calling at Orkney en-route three days per week. There are inter island ferry and air services. We have highlighted a number but not all of the many sites and islands in Shetland that we would encourage you to visit.

Mainland

This covers an area of about 374 square miles and is the main island in Shetland. The capital is Lerwick which has evidence of settlement going back 3000 years.

Shetland Museum and Archives

This museum has collections which relate to all aspects of the islands history and is located north of Commercial Road east from the town centre and close to the Viking Bus Station. www.shetland-museum.org.uk

Broch of Clickimin

This broch is located about a mile southwest from Lerwick off the A970 and on an island in Loch Clickimin linked by a causeway. The site dates back to 1000BC with a blockhouse added in about 100BC. The site was originally a Bronze Age farmstead, then an Iron Age ringfort, then a broch of about 32 feet in diameter and wheel-house settlement.

Broch of Mousa

This is the tallest and best preserved broch in Scotland. The diameter is quite small and it stands at about forty-four feet in height. An internal stairway leads to an open parapet at the top of the dry stone wall structure. It is estimated to have been built in about 100BC. The broch is located on the island of Mousa which is about a mile of the east coast of Mainland which is accessed by ferry from Sandwick south from Lerwick.

Jarlshof

This prehistoric and Norse settlement covers times of habitation from Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages, Pictish and Norse times and into the medieval period. Remains of all of these settlements can be seen on this site which is open from the beginning of April until the end of September. The site is unique in offering an insight into thousands of years of human activity in Shetland. The site is located at Sumburgh in the south of Mainland.

Old Scatness

Structures on this site date back 2500 years and were discovered in the 1970's when Sumburgh Airport was being expanded. Excavations over the years have uncovered Bronze and Iron Age pottery fragments. The broch that can be seen at the site dates back to 400-200BC and has thick walls and the remains of an internal staircase. Remains of dwellings around the broch were lived in by Iron Age, Pictish and Viking peoples. There is a visitors centre which gives guided tours during the summer months. The site is to the west of Sumburgh Airport off the A970.

St Ninians Isle

This site has the foundations of an old chapel and is on the west coast of Mainland and west from Bigton. Accessible by a stretch of sand unless the tide is very high. The ruins of a twelfth century chapel can be seen. During excavations in 1958 a box of 8th century silver was found under a cross marked slab by Douglas Coutts a local schoolboy who was helping Professor A.C. O.Dell from Aberdeen University. The twenty-eight silver pieces thought to be of Pictish origin are now housed in The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh with replicas in Shetland Museum.

Scalloway Castle

This was built in 1600 by the much disliked and cruel Patrick Stewart, Earl of Orkney. The remains of this site are located in Scalloway on the west of mainland about six miles from Lerwick on the A970.

Broch of Culswick

Tthe remains of this broch is located across a causeway in west Mainland on the coast west from Culswick. There is a very big triangular stone over the doorway.

Stanydale Temple

This site is located off the A971 on the minor road towards Gruning. This large Neolithic hall is surrounded by a wall with internal alcoves.

Scord of Brouster

The remains of three Neolithic dwellings can be seen on this site along with field systems and a cairn. The site dates back to about 2250BC and is located off the A971 near Walls.

Broch of Burrafirth

This site has the remains of an early 1st century Pictish broch and is located on a holm to the west of West Burra Firth pier in West Mainland. The site is associated with the Norse story of the death of Thorbjorn, a Viking raider who was killed there.

Punds Water Cairn

This is the remains of a heel-shaped cairn in Mainland. It is located above Punds Water west of the A970 north of Mangaster.

Yell

This is an island in the north isles of Shetland that is about 82 square miles and second largest of the Shetland isles. A car-ferry service sails from Toft ferry port on northeast Mainland to Ulsta a village on the southwest of Yell. The island has been inhabited since Neolithic times and there are several broch sites and early chapels. One such broch is Burra Ness and the seaward side of the broch wall remains standing at over twelve feet. The site is located on the northeast of Yell south of the A968 at Burra Ness. Old Haa Museum-is located in Burravoe in the southeast of Yell. This Museum and Visitors Centre is located in a house built in 1672 by Robert Tyrie, a merchant. The museum also has a tea room, gallery and craft shop. It is open from May until September Tues-Thurs 10am-4pm and on Saturday at the same times and Sunday 2pm-5pm.

Bayanne House

This is located in the north of Yell and Basta Voe close to the A968. The museum and craft centre is open all year from 9am-9pm and also gives access to the Tafts of Bayanne the remains of an ancient settlement dating back to the Bronze Age.

Fetlar

This is an island east from Yell and covers an area of about sixteen square miles. A wall known as the Funzie Girt or Finnigirt Dyke runs across the island from north to south, with the northern section being the most complete and is thought to date from Mesolithic or Neolithic times. The island has been inhabited at least since the Neolithic period and through into Pictish and Norse times until the present day. The ferry to Fetlar goes from Gutcher in Yell to Hamars Ness in Fetlar, sometimes via Unst. Petrol for motor vehicles needs to be obtained before arrival at Fetlar.

Hjaltadans

This is a stone circle located midway across the island north of Skutes Water. The circle is not the most accessible. The 36 stones stones are low in the grass and are about 37 feet in diameter. There is an earthen ring inside the outer one with two stones in the centre.

Fetlar Interpretive Centre

This is a community run museum with exhibitions (including interactive computer presentations) on history, archaeology, folklore and wildlife. It is located at the Beach of Houbie in the south of the island. The centre is open from 11am-3pm Mon-Fri and 1pm-4pm Sat-Sun.

Unst

This is the third largest island in Shetland covering an area of about 46 square miles and the northern most inhabited one. The island has two nature reserves, Hermaness and Keen of Hamar. The history of Unst goes back to at least Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages and into Pictish and Norse times. Ferry services link Belmont in the south of Unst to Gutcher in Yell and Hamars Ness in Fetlar. The largest settlement is Baltasound, halfway along the east coast in the bay of Balta Sound. The islands airport is located here. Muness Castle-this site has the remains of a three storey town house with round corner towers. Construction of the castle began in 1598 but the castle had been abandoned by the mid-eighteenth century. The castle is located in the southeast of Unst about four miles from Belmont.

Unst Heritage Centre

This is open between 11am and 5pm daily from 1st April until 30th September. It is located in Haroldswick which is on the east coast north from Belmont. The centre looks at the history, geology and archaeology of Unst and has a number of artefacts.

Forward to East Highlands trail