Wild Shetland Weekends

Holiday details at a glance:

• Four nights’ all inclusive accommodation (five days)
• Maximum of six per group – guaranteed
• Led by local naturalist guides who live and work in Shetland all year round
• Dedicated Otter-tracking time
• Late-night excursion for Storm Petrels
• Boat trip to a world-renowned seabird colony
• Endemic and alpine plants
• Arguably the finest accommodation and local cuisine with full choice of a-la-carte menu

This enthralling and adventurous long weekend has been specially designed, and is ideally suited for visitors wishing to indulge themselves in the best that Shetland has to offer over a compact short break. Island-hopping throughout Shetland we will seek out the best of the island’s star attractions; iconic vistas throughout its unspoilt landscape, spectacular displays of wild flowers, awe-inspiring ‘seabird cities’, some of the nation’s rarest breeding birds and of course time dedicated to Otter-watching throughout!

Day one (Friday)

The tour begins on Friday morning when we meet great and collect you from the airport, ferry or accommodation (many guests choose to arrive on the Thursday evening, in which case you will be collected from your accommodation).

Once arrived and the guide and group acquainted we begin our voyage of discovery in the south mainland, at the RSPB’s iconic Sumburgh Head reserve with its thousands of breeding seabirds: Fulmars, Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes, Skuas, Shags and of course our first Puffins! Sumburgh is the ideal setting in which to start to get to know Shetland’s breeding birds, with everything close at hand.

On route to our Friday and Saturday night accommodation, we check in to our Mainland accommodation at the Spiggie House Hotel (view your accommodation here) from where we explore South Mainland Shetland’s beautiful scenery’s such as Loch of Spiggie (an RSPB reserve) and the stunning St Ninian’s Isle, joined to the mainland by a world-famous sand beach tombolo, whilst all the time tuning in and adapting to the wonderful Shetland environment.

Day two (Saturday)

In the morning we shall board MV Dunter III for an unforgettable three-hour trip with the award-winning Seabirds-and-Seals crew. We are bound for the spectacular Noss National Nature Reserve to marvel at its breathtaking cliffs, which are alive with the hustle and bustle of one of the largest seabird colonies in the islands. The crew will also give us a truly unique insight into life beneath the waves as they explore the depths with their underwater camera.

In the afternoon we explore some of the more secluded side roads of the East and West central Mainland enjoying a leisurely safari style adventure, in search of Mountain Hare, Red Grouse, Otters and much more.

Late in the evening comes one of the highlights of the trip, with a quite magical excursion to the tiny island of Mousa, an RSPB reserve which lies to the east of south mainland. Here during the twilight of the late evening/early morning, thousands of dainty Storm Petrels, our smallest breeding seabird, return to their nest-sites in the walls of the Pictish broch – the best-preserved and most impressive of all of Shetland’s many brochs. Watching the petrels fluttering like bats against the summer night sky is a simply unforgettable birding experience!

Day Three (Sunday)

On day three we journey to Unst, the most northerly island in Britain. Here we check in to our three-star accommodation and base for the remainder of the trip, the Saxa Vord Resort (view your accommodation here ). We begin our North Isles experience by heading to Hermaness National Nature Reserve. Setting out on foot through the heart of the reserve, we can guarantee ‘up close and personal’ encounters with Great Skuas, known locally as Bonxies, which nest commonly on the moorland interior.

Reaching the spectacular cliffs on the west side, we shall be greeted by perhaps the most captivating and charismatic birds of the trip, some of the 25,000 Puffins which make Hermaness their summer home. Breathtaking views of Muckle Flugga and the most northerly lighthouse in Britain are a further distraction, not least as the surrounding stacks and cliffs boast over 17,000 breeding pairs of Gannets, the largest colony in Shetland. As well as seabirds, we shall be serenaded by other moorland species during our walk, from bubbling Curlews and cryptic Golden Plovers to the parachuting and song-flighting displays of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks.

