Make the most out of your campervan road trip, and add to your itinery

If you love wildlife, ancient history, all things Viking and rugged scenery, then Shetland is your top place to visit. We absolutely loved it.

When we visited in our campervan, we tried to experience as much variety as possible to really engage with the true Shetland experience.

Here are our top ten places we loved, and would highly recommend visiting. 

1. Hermaness National Nature reserve. (Perfect for Campervan/ vanlife trips)
   • Hermaness is the most northerly inhabited area of Shetland. It is wild, rugged, awash with wildlife and the UK’s most northerly lighthouse. In summer it is full of gannets, puffins and the renown ‘bonxies’.
2. Unst.
   • The most northerly island on Shetland. Full of beautiful white beaches, (elusive) otters, a viking long boat and long house replica. It has a random space port, and if you’re extra lucky- the Orcas may visit.
3. Yell.
   • The middle island of Yell has beautiful beaches and abounds with amazing birds and sea life. The Sands of Breckon and West Sandwick are particularly stunning.
4. Eshaness:
   • A peninsula on the island of Mainland. Take in the amazing geology, puffins, gannets, and the huge variety of birds. Enjoy the wild sea views.
5. St Ninians.
   • An amazing tombolo white beach connecting to an island with historical church remains. See evidence of Christian and pre-Christian burials, and where a Pictish silver hoard was found in the 1950’s.
6. Visit the various Stevenson lighthouses on the island.
   • Visit Sumburgh Head Lighthouse visitor attraction, coffee shop, gift shop whilst enjoying the wild sea views. See Muckle Flugga off the coast of Unst, and many more.
7. Jarlshof prehistoric and Norse settlement.
   • Fascinating visitor attraction, from 2500 bc, Bronze Age, Pictish and Viking dwellings, many still in great condition. All with a white sandy beach back drop.
8. Watch the planes landing across the unique road crossing airway.
   • Observe the main road barriers come down and the planes landing right in front of your eyes.
9. Visit the Lerwick Museum.
   • Fascinating history of the islands, with fishing and wool industry
10. Visit the famous ‘Jimmy Perez’ house in Lerwick from the Shetland crime drama.

Don’t forget to click on the Shetland links to read more about our road trip.

(See links below for more details)

https://www.shetland.org/visit/do/wildlife

https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/jarlshof-prehistoric-and-norse-settlement/

https://www.shetland.org/visit

https://www.nature.scot/enjoying-outdoors/visit-our-nature-reserves/hermaness-national-nature-reserve