'Spectacular Shetland' Itinerary.

Day 1. Shetland’s Volcano - Fire, Ice and Tempest

Eshaness Lava Flows
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Would you like to stand inside a volcanic cone on a lava pond surrounded by huge boulders that were hurled high into the air, or see where a glacier has scraped its way across the landscape then let your mind boggle at the awesome power of the sea?

At Eshaness we have the finest section through the side of a volcano in the British Isles with spectacular cliffs showing agglomerate, lava and pyroclastic flows, and a most amazing storm 'beach'. As well as all this we will take in the wildlife, history and archaeology of the area.

A scenic drive to the Eshaness peninsula then a 4-mile (7km) walk along relatively flat cliff-tops. We will make several stops and take short walks to visit Mavis Grind and other places of interest. The return drive will be via Shetland ‘s only fjord, Ronas Voe that lies in the shadow of our highest hill.

Day 2. Shetland’s ‘Castle in the Air’ – Walks on the ‘Sunny Side’.

Stanydale Temple
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Ever imagined standing on you own castle wall and being Lord and Master of all you survey? Or being a high priest in your temple? Then this tour will give you that opportunity. Surprisingly for a small land area Shetland’s topography produces ‘micro-climates’ and the Westside benefits from this by often being the sunniest part of Shetland in the summer.

This tour takes us over a contrasting landscape that has seen 5000 years of continuous settlement so we will visit the homes of the first farmers as well as what may have been their ‘temple’. We shall take a walk to Shetland’s most amazing broch site then return past an array of spectacular cliffs, sea stacks and caves hewn out of 340 million-year-old red granite. In addition there will be many chances to add to your tally of sightings of moorland and sea birds as well as seals and perhaps otters.

A scenic drive through Shetland’s Wild West with mostly short walks to sites of interest and a 4-mile walk over track and hillsides.

Day 3. Shetland’s Oldest ‘Factory’ – A walk on the Wild Side.

Uyea Isle
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Ever wondered how you would carve the Sunday Joint if metal blades hadn’t been invented? Or how ice has carved the landscape? Or how Shetland looked 100,000 years ago?

Our walk will take us to one of the remotest corners of Shetland and it’s wild and wonderful landscapes crossing some of Shetland’s youngest and oldest rocks. We will see where Neolithic man fashioned a tool unique to Shetland and where trees grew beside a lake long before the last ice age.

A scenic drive to North Roe followed by an 11-mile (18km) walk. The walk will be partly over a metalled track but there will be some rough moorland walking as well.

Since there are no shops, café, or toilet facilities you will have to carry everything you need for the day with you.

Day 4. Shetland’s Hidden Landscapes - Ocean, Mountains, Rivers, Lakes and Deserts.

Catpund Viking Soapstone Quarries
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Have you ever imagined standing at the foot of a mountain gorge where flash floods spew out huge boulders or walking along a river running among sand dunes into a lake? Or even wondered how a new ocean is born or how the Vikings managed without Pyrex?

The south of Mainland was constructed from a whole series of ancient environments that are very different from the ones we experience now. We will reconstruct many of these ancient environments on this excursion. The rocks these environments left behind became a rich resource for our ancestors and we will see this in the archaeological sites we visit.

A scenic drive around south Mainland via St Ninian’s Isle, Ness of Burgi and Sumburgh Head including roadside stops and short walks 2 plus 2-mile (3km) walks, mostly along clifftops.

View my Online Calendar to see when I am operating each tour.

To book this package please visit the Booking Page.