We usually begin our tour in our capital town Lerwick (Norse name meaning 'Muddy Bay') and discover how Lerwick came to be. This is also the location where the detective Jimmy Perez lives in the television series 'Shetland'.
From Lerwick, we head west to our ancient capital Scalloway. Here you'll see Scalloway Castle, built in 1599 by Earl Patrick Stewart, the half-nephew of Mary Queen of Scots. Scalloway was also the operational base for the 'Shetland Bus', a resistance movement against the Nazi occupation of Norway in WW2.
The tour also takes in the following locations:
Tingwall - A luscious green valley, which for over three centuries hosted Shetland's parliament. The Tingwall loch, church and manse are the locations that tell my favourite story about one inspiring family from the past.
Voe - A place of historic significance, symbolising how the demise of the Laird's control in Shetland coincided with the rise of the merchant class.
Busta House - Shetland's oldest continually lived in building, who's most illustrious inhabitant was Thomas Gifford.
Mavis Grind - Norse for 'Gate of the Narrow Isthmus' or 'Neck' and which takes us through the narrowest part of Shetland where they say you can throw a stone from the North Sea over to the Atlantic Ocean. The landscape in Northmavine ('North of the narrow neck') is spectacularly rugged and rural.
Nibon - A winding, narrow road with stunning views.
Heylor - Nestling on the shores of Ronas Voe this was a bustling herring station over one hundred years ago, a well chosen location due to the sheltered fjord.
Tangwick Haa Museum - Our route continues into volcanic territory. The museum was at one time a laird's house and is well worth a visit.
The cliffs of Eshaness - Volcanic cliffs which offers visitors spectacular, stunning scenery in all weathers.
