Wild Shetland Weekends
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)
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, Puffins, Kittiwakes and skuas. 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 at the three-star Orca Country Inn 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 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. 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. The island supports over 90% of the British population of the stunning Arctic wader, which are compelling creatures for so many reasons; elegant and dainty, complex breeding roles, unusual feeding behaviour and – best of all – they are famously confiding!
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’.
We will also spend time searching for otters along some of the islands beautiful coastlines.
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!
Booking
Dates:
- Friday 21st May – 25th May *Sold Out*
- Friday 2nd July – Tuesday 6th July
Cost: £545
(All inclusive four night and five ‘in the field days’ package)
Book direct; call John Leask & Son on 01595 693162.
Contact us for more information or to enquire about alternative dates for your own exclusive / tailor-made holiday.