Later in the day we shall visit the Keen of Hamar National Nature Reserve, one of Unst’s most remarkable wildlife-watching sites, where the moon-like landscape and collection of Arctic Alpine and endemic plants, most notably Edmonston’s Chickweed (found no where else in the world) is a firm favourite with visitors.

Day four (Monday)

Island-hopping once again, this time just a 25-minute ferry crossing to the neighbouring island of Fetlar, home to one of our rarest breeding birds and the Fetlar speciality: the Red-necked Phalarope. These compelling creatures are elegant and dainty, with complex breeding roles and unusual feeding behaviour. Fetlar supports over 90% of the British population of this stunning Arctic wader, although in recent years they have become increasingly more elusive. With patience, persistence and our local knowledge we hope to connect with this charismatic and nationally very rare breeding wader.

The island is also home to some of the highest densities of moorland breeding birds anywhere in Britain, with nationally important numbers of Whimbrel and the wonderfully evocative Red-throated Diver. Good numbers of Arctic Skuas, Golden Plovers and Dunlins are among the many species which abound on the isle. With this rich density of breeding birds and its fertile soils one can easily see how the island gets its name of the ‘Garden of Shetland’.

Day Five (Tuesday)

The last day of our fantastic wildlife-watching adventure. Leaving Unst we enjoy a leisurely safari style journey across to and down through the Shetland Mainland where we savour of our last few hours following some of the more secluded side roads to see what we can find… maybe Common or Grey Seals hauled out on the shore, Harbour Porpoise offshore, a Mountain Hare blending into the moorland or maybe even our last glimpse of an otter!

Wishing you a fond farewell, our Wild Shetland Weekend comes to an end as we drop you off in time for your departing flight or ferry (or for those who choose to stay on, your accommodation).

What about Otters?

Don’t worry we have every confidence we will find them; we have yet to have a group leave disappointed. They are after all a speciality of ours and we aim to dedicate time to Otter tracking throughout your stay. We know the best time and places to see this complex and elusive species and, because we live here, our guides have the advantage of studying them all year round.

This is one of the many areas that our clients experience first-hand the benefits of our small group sizes. Our ethos is based on the unsurpassed knowledge of Shetland Nature guides, combined with access to remote and little-known spots. We will visit some of the best sites in the islands to give you a unique insight into the secret lives of one of the nation’s most evocative and captivating animals.

However it is appropriate to note that sightings of wild animals can never be guaranteed.

Our itinerary

Throughout the long weekend, your guide will be fully in touch with the local grapevine and news of what is turning up throughout the islands. Circumstance such as weather conditions, tides and receiving news of Killer Whale sightings can understandably all have an effect on the itinerary so we remain as flexible as possible to maximise our chances of enjoying Shetland’s stunning wildlife to the full. We will, however, ensure that the following key sites are targeted; your local guides are experts in when is the best time to do this.

• Eshaness Peninsular
• Fetlar
• Hermaness National Nature Reserve
• Keen of Hamar National Nature Reserve
• Mousa RSPB reserve
• Noss National Nature Reserve
• Sumburgh Head RSPB Reserve

Fitness

Throughout this holiday some of the activities will potentially involve walks of up to three or four miles (maximum in a day) and at times over uneven terrain. These will require a reasonable level of fitness. We can also provide holidays at a more leisurely pace; please Contact Us for details.

Booking – 2012 Dates

• Friday 1st June to Tuesday 5th June
• Friday 20th July to Tuesday 24th July

Cost: £720

Want to book exclusively for your own bespoke holiday?

Contact us for more information or to enquire about alternative dates for your own exclusive / tailor-made holiday.

Please note:

• on booking, please advise us of any medical or dietary requirements
• please specify preferred room type: double, single etc
• all boat trips are subject to suitable weather conditions
• it is appropriate to note that sightings of any of the wildlife mentioned above can never be guaranteed