Shetland Island best beaches Friendly locals
The Shetland Islands, located in the northern reaches of Scotland, are home to some of the most stunning beaches in the United Kingdom. With their white sandy shores, crystal clear waters, and dramatic cliffs, the beaches of Shetland offer visitors a truly unforgettable experience. What sets the beaches of the Shetland Islands apart from others is the warmth and friendliness of the locals. From the moment you step foot on the beach, you are greeted with a warm smile and a welcoming attitude that is truly infectious.
One of the best beaches on the Shetland Islands is St. Ninian’s Isle, a sandy tombolo beach that connects the Isle of St. Ninian to the mainland. This unique beach is a popular spot for picnics, beachcombing, and bird watching. The locals are always happy to chat with visitors and share their knowledge of the area, making a visit to St. Ninian’s Isle a truly enriching experience.
Another must-visit beach on the Shetland Islands is West Sandwick Beach, located on the island of Yell. This picturesque beach is known for its pristine sands, turquoise waters, and stunning views of the surrounding cliffs. The locals of Yell are renowned for their friendliness and hospitality, and visitors to West Sandwick Beach are sure to feel right at home in this idyllic setting.
Whether you are looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, the beaches of the Shetland Islands offer something for everyone. With their natural beauty and welcoming locals, a visit to the beaches of Shetland is sure to be a memorable experience. So pack your bags, grab a towel, and prepare for a truly unforgettable beach vacation on the stunning shores of the Shetland Islands.
Welcome to Shetland, an archipelago in the North Sea, where you’ll find freedom, wildlife and wild beauty, but also a rich culture and a dynamic, forward-looking society. 100% charming.
For the visitor, Shetland offers the opportunity for adventure and a return to nature – with epic coastal hikes, deserted white-sand beaches and a rich array of wildlife, from otters and orcas to Shetland ponies and bustling gannet colonies. You might come for some of the islands’ famous events, from the Up Helly Aa fire festivals to the Shetland Folk Festival and Shetland Wool Week, or to escape to a seafront bothy or a grand Georgian pile. You’ll eat amazing local produce, from Britain’s best mussels to tender lamb from free-roaming sheep. All the while, you’ll experience the famous Shetland welcome and the islands’ unique culture, with clearer Viking and Scandinavian influences than anywhere else in the UK.
The reddish Lang Ayre beach is completely magical. I love camping there and having breakfast on the beach, just listening to the sound of the waves on the smooth stones.
Shetland Island Distillery
Saxa Vord, Unst, Shetland ZE2 9TN, Verenigd Koninkrijk
The Saxa Vord Distillery is the home to the award winning Shetland Reel Gin & Whisky and the most northerly distillery in the UK. We provide guided tastings during the summer months for visitors to the distillery.
Shetland Reel Gin
Shetland Reel, distils award winning London dry gin in Shetland in the UK’s most northerly distillery in Unst. Each of our recipes are thoughtfully crafted; drawing inspiration from the botanicals and ingredients that surround our island distillery.
Shetland Island North Uist Distillery
Baile nan Cailleach, Steadings Benbecula HS7 5LU, Verenigd Koninkrijk
There’s also the Shetland Reel Ocean Sent Gin, which will remind you of the stunning Shetland coastline with each sip. This gin features native bladderwrack and has native nutritious seaweed that has been collected to produce this high-quality spirit.Last but certainly not least is the Shetland Reel Simmer Gin, named after the beautiful summer twilight skies that Shetland is known for. Eight botanicals comprise this London dry gin, including orange peel and liquorice root.You can find Shetland Reel gins on the Shetland Island of North Uist, the most northerly inhabited island of the Shetland Isles.
Shetland Island North Uist Gin
Premium Downpour Craft Gin from North Uist Distillery Co.
Citrus, spice and a punch of wild Hebridean heather. A Scottish Gin is bursting with botanicals, drenching you in big bold flavours you can taste in every drop.
Unleash the flavour cloud.
Clear in the bottle, cloudy in the glass. Downpour gin bursts into life with a splash of tonic, releasing essential oils from specially selected botanicals, drenching you in island flavour.
ABV: 46%
Bottle Size: 70
Botanicals: Citrus, Spice and a punch of Wild Hebridean Heather
Shetland Island Blackwoods Gin
73 Watling St, London EC4M 9BJ, Verenigd Koninkrijk
Blackwoods is an Authentic Scottish Dry Gin
Blackwoods is dedicated to celebrating the best Scottish produce. The original vintage gin, each year we select botanicals from Scotland’s best crops and distil in small batches using a traditional copper pot still for the ultimate taste of Scotland.
The Spirit of Scotland
Originating in Shetland, Blackwoods embodies the spirit of Scotland. Packed with juniper and bright citrus notes our use of native botanicals gives our spirits a distinctive Scottish accent.
Vintage Gin
Different each year, but always with a distinct Scottish accent, the 2021 vintage uses ingredients from the Scottish Coast including kelp, sweet water mint and sharp, citrusy sea buckthorn.
These botanicals are distilled with a juniper forward base alongside fresh grapefruit and lime, fennel and a pinch of black pepper for a classic gin with a fresh, citrus flavour and a hint of spice.
Best enjoyed over ice with tonic and a generous wedge of pink grapefruit.
Sample the best of Shetland’s food and drink
By Chloe Irvine October 1st 2021
Shetland is widely celebrated as being home to some of the most beautiful islands in Scotland. But, this is far from its only attraction. The isles are ideal for foodies wishing to sample fantastic produce or for those interested in working or investing in this expanding sector, writes Chloe Irvine.
