Shetland and its Outer Isles

Departing: June 2027 - August 2027

Shetland’s rugged islands offer raw beauty, unique culture and abundant wildlife. We visit four islands, including Mousa with its Iron Age broch, the Shetland Croft House Museum and Jarlshof, a 3,000-year-old archaeological treasure. We explore the northern islands of Yell and Unst, sail by boat as islanders have for centuries and take in dramatic seascapes, fresh air and the distinctive character of this remote archipelago.

Included

Explore Jarlshof & Muness Castle, with entrance fees included
All other visits as outlined in the itinerary
Professional Tour Manager
2 nights at the Busta House Hotel or Brae Hotel, Shetland
2 breakfasts & 2 dinners
MV Hrossey/Hjaltland (includes dinner & breakfast)
Private air-conditioned coach travel

Highlights

Rich wildlife on the Island of Mousa
3,000 years of archaeological history at Jarlshof
Muness Castle, the most northerly castle in the British Isles
The stunning sea cliffs of Noss
Bobby’s bus shelter in Baltasound – surely the most famous in the world!

Clive Warsop

An Environmental Archaeologist. He lectured and tutored at the University of Edinburgh for 10 years on the Archaeology of Scotland and aspects of European Archaeology and has supervised and directed excavations in Scotland and France.

Alastair Walker

A native of Inverness his knowledge of Scotland is wide ranging, from the Northern Isles and the Hebrides to Perthshire, Galloway and the Borders. His specialist subjects include Scottish military history and the railways of Scotland past and present.

Tour Itinerary

We depart from our designated departure points and travel to Aberdeen, where we join the Serco Northlink ferry for the overnight sailing to Lerwick. Accommodation is provided in comfortable 2-berth cabins with en-suite facilities and dinner is served on board in the evening.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Serco overnight Northlink ferry

Arriving early in Lerwick, we enjoy a Scottish breakfast on board before a full-day tour. Starting at the South Mainland, we visit the Shetland Croft House Museum, a restored 19th-century thatched croft house with traditional materials, low doorways, uneven floors and a peat fire.

Next, we explore the Prehistoric and Norse Settlement of Jarlshof, featuring 3,000 years of history with Bronze Age houses, Iron Age brochs and wheel houses, Viking longhouses and medieval farmhouses.

This afternoon, we cross as foot passengers to the fascinating little island of Mousa. Here we visit the 2,000-year-old broch, the best-preserved example in the world.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Brae Hotel

After a leisurely breakfast, we depart for a full-day tour to the northern isles of Yell and Unst. We travel north through Tingwall and Girlsta and past the oil terminal at Sullom Voe, which has transformed life in Shetland over the last 25 years, before arriving at Toft.

After a 15-minute crossing, we travel across Yell to Gutcher, then take a short ferry to Unst. We visit Muness Castle, drive to Baltasound, and after lunch (not included), head further north to enjoy views from Saxa Vord Hill. We return via East Yell and Burravoe.

Meals: Breakfast Dinner

Accommodation: Brae Hotel

This morning we leave the hotel and head south, visiting St Ninian’s Isle and its 6th-century church. Next, we stop at Scalloway, Shetland’s former capital, to see the ruined castle built in 1600 by Earl Patrick Stewart.

After lunch in Scalloway (not included), we pass through Tingwall Valley, the site of the old Norse parliament, before returning to Lerwick for free time. Later, we board the Northlink ferry for an overnight trip to Aberdeen. Dinner is served on board.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Serco overnight Northlink ferry

After breakfast on board, we disembark in Aberdeen and return to the original pick-up points.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation

Travel between Aberdeen and Lerwick aboard NorthLink’s comfortable overnight ferries, MV Hrossey or MV Hjaltland. Relax in your en-suite two-berth cabin and enjoy dinner and breakfast on board, with restaurants, bars, lounges and Wi-Fi available throughout the journey.

Originally a small fishing village, Brae expanded in the 1970s when the Sullom Voe refinery was built and rapid expansion took place on many of the villages in the North Mainland. For many years the Brae Hotel only accommodated visiting contractors from the oil and gas industry but in its more recent history, opened its doors to the growing number of visitors coming to enjoy the wildlife, walking, landscape and scenery this part of the islands has to offer. The exterior of the hotel is rather unprepossessing but inside rooms are comfortable and functional with TV, tea and coffee-making facilities, satellite TV and free Wi-Fi throughout.

