Campsites in Shetland Islands
Viking heritage, coastlines, and seabirds, the Shetland Islands are rich in history, adventure, and natural beauty.
- Shetland Islands
Popular camping styles for Shetland Islands
Campsites in Shetland Islands guide
Overview
Britain’s most northerly islands, Shetland feels like a world apart from the rest of the country. Formerly belonging to the Kingdom of Norway, the islands retain a distinctly Nordic flavor, most notable in the place names and dialect. Shetland has a thriving cultural scene, from traditional crafts to contemporary art, and it's also a magnet for outdoor enthusiasts. Hikers, kayakers, climbers and wildlife watchers will find plenty to appeal, especially during long summer days when the sun barely dips below the horizon. Campers have plenty of options, too: from beachside caravan parks to simple camping böds.
Where to go
Shetland Mainland
The largest island in the Shetland archipelago, and home to the capital of Lerwick, Mainland provides a great introduction to the Shetland Islands. Lerwick is a pretty town with lots of interesting shops, cafés and an excellent heritage museum. At the southern tip, Sumburgh Head is a great place to see nesting puffins in spring and summer and to explore the archaeological sites of Jarlshof, a prehistoric and Viking settlement, and the Old Scatness Iron Age broch and village. At the northern end, the cliffs of Eshaness offer fantastic coastal walking and adventure opportunities for experienced climbers. Nearby Braewick Café and Caravan Park has room for tents and campers, as well as a handful of glamping cabins.
Yell
The low-lying peat moor-covered island of Yell, between Mainland and Unst, is the archipelago’s second-largest island and offers beautiful coastal scenery and beaches—West Sandwick beach is a good spot for paddling adventures. Wildlife lovers can look out for birds such as whimbrels, red-throated divers and golden plovers, as well as otters and seals. Many visitors just zip through on their way north but, if you stay overnight, you can enjoy the uniquely Shetlandic experience of staying in a camping böd, a basic shelter formerly used to house fishermen. Next to the RSPB's Lumbister reserve, noted for moorland birds and otters, the Windhouse Lodge is a good base for touring the island.
Unst
Home to the northernmost point of the UK, Unst feels like being on the extreme edge of the world. A walk through Hermaness National Nature Reserve takes you along the edges of sheer cliffs to see thousands of seabirds, including puffins, gannets and great skuas, and the alluring offshore islet of Muckle Flugga. Aspiring botanists will enjoy seeking out rare flora at the rocky, lunar-like Keen of Hamar Nature Reserve. With great views over Uyea Sound, Gardiesfauld Hostel has a handful of electric hook-ups and tent pitches in a walled garden with direct access to the beach.
Fair Isle and Foula
The two most remote settlements in the UK, the islands of Fair Isle and Foula are well worth the effort they take to visit. Both are accessed by short flight or longer ferry rides, but often cut off by poor weather: flexible plans are a must. Fair Isle is famed as one of the best places in Europe to see rare birds and offers dramatic coastal scenery. Foula is home to some of the tallest sea cliffs in the UK, as well as lots of Shetland ponies and sheep. You’ll need to book a guesthouse on Fair Isle (as the island is owned by the National Trust for Scotland) but wild camping is allowed on Foula.
Bressay and Noss
Just east of Lerwick, the island of Bressay is easily reached from Mainland. You can walk to the Bressay Lighthouse and to the top of Ward Hill for some great views. Off the east coast of Bressay, Noss is home to a spectacular seabird colony—in the summer the island’s tall cliffs are alive with nesting guillemots, gannets, fulmars and puffins. As a National Nature Reserve, there is no accommodation on Noss, but caravan spaces are available at Bressay Boating Club.
