About

Established in 2006 by native Shetlander Brydon Thomason and together with a collaboration of renowned tour leaders and associates, Shetland Nature has built a reputation for providing an exceptional and authentic visitor experience.

We specialise and focus solely on the Shetland Islands and its world renowned natural heritage and are the only nature tour company to do so. What attracts visitors on our holidays is our understanding of the islands wildlife and our commitment to it and our guests. This, combined with our attention to detail, passion and enthusiasm to share knowledge, pride for the Islands and responsible approach ensures that our wildlife holidays offer quality and value that simply cannot be equaled.

Why Shetland Nature?

Shetland Nature is unique in being the only wildlife holiday provider in the islands to be established and run by a native Shetlander. When establishing the company Brydon fulfilled his ambition to share and communicate his life’s passion for the islands, their cultural heritage and most of all their wildlife. This heady blend of pride and passion is crystallized in the design and concept of our trips and is instilled in all our guides to ensure each trip is created with sensitivity in mind, whilst providing a truly authentic Shetland experience.

To uphold Shetland Nature’s ethos on sensitivity to wildlife and visitor experience, our holidays are designed with small groups in mind. On most of our itineraries, such as our core season/flagship nine day ‘Shetland Nature Experience’ holiday we keep our group sizes to a maximum of six clients to one guide, which is our tried and tested ratio. Therefore our clients experience and enjoy first-hand all the advantages of a small group.

On larger groups such as insight itineraries where we may have group size of ten guests we feature multiple guides over the itinerary.

Our policy on group size also enables us to build up a rapport with our clients, so that both guide and visitor can enjoy a balanced social dynamic throughout our holidays. This allows us to proudly share and celebrate our passion for Shetland’s unique natural heritage with you. We keep our group sizes down and our standards high.

This doesn’t come at a premium rate either; in a nine day itinerary you have eight full days in the field and sample some of the best of Shetland’s accommodation, cuisine and hospitality.

With this design in mind, many of our holidays are available for even smaller groups and can be booked on a tailor-made basis, ideal for small groups or families travelling together.

Read what past clients have to say about our holidays.

Accommodation

Our holiday itineraries are designed in such a way that the accommodation venues best suit the logistics, locations, species and excursions throughout our itineraries. These are the hotels which feature in our program of holidays, (baring in mind not all holidays are based in all venues); Sumburgh Hotel in Shetland’s South Mainland, St Magnus Bay Hotel in Shetland’s North Mainland, and we also often use guest houses.

Booking and Travel

Deposit

We use a standard 20% per person non-refundable deposit payment, with the balance being due 8 weeks before arrival – full details are within our terms and conditions.

Insurance

Shetland Nature is a company committed to customer satisfaction and consumer financial protection. We are therefore pleased to announce that, at no extra cost to you, and in accordance with ”The Package Travel, Package Tours Regulations 1992” all passengers booking with Shetland Nature are fully insured for the initial deposit, and subsequently the balance of monies paid as detailed in your booking confirmation form. The policy will also include repatriation if required, arising from the cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to the insolvency of Shetland Nature.

Policy exclusions: This policy will not cover any monies paid for Travel Insurance or any claim relating to Air Flights. Please ensure the Company you have booked with has the appropriate CAA / ATOL Bonds in place.

More about us and our holidays and tours

For us, our major motivation is providing our guests with an experience that will linger long in the memory; we want you to leave Shetland in the knowledge that you have been looked after in true Shetland style, and indeed become part of the lifestyle we are so lucky to enjoy.

Our carefully selected guides are specialists in many fields, and are keen to bring their own unique personalities to the fore. Not only would we hope to enjoy many fantastic encounters with Shetland’s outstanding wildlife, our guides also endeavour to provide that little bit extra; putting a sighting into context with background information and a look at the bigger picture can be the difference that makes your wildlife encounter truly memorable. Not for us merely a brief look and on to the next site; our style is to ensure quality and education go hand in hand.

Our guides want to ensure you gain that little bit extra from your visit to Shetland; if you wish to spend the evening searching for Otters during the wonderfully long twilight hours, discussing tricky in-depth identifications of rare migrant birds or just relaxing over a drink and having a bit of fun, our personable and highly adaptable guides will be there for you.

Our tours and holidays are designed and led in such a way that they offer something for everyone and are tailored to suit all levels of interest.

Holidays

Perhaps you want an exclusive one-to-one with a renowned Otter expert for dedicated Otter photography, to indulge yourself in an all-inclusive wildlife watching adventure or experience the magic of autumn migration. View our Holidays.

Day trips

We offer a wide range of day tours throughout the year, which are designed for clients planning their own holiday to the isles, but perhaps want to take a day out with experienced local naturalists so as to maximise their time in the field. View our Day Tours.