Availability & Booking

2027

23rd June from $2,375

Call to Book

27th August from $2,375

Call to Book

[ { "ItineraryId": 0, "ItemOrder": 0, "Title": "Shetland and its Outer Isles", "StrapLine1": "", "StrapLine2": "", "BodyText": "

", "BigImage1": "", "SmallImage1": "", "ItemTypeId": 1, "ItinItemTemplateId": 7037, "Images": [], "Version": "", "Year": "2027", "CreatedById": 77, "CreatedByName": "CallumTemp", "CreatedDate": "2026-09-04T14:56:43.383", "ModifiedById": 0, "ModifiedByName": null, "ModifiedDate": "2026-09-16T12:33:40.09", "Id": 69069 } ]

{ "TourId": 195718, "TourRef": "WSHI270623", "ItineraryId": 11064, "DepartureNo": 1, "Title": "Shetland and its Outer Isles", "TourType": "I", "StartDate": "2027-06-23T00:00:00", "EndDate": "0001-01-01T00:00:00", "Duration": 5, "MaxPax": 80, "Available": 27, "AdultFare": 2375.00, "OAPFare": 2375.00, "ChildFare": 2375.00, "SingleSupplement": 495.00, "Hotel": "Busta House or Brae Hotel, Shetland", "Area": "_CLAS_ORK_SCO_AC_", "Guaranteed": false, "Status": "", "CatalogueId": 1, "RouteNumber": 0, "RoutePointsList": "", "RoutePointsListExtended": "", "RoutePointsListExtendedT3": "", "CompanyId": 0, "OutwardHubId": 0, "OutwardHubId2": 0, "ReturnHubId": 0, "ReturnHubId2": 0, "T3PickupPoints": null, "Hotels": [ { "Id": "30808199", "Name": "Busta House or Brae Hotel, Shetland", "BoardBasisCode": null, "BoardBasisDescription": null, "Rooms": [ { "Type": "DOUBLE S/O", "Available": 3, "Required": 0, "Capacity": 1, "Supplement": 495.0, "AdultPrice": 2375.0, "ChildPrice": 2375.0, "OAPPrice": 2375.0, "Description": "Double for Sole Occupancy", "Id": 127314284 }, { "Type": "DOUBLE SWS", "Available": 0, "Required": 0, "Capacity": 1, "Supplement": 0.0, "AdultPrice": 2375.0, "ChildPrice": 2375.0, "OAPPrice": 2375.0, "Description": "Double for Sole Occupancy without Supplement", "Id": 127314285 }, { "Type": "DOUBLE", "Available": 6, "Required": 0, "Capacity": 2, "Supplement": 0.0, "AdultPrice": 2375.0, "ChildPrice": 2375.0, "OAPPrice": 2375.0, "Description": "Double Room", "Id": 127314286 }, { "Type": "TWIN", "Available": 6, "Required": 0, "Capacity": 2, "Supplement": 0.0, "AdultPrice": 2375.0, "ChildPrice": 2375.0, "OAPPrice": 2375.0, "Description": "Twin Room", "Id": 127314287 } ], "Facilities": null } ], "Routes": [], "Discounts": [], "DiscountPercentage": 0.0, "DiscountType": 0, "DiscountValue": 0.00, "WebDisplayPrice": "$2,375.00", "SavingAmount": "-", "CanAgentHaveDiscount": false, "AgentRequiresAddress": false, "SelfDrive": false, "PromoCode": "", "T3PickupPointList": [], "DepositAmount": 450.00, "DepositExpiry": "2027-03-17T00:00:00", "WebAreas": [ { "FilterId": 7, "Name": "Classic", "Value": "CLAS", "Description": "", "Image": "", "ImageAlt": "", "Url": "", "Color": "", "ParentCategory": "", "ChildCategories": [] }, { "FilterId": 40, "Name": "Orkney and Shetland", "Value": "ORK", "Description": "", "Image": "", "ImageAlt": "", "Url": "", "Color": "", "ParentCategory": "DEST", "ChildCategories": [] }, { "FilterId": 49, "Name": "Scotland", "Value": "SCO", "Description": "", "Image": "", "ImageAlt": "", "Url": "", "Color": "", "ParentCategory": "DEST", "ChildCategories": [] }, { "FilterId": 0, "Name": "Active", "Value": "AC", "Description": "", "Image": "", "ImageAlt": "", "Url": "", "Color": "#000000", "ParentCategory": "", "ChildCategories": [] } ] }

