This is our itinerary for a week on Shetland / 7 days in the Shetland Islands. We took this trip with children but it could easily be an adult only itinerary and is based on our family trip to Shetland. This post contains further reviews you can click in to so you can read more about the specifics like restaurants or attractions. We love this route as it features so many of the best things to see in Shetland from the furthermost northern island of Unst to seeking out Viking remains and all the best wildlife experiences with kids in Shetland.
Table of Contents
Itinerary for a week in Shetland / 7 days in the Shetland Islands
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DAY 1 – Fly in to a Scottish Airport
In order to get to Shetland you can fly in to one of the main Scottish airports (or take the train).
Aberdeen will get you closest to Shetland but from many of the Scottish airports you can fly on to Shetland.
An alternative is to take the family friendly Northlink Ferry.
We found the cheapest flights were to Glasgow so we flew in to Glasgow, caught the great ScotRail train to Aberdeen and then walked the five minutes to the port at Aberdeen for the Northlink ferry to Shetland.
We found the ferry was a great way to travel. With a cinema, restaurant and shop on board you also save a night of accommodation since the ferry travels overnight with various options on board from a reclining seat to a private en suite cabin.
DAY 2 – Scalloway
Arrive in to Lerwick and pick a hire car. We hired from STAR Rent-A-Car.
Drive to Scalloway, the former capital of Shetland until 1708 about 20 minutes west of Lerwick.
This is the perfect opportunity to get close to the world famous Shetland Ponies at the Shetland Pony Experience which is just outside of Scalloway.
Meet the ponies, brush them, pet them and take them on supervised short walks.
You can also take a pony trek past restored croft houses, up across the moors and down to the beautiful Minn Beach.
Stop for lunch in Scalloway (we really enjoyed The Scalloway Hotel which is right on the waterfront).
Spend the afternoon exploring Scalloway. From the Scalloway Museum which provides such an insight in to life on Shetland, through the ages to the atmospheric Scalloway Castle which may be a ruin but still has so much to explore and see.
Stay overnight in Scalloway (we stayed at the Easterhoull Chalets in Scalloway for two nights).
DAY 3 – South Mainland – Itinerary for a week on Shetland
Drive from Scalloway to Cunningsburgh (around 15 minutes drive away).
A good place to stop for breakfast is at Mackenzie’s Farm Shop and Café which has lots of local treats and is a great place to pick up a picnic for lunch.
Drive on to Bigton (a further 10 minute journey by car) to explore St Ninian’s Isle and its beautiful tombola beach.
This is such a beautiful stretch with gorgeous beaches and plenty of rockpools.
St Ninian’s is one of the best beaches in Shetland and is a great place to spend the morning.
You can also take in a circular walk past the sand tombolo which connects St Ninian’s Isle to the mainland.
This is where the Pictish St Ninian’s Isle Treasure was found.
Make sure you stay away from the cliff edges here, particularly if you’re travelling with kids.
Drive on to Sandwick (another 10 minute drive away) to take the boat to Mousa (the boat journey takes around 15 minutes) which is full of nesting birds and a beautiful walk to take around the island.
This is the perfect place to have a picnic.
Take the boat back and drive on to Sumburgh (another 10 minute drive) to explore Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement.
4000 years of history in one location. There’s so much here to see from Viking longhouses to the remains of 17th century farmhouses.
While you’re in Sumburgh don’t miss Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, Visitor Centre and Nature Reserve which is a world class visitor attraction.
You can explore the history of the area in this interactive experience and also take a lovely but short walk along the cliffs where you might be able to spot puffins and orcas.
If you have time you could also visit Old Scatness Broch & Iron Age Village which is here or Shetland Croft House Museum which allows you to see how Shetlanders would have lived in the late 19th century which is a fascinating insight.
Head back for your second night in Scalloway.
DAY 4 – Isle of Unst
Head off early to catch the first ferry from Toft to Ulsta (Yell) then drive on to Gutcher to catch the inter-island ferry to Belmont (Unst).
Unst is a fantastic destination, the absolute top of Great Britain and one of the most beautiful and interesting islands in Europe.
Visit Hermaness National Nature Reserve to take a seabird walk and see the spectacular cliffs here.
This is an awe inspiring landscape with thousands of nesting seabirds and a spectacular coastline. Definitely worth spending a big chunk of your time in Unst here.
