Would you like to explore the best of the Shetland Islands? This guidebook covers 15 of the best short walks in the area (between 2 and 9km), including Sumburgh Head, St Ninian's Isle, Bannaminn, Culswick Broch, Ward of Clett, Lerwick, Eshaness and Hermaness.

Why choose this guidebook?

• Easy to moderate walks suitable for almost everyone
• Short climbs but no challenging terrain
• Numbered points which tie maps to clear route description
• Details of public toilets and refreshments along the route
• Route Summary Table to help you choose your walk

Cicerone’s Short Walks guidebooks contain everything you need to get outdoors and discover the best of an area. The short walks are perfect if you’re new to walking or looking for something you can enjoy with the whole family. Let the adventures begin!

Using this guide 
Route summary table 
Map key  
Introduction 
Walking on Shetland 
Special things to see 
Bases and places to stay 
Getting there and around 

The walks
Walk 1. Lerwick town trail 
Walk 2.  Bressay: The Ward of Bressay 
Walk 3. West Burra: Kettla Ness 
Walk 4.  St Ninian’s Isle 
Walk 5.  Scat Ness and the Ness of Burgi 
Walk 6.  Sumburgh Head and Jarlshof 
Walk 7.  Drongi Field from Westerwick 
Walk 8.  The Broch of Culswick 
Walk 9.  Staneydale Temple 
Walk 10. Sandness Hill from Huxter 
Walk 11. Muckle Roe and the Hole of Hellier 
Walk 12. Grind of the Navir and Eshaness 
Walk 13. Ronas Hill from Collafirth Hill 
Walk 14. Unst: Framgord 
Walk 15. Unst: Hermaness 

Useful information 

Seasons

Most people visit between spring and mid-summer, as that is when the seabirds can be seen. The coastal scenery is particularly spectacular during winter storms, and January is when the great fire festival, Up Helly-Aa, takes place.

Centres

Lerwick, Scalloway, Hoswick, Bigton, Bixter, Walls, Voe, Brae, Baltasound

Difficulty

The walks in this book are mostly easy to follow on good paths, but there are sections which are pathless, and occasionally boggy, especially after rain. None of the clifftop walks have fences or barriers so care is needed.

Must See

The ancient settlement at Jarlshof; puffins and other seabirds galore at Hermaness and Sumburgh; spectacular seacliffs on most walks; the beautiful sand tombolo to St Ninian’s Isle; scores of remote islands to explore

We do not yet have any updates available for this book

We are always grateful to readers for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground. If you would like to send some information to us then please use our contact form. They will be published here following review by the author(s).

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