{ "TourId": 195719, "TourRef": "WSHI270827", "ItineraryId": 11064, "DepartureNo": 1, "Title": "Shetland and its Outer Isles", "TourType": "I", "StartDate": "2027-08-27T00:00:00", "EndDate": "0001-01-01T00:00:00", "Duration": 5, "MaxPax": 80, "Available": 20, "AdultFare": 2375.00, "OAPFare": 2375.00, "ChildFare": 2375.00, "SingleSupplement": 495.00, "Hotel": "Busta House or Brae Hotel, Shetland", "Area": "_CLAS_ORK_SCO_AC_", "Guaranteed": false, "Status": "", "CatalogueId": 1, "RouteNumber": 0, "RoutePointsList": "", "RoutePointsListExtended": "", "RoutePointsListExtendedT3": "", "CompanyId": 0, "OutwardHubId": 0, "OutwardHubId2": 0, "ReturnHubId": 0, "ReturnHubId2": 0, "T3PickupPoints": null, "Hotels": [ { "Id": "30808200", "Name": "Busta House or Brae Hotel, Shetland", "BoardBasisCode": null, "BoardBasisDescription": null, "Rooms": [ { "Type": "DOUBLE S/O", "Available": 0, "Required": 0, "Capacity": 1, "Supplement": 495.0, "AdultPrice": 2375.0, "ChildPrice": 2375.0, "OAPPrice": 2375.0, "Description": "Double for Sole Occupancy", "Id": 127314288 }, { "Type": "DOUBLE SWS", "Available": 0, "Required": 0, "Capacity": 1, "Supplement": 0.0, "AdultPrice": 2375.0, "ChildPrice": 2375.0, "OAPPrice": 2375.0, "Description": "Double for Sole Occupancy without Supplement", "Id": 127314289 }, { "Type": "DOUBLE", "Available": 6, "Required": 0, "Capacity": 2, "Supplement": 0.0, "AdultPrice": 2375.0, "ChildPrice": 2375.0, "OAPPrice": 2375.0, "Description": "Double Room", "Id": 127314290 }, { "Type": "TWIN", "Available": 4, "Required": 0, "Capacity": 2, "Supplement": 0.0, "AdultPrice": 2375.0, "ChildPrice": 2375.0, "OAPPrice": 2375.0, "Description": "Twin Room", "Id": 127314291 } ], "Facilities": null } ], "Routes": [], "Discounts": [], "DiscountPercentage": 0.0, "DiscountType": 0, "DiscountValue": 0.00, "WebDisplayPrice": "$2,375.00", "SavingAmount": "-", "CanAgentHaveDiscount": false, "AgentRequiresAddress": false, "SelfDrive": false, "PromoCode": "", "T3PickupPointList": [], "DepositAmount": 450.00, "DepositExpiry": "2027-05-21T00:00:00", "WebAreas": [ { "FilterId": 7, "Name": "Classic", "Value": "CLAS", "Description": "", "Image": "", "ImageAlt": "", "Url": "", "Color": "", "ParentCategory": "", "ChildCategories": [] }, { "FilterId": 40, "Name": "Orkney and Shetland", "Value": "ORK", "Description": "", "Image": "", "ImageAlt": "", "Url": "", "Color": "", "ParentCategory": "DEST", "ChildCategories": [] }, { "FilterId": 49, "Name": "Scotland", "Value": "SCO", "Description": "", "Image": "", "ImageAlt": "", "Url": "", "Color": "", "ParentCategory": "DEST", "ChildCategories": [] }, { "FilterId": 0, "Name": "Active", "Value": "AC", "Description": "", "Image": "", "ImageAlt": "", "Url": "", "Color": "#000000", "ParentCategory": "", "ChildCategories": [] } ] }