Stop for lunch. We visited Victoria’s Vintage Tea Rooms which was the perfect place for a quick bite with great sandwiches and cakes and on the road out of Hermaness National Nature Reserve.
Then explore the Viking remains of Unst by visiting Viking Unst where you can see three Viking longhouses.
You can also see Viking crosses in graveyards at Framgord and Lund and just south of Haroldswick. You can step aboard a replica Viking longship, the Skidbladner, and a replica longhouse.
Don’t miss Bobby’s Bus Stop. This is a quirky sight on one of the main roads and is constantly changing its appearance. It’s a fun stop off.
Stay overnight on Unst (we stayed at Saxa Vord Resort which is a collection of ex Ministry of Defence self catering cottages at Nordabrake Saxa Vor).
DAY 5 – Wildlife Tour / Eshaness – Itinerary for a week on Shetland
Take the inter-island ferries back to Toft on Shetland Mainland.
Drive to Northmavine which is joined to the rest of the Shetland Mainland at Mavis Grind (‘The Gate on the Narrow Isthmus’) where the Atlantic Ocean has nearly cut through to the North Sea.
Take a tour with Shetland Photo Tours who specialise in nature photography. Run by Richard Shucksmith, a photographer and ecologists whose images have won many awards this is the perfect way to see the nature on Shetland and learn how to photograph it.
There are a variety of tours on offer. We took an otter tour which was just a wonderful way to spend a morning, watching otters play and swim in the wild.
Stop for lunch. We ate at Braewick Cafe which looks out over the famous sea stacks, The Drongs. There’s lots of local produce on offer and it’s a great place to take a break.
In the afternoon, explore Eshaness which is another of the must-visit locations of Shetland.
Here you can see Dongs and also the collapsed caves of Holes o’ Scraada (devil’s caves) and the Grind o’ da Navir (gate of the borer) where the sea has created an enormous vertical gateway from the cliffs.
You can take a walk here to visit the famous lighthouse.
Visit Hillswick, home to a small wildlife sanctuary for seals and otters. And also the Tangwick Haa Museum, a former laird’s house which displays exhibits relating to Northmavine and its people.
Stop for dinner at Frankie’s Fish & Chips in Brae, the award-winning and furthest northern fish and chip shop in the UK.
Stay nearby (we stayed at The Braewick Café & Caravan Park in a heated family wigwam)
DAY 6 – Lerwick
Drive back to Lerwick (around half an hour away).
Take a boat trip around the Isle of Noss where you can look out for seabirds and seals around the Noss Nature Reserve. If you’re really lucky will spot some dolphins, otters or even whales.
Stop for lunch in Lerwick – there are some fantastic options here with a diverse collection of restaurants (we loved Fjara Cafe Bar, The Dowry and C’est la Vie).
In the afternoon explore Shetland’s capital, Lerwick. This is a picturesque little town packed full of really sweet shops including chocolate, soaps and lots of handicrafts.
There are plenty of things to do in the capital for the afternoon including a trip to Shetland Museum & Archives and a leisurely walk in the town. Walk along the Lodberries (the home of Detective Jimmy Perez in BBC TV’s hit Shetland drama) along the rocky promontory of the Knab and all the way to the Clickimin Broch – see the walk here.
(We have lots of other suggestions in the read more section below).
Check in for the evening Northlink ferry from Lerwick to Aberdeen or alternatively spend another night on Shetland and fly back the following day.
Read more:The best things to do on Shetland with kids
DAY 7 – Back to Mainland Scotland – Itinerary for a week on Shetland
Arrive back in to Aberdeen, rested from the ferry and ready to travel home.
Please let me know if our ‘Itinerary for a week in Shetland / 7 days in the Shetland Islands’ helps you with your journey. We’d love to know anything you did differently or something that worked particularly well.
Check out our guide to Shetland with kids for lots more inspiration and things to do.
This itinerary is so incredibly helpful – I am hoping to visit Shetland in the not too distant future.
what an amazing trip – thank you for sharing! I am looking at a visit with my children! What worked for you for accommodations? Did you stay in one place and come back each evening? Or did you stay in various places? I am trying to work out sleeping logistics and appreciate any insights on this!
No problem! I hope you enjoy it. We moved around the accommodation, there are some links in the itinerary to some of the places we stayed. Happy travels!