Although relatively little known to those from outside the islands,
Shetland is a magnificent terrain for walkers, especially those who love
to really 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 amazingly
preserved remains from prehistory right up to more recent times.
These
include iron age villages, chambered cairns, Viking longhouses, pictish
carvings, and impressive brochs, including the most complete of all
these iron-age defensive towers, on Mousa.
