Shetland Trip Advice

[Wizmatt]

Hello all,

Myself and two friends are planning a trip to Shetland during May to see the abundant wildlife there. We have a list of areas to visit:

Hermaness
Noss
Keen of Hamar
Sumburgh Head
Loch of Spiggie
Fetlar
Mousa...?

We will be staying for a week using bods for accommodation. Can anyone who lives/has been there offer any advice or tips regarding places to visit or things to do. We have done some pelimiary planning but I'm sure there are some areas that are great for wildlife that are hidden gems.

Thanks, Matt.

[slimrbp]

I went to Shetland in June as part of an organised trip most of the spots we visited you have listed.

We visited was Loch of Funzie on Fetlar which is apparently a good spot for Red Necked Phalaropes (I say apparantly because we never saw them but the trip the week before ours did!).
Also at the Sands of Tresta on Fetlar there were loads of Juvenile Great Skuas.

If you are passing through Lerwick a visit to the Tesco car park is a good idea as the rocks nearby are a hauling out spot for seals.

[Richard G.]

I've wanted to visit the Unst Bus Shelter for many years, one of these days I'll get around to it...

[solus]

That list will take you just about the whole week to complete! Remember the distances from Sumburgh to Hermaness are pretty substantial and there are ferries to catch which run to timetables and boat trips (Mousa, Noss) which will only operate in favourable weather conditions so some days will require planning like for a military operation.

Haven't been to Shetland for years but one of my outstanding and abiding memories is of a June evening trip to Mousa in the "Simmer Dim" when there was just a twilight around midnight between sunset and daybreak and we were surrounded by Storm Petrels coming to and going from their nests in the walls of the Broch and under the boulders and the boundary walls and it seemed as if every rock and stone was alive and making those funny little purring-followed-by-a-hiccup noises. Fantastic! And that notwithstanding we had seen (on a previous visit) the Black-browed Albatross on Hermaness and (that time) a Snowy Owl on Fetlar as well as the Red-necked Phalaropes...
See, I told you it was a long time ago! Mid 1980s... eeek!!

[tufftie]

I'm another one who hasn't been since the late 80's but unlike Orkney there are very few people that will give you a lift and the buses aren't great..The early post van/buses are good though. There is an excellent independent youth hostel on Unst which overlooks a bay where you can see otters in the sea Hermaness is great - would really recommend it. The gannets are spectacular but watch out for the bonxies!!!

[tufftie]

Originally Posted by Richard G.

I've wanted to visit the Unst Bus Shelter for many years, one of these days I'll get around to it...

Not what I expected!!!!

[Wizmatt]

Thanks everyone this is exactly the advice I'm looking for.

I'm aware that we will have to have everything planned down to the minute. We will be staying in bods in the south and north to try to cover as much as possible.

I am also aware that some reserves are not open to the public during the breeding season, so less well known alternatives would be great to know about.

[ladyhawk]

If you get the chance Sumborough head for the puffins and Muckle roe are amazing going up there in may myself hopefully or june its a great place to go for wildlife Scalloway as well might be lucky see the Orcas, am still looking but one of thaese days .

[The Woodman]

Originally Posted by Richard G.

I've wanted to visit the Unst Bus Shelter for many years, one of these days I'll get around to it...

Brilliant - the John Peel Memorial Traffic Island etc....

That has made me smile this morning. Thanks WAB meet anyone?

Sorry Wizmatt, I'm getting sidetracked. Enjoy your trip.

[crieffy]

Hi there,

Hermaness is a good one - I like to go several times during summer. approximately a 2 mile walk, but it's almost paved all the way now. Great for Gannets, Puffins, Great Skuas (mind your head!) Decent chance of seeing Otters at the ferry terminals on the way there, especially the Toft one. Also a slim chance of Orcas or Minke around the northern isles and from the ferries.

I did the Seabirds And Seals boat trip to Noss last year - highly recommended! If the weather is not too bad, you'll get really close to Gannets, Guillemot, Black Guillemot, Skuas attacking Gannets, Seals, Terns, and many more. They also have a remote submersible with a colour camera that they put down and you can view onboard.

Easily accessible, Sumburgh Head is hard to beat for Puffin encounters, patrolling Skua and Great Skua, Kittiwake, Guillemots and Shags, Shetland Wren, Twite are all readily seen. Also a possibility of passing whales. Nearby, Grutness is good for Terns, and Pool of Virkie for many different waders.

About 5 miles north of Sumburgh, the bay at Boddam gives easy opportunities for Purple Sandpiper, Redshanks, Curlew, Common Seals and Otters (family of 3 plus another adult male there at the moment)

Have a nice time
John