Shetland

About Shetland

Shetland is Britain's northernmost archipelago, sitting at 60°N between Scotland and Norway — geographically closer to Bergen than to Edinburgh. The locals call the aurora the 'Mirrie Dancers' (from Norse 'merry dancers'), and Shetland has a stronger cultural connection to the lights than anywhere else in the UK. At this latitude, aurora is visible several times per year on clear dark nights, particularly from November through February. The archipelago's dramatic coastline — 1,700km of cliffs, voes (narrow sea inlets), and dramatic stacks — is sculpted by Atlantic storms and inhabited by 160,000 puffins in summer. The Up Helly Aa fire festival in Lerwick (January) is Britain's largest fire festival, celebrating Norse heritage with a procession of 1,000 torch-wielding Vikings burning a full-size galley. Shetland ponies roam the moorlands, seals haul out on rocky shores, and orca pass through in May-September. The islands' Norse history — visible in place names, dialect, and the Shetland Museum — gives Shetland an identity quite distinct from mainland Scotland. Cloud is frequent, but aurora nights are genuinely magical.

Best Time to Visit

Monthly Weather & Aurora

Activities

Getting There

The Northern Isles (Orkney, Shetland) carry a small island premium over mainland Scotland.

Accommodation Highlights

• ✓Stone farmhouses
• ✓Boutique hotels
• ✓Guesthouses

Location