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Shetland
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© Jamie McMillan/Nature Portfolio  Paul and Puffin, Hermaness |
Perhaps it is the remoteness, but somehow, up here, the air seems that much clearer, the peace of a light summer night seems that much quieter, and the people seem that much friendlier than almost anywhere else in these islands. Add an abundance of seabirds, with some Arctic specialities, and who can resist a visit! We are there at a time when the sun hardly sets, when nights are merely a long twilight, known here as "the simmer dim".The most northerly place in Britain, and some would say the most beautiful of all, Shetland forms a rugged archipelago of over a hundred islands and skerries, with a landscape of peat-covered rolling hills, a bewildering mosaic of sea lochs and rocky peninsulas, scattered crofts and innumerable freshwater lochs. These remote havens of peace hold some of the best seabird colonies in Britain - a quarter of a million Puffins, and hundreds of thousands of Guillemot, with lesser numbers of Razorbill and Black Guillemot. There are accessible Gannet colonies here with at least fifteen thousand pairs, while the Kittiwake and Common and Arctic Terns have both Great and Arctic Skuas to contend with. The lochs hold numerous pairs of Red-throated Diver, with several species of wildfowl and waders. Two wader species of national importance breed here - Whimbrel, which number several hundred pairs, and a handful of Red-necked Phalarope, sadly still in decline in Britain but with a last few birds still coming back each year. Shetland is also a good place to encounter Otters and Grey Seals, while any of our boat trips may encounter dolphins or porpoises. This will be our eighth trip to Shetland, once again in the excellent company of Paul Harvey, who has lived in Shetland for over twenty years and now manages the Shetland Biological Records Centre. His knowledge of Shetland and its wildlife makes him the perfect leader for our trips there. Itinerary Days 1 - 3 We meet at our hotel near Sumburgh Head where we stay for the first three nights. Weather permitting on the first evening, we'll take a boat trip to Mousa. This small island is one of the best places anywhere to see European Storm-Petrels as they return to their nest sites in and around the famous broch. We'll return after midnight - when it will still be light! |
© Jamie McMillan/Nature Portfolio  Leaving Noss |
South Mainland is probably the most varied part of Shetland for birds. The Sumburgh Hotel itself has gardens which are worth checking for migrants, even in June, while the Head has accessible seabird colonies, and can be a good seawatching site. Several lochs in south mainland are superb habitats in themselves, and we shall visit several, including the RSPB reserve of Loch Spiggie. |
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A boat trip around the famous seabird colony of Noss promises to be one of the highlights of the trip. One of the most spectacular seabird colonies in Europe, the cliffs hold over a hundred thousand birds of twelve species: 700 ft cliffs, a swirling sea, a sky full of birds - we hope it will be a day to remember!
Three nights Sumburgh Days 4 - 6 We travel on the island ferries via Yell up to Unst, the northernmost island, where we stay for three nights at Baltasound. On Unst itself we visit the renowned Hermaness reserve. A walk through moorland enlivened by the presence of Great and Arctic Skuas takes us to the northernmost cliffs of the British Isles. Over 400 ft high, and overlooking the lighthouse of Muckle Flugga, the cliffs hold over ten thousand pairs of Gannet and innumerable Puffins. On another day we take the ferry to Fetlar, the greenest and most fertile of the Shetland Isles. Here Black Guillemot nest in stone walls, Whimbrel nest widely, and Red-throated Divers breed on many lochs. Pairs of Red-necked Phalarope here are a truly delightful sight in their stunning breeding plumage as they feed unconcernedly on the surface of small lochans. Three nights Baltasound Day 7 We travel back south to Sumburgh, with time for another day around the excellent habitats of south Mainland. We also hope to allow time to visit the superb archaeological site of Jarlshof. Overnight Sumburgh Day 8 The week concludes after breakfast. Accommodation On Unst we stay in a hotel in a lovely situation at Baltasound with rooms en suite. On Mainland we stay at a country house hotel at Sumburgh (STB 4-crowns commended) with all rooms en suite. Travel: We meet at the Sumburgh Hotel for 1800 on the first evening. This is a short (5 min) taxi ride from Sumburgh Airport, or on the main bus route between Lerwick and Sumburgh for those clients arriving at Lerwick. We will be happy to advise on your transport to and from Shetland, either by air or by overnight ferry from Aberdeen. We can also arrange for clients with more time to extend their holiday either on Shetland or Fair Isle. |
| Principal Leader: | Paul Harvey |
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| Numbers: | Max. 14 clients | |||
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Price: |
£ | 845 | ||
| Single supp.*: | £ | 95 | ||
| Deposit: | £ | 100 | per person | |
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The price is per person and includes 7 nights' accommodation as outlined above, all meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 8, ferry crossings within Shetland, minibus transport and the services of the leader(s).
The price excludes travel to and from Shetland, holiday insurance, drinks, and other personal expenses. |
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