Claire White has been manager of Shetland Food and Drink since May 2019 – and she has big ambitions.
She was recently appointed as Shetland’s Regional Food Tourism Ambassador, expressing a desire to “put us on a par with the leading food destinations in the world.”
“We have such a rich, natural larder in Shetland, I think that’s the selling point,” explains Claire.
“Our environmental credentials are first class by global standards. The seafood is just extraordinary, a lot of people don’t realise more fish is landed here than in Northern Ireland, England and Wales put together.
“Whalsay have got the most amazing fleet, there’s probably nowhere else like it for fish access.
“Even domestically, we tend to see folk buy haddock quite habitually and cook it quite simply, they fry it. There’s nothing like a fried haddock, tatties and butter, it’s hard to beat.
“Of course, there are lots of other fish that are caught here, such as turbot, hake, megrim, sole, ling, tusk… they are all really interesting, versatile fish.”
Claire White (right) is the manager of Shetland Food and Drink Taste of Shetland
The seafood is just extraordinary, a lot of people don’t realise more fish is landed here than in Northern Ireland, England and Wales put together.
Seafood will be among the fantastic produce celebrated at the annual Taste of Shetland festival organised by SFAD, this year a hybrid of online and physical events.
A new “Shetland Trailer” is set to be launched at the festival. Part of its use will be for “folk with no access to fish”, providing them with the chance to get “whatever they haven’t tried before”, which includes superb quality shellfish, like mussels and scallops.
Shetland fish and seafood caught and landed in the isles is “just extraordinary” From left: Rachael Arthur; River Thompson; Taste of Shetland
It’s not all about fish, though. The festival and trailer will be used to promote the full extent of Shetland’s produce, much of it with exceptional provenance.
That, of course, includes Shetland lamb, which has received European Protection Designation status for a number of years.
Additionally, Shetland produces high-quality vegetables, a sector which Claire revealed is “expanding all the time”. In part that is thanks to the likes of Ollaberry-based social enterprise Polycrub, which produces and erects a gale-proof, hard-polycarbonate clad version of the polytunnel.
They are increasingly popular, enabling produce to thrive under even the toughest of weather conditions.
We would love to have folk that would come here and have that passion for food, we’d love to invite them to come and network with us and to invest.
Claire has now called for more people to get involved in Shetland’s hospitality sector – and to celebrate the fantastic food and drink that is found in the isles.
“We would love to have folk that would come here and have that passion for food, we’d love to invite them to come and network with us and to invest.”
She believes one of the attractions of Shetland is the ability to “really connect in a genuine way to the environment in which the food is created.
“For that you can’t do much better than Shetland,” she adds.
There are exciting opportunities for anyone who interested in joining the burgeoning sector.
“It can be a real journey of discovery for someone who is really caring and passionate about food. It’s also kind of unknown territory you’d be stepping into, you could be the trailblazer or pioneer and really make a reputation for yourself that way.
“Also, it’s such a great place to live in terms of family life, it’s a great place to raise children and it’s a flexible form of employment in some senses. There’s lots of opportunities in Shetland, you would have no bother whatsoever if you wanted a job in the hospitality industry, you could get one tomorrow.”
The Taste of Shetland festival returns in October 2021. Taste of Shetland
A Taste of Shetland Festival 2021 is set to serve up its varied menu on 23 October from 10am-5pm at the Clickimin Centre in Lerwick. For those unable to attend in person, the event can be enjoyed virtually online from 11am-3pm.
Meanwhile, Taste of Shetland are releasing several informative videos on food heritage such as traditional Shetland dairy and salt fish, which you can access via their website or social networks. Other subjects are in the works, including traditional Shetland agriculture, which Claire says will be released within the next fortnight. At the end of the year, a video focusing on reestit mutton will also come out.
Last year, four films were released regarding rhubarb, mackerel fishing, tattie soup and Shetland lamb to explore the “regional difference” in comparison to elsewhere.
What to see and do on the Shetland Island ?
Shetland Island, located off the northeast coast of Scotland, is a hidden gem waiting to be explored. With its rugged coastline, picturesque landscapes, and rich history, there is no shortage of things to see and do while visiting this unique destination.
One of the must-see attractions on Shetland Island is the ancient archaeological site of Jarlshof, which dates back over 4,000 years. Here, visitors can wander among the ruins of Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age settlements, as well as a Viking longhouse and medieval farmstead. The site offers a fascinating glimpse into the island’s past and the diverse cultures that have called it home.
For nature lovers, Shetland Island is a paradise waiting to be explored. With its rugged cliffs, sweeping moorlands, and stunning beaches, there are endless opportunities for outdoor adventures. Visitors can take a hike along the dramatic coastline, birdwatch at one of the many seabird colonies, or spot seals and otters along the shoreline. The island is also home to a variety of wildlife, including puffins, gannets, and orcas, making it a perfect destination for nature enthusiasts.
In addition to its natural beauty and ancient history, Shetland Island is also known for its vibrant arts and culture scene. The annual Shetland Folk Festival and Shetland Wool Week are just a few of the events that showcase the island’s rich heritage and artistic talent. Visitors can explore local art galleries, attend traditional music performances, or even try their hand at traditional crafts like knitting and weaving.
Overall, Shetland Island offers a diverse range of attractions and activities for visitors of all interests. Whether you’re fascinated by history, enamored with nature, or captivated by the arts, there is something for everyone to enjoy on this remote and enchanting island. So pack your bags, and get ready to explore all that Shetland Island has to offer.
