Unst Day Tour

“The Top of Britain”

Days: Scheduled tour runs Tuesday and Saturday

This adventurous day-trip takes us to Unst, the most northerly island in Britain, and includes an exciting trip on board the luxurious MV Julie Rose to Muckle Flugga lighthouse, the top of Britain, where the stacks, sea cliffs and hundreds of thousands of breeding seabirds combine to create a truly unforgettable experience.

In the afternoon we spend time exploring the Keen of Hamar National Nature Reserve, where a leisurely stroll across a seemingly barren serpentine-covered hillside will reveal a fascinating variety of rare sub-arctic flora. We should locate Edmonston’s Chickweed, which is found nowhere else in the world! Throughout the course of the day we shall also seek out some scarce moorland breeding birds like Red-throated Diver, Whimbrel and Arctic Skua, and keep an eye out for otters and seals along the shores.

Tuesday

We depart from Lerwick at 08:00 and after two ferry crossings and an hour on the road we arrive on Unst mid-morning.  We leave Unst in the late afternoon to arrive back in Lerwick between 17:00 and 18:00. 

Cost: £90 per person, including transport, boat trip, ferry fares and lunch.

Saturday

Unlike Tuesdays tour this trip does not include the boat trip. In the morning we reach the Top of Britain by enjoying a walk across the moor land of Hermaness National Nature Reserve which is home to the third largest Great Skua (Bonxie) breeding colony in the world. From the cliff tops we will enjoy breathtaking views of Muckle Flugga light house and be overwhelmed by the sight, sound and smell of one of Britain’s largest ‘seabird cities’. Along the cliff tops you can look forward to closer views of Puffins than you could ever imagine.

In the afternoon we spend time exploring the Keen of Hamar National Nature Reserve, where a leisurely stroll across a seemingly barren serpentine-covered hillside will reveal a fascinating variety of rare sub-arctic flora. We should locate Edmonston’s Chickweed, which is found nowhere else in the world!  We will also spend time searching for some of the scarce moorland breeding birds like Red-throated Diver, Whimbrel and Arctic Skua, and keep an eye out for otters and seals along the shores.

Tour Price: £80 per person