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Offered languages
- English
With some of the richest archaeological sites in the British Isles, Shetland is a history lovers' paradise. From prehistoric settlements to tales of the Viking-era and the dowry that gifted Shetland from Norway to Scotland, our Shetland history tour will take you on a journey through millennia as we travel the length and breadth of the Shetland Mainland.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
We are able to pick up from any hotel, B&B or holiday rental in Mainland Shetland, all ferry terminals and cruise piers. If you don't see your chosen meeting point listed, please message us after booking.
Itinerary
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1
*Please note, this itinerary is based on starting in Lerwick. If you choose a meeting point elsewhere in Shetland, the order of stops will be different, but all stops will be covered. We start our exploration of Shetland's past in the islands' capital: Lerwick. Once a small fishing village built to service Dutch herring fleets, Lerwick is now the largest settlement and only town in Shetland. We'll visit Fort Charlotte, built to protect the islands during the First Anglo-Dutch War in 1652/3. Next, spend some time wandering through "the Lanes", a series of narrow passageways built between the 17th & 19th centuries which are now a conservation area. We'll conclude our Lerwick walk at the Town Hall with its impressive stained glass windows.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2
Sitting on a small promontory in Clickimin Loch, the 2000-year old Clickimin Broch is one of the best preserved Iron Age brochs in Scotland.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3
We travel to the very southern tip of the Shetland Mainland to visit Jarlshof. An archaeological settlement dating from the Bronze Age, Jarlshof has been classed as one of the most remarkable sites ever excavated in the British Isles
40 minutes • Admission ticket included -
4
The Crofthouse Museum is a traditional 19th century thatched crofthouse. The property is presented in the style of how it would have looked in the 1870s. Smell the peat fire, discover the box beds and try to set the traditional Shetland mouse trap. The crofthouse also has a lovely garden. Hear our knowledgeable custodians tell stories about how it would have been to live in a typical crofthouse and what families would have to have done to make a living from the land.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included -
5
Travelling on to Scalloway we see the ancient capital and its famous castle which was built around 1600 by Earl Patrick Stewart. Note- this is a photo stop only. The castle is closed to the public.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6
Visit the Scalloway museum which features displays on ancient Shetland and the Shetland Bus - which was a WW2 resistance movement where fishing boats operated a daring operation transporting troops and civilians across the sea between Shetland and German-occupied Norway from 1941-1945.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included -
7
Either before or after we visit Scalloway Museum, we'll have some free time to explore Scalloway and get lunch from one of the local shops or cafes (lunch not included)
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
8
Travelling to the far north of Shetland, through the dramatic Northmavine scenery (with photo stops en route), we arrive at Tangwick Haa. This fascinating museum is housed in a traditional bod built around 1690 and has an informative display on local life through the centuries.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included -
9
We'll pause for a photo on the windswept clifftops, overlooked by Eshaness Lighthouse, built by David Stevenson in 1925.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
10
Continuing our drive through the remote Eshaness Peninsula, we stop for a photo at Johnnie Notions' bod. Notions, a self taught physician, is credited with developing an inoculation for smallpox. He spent his entire life (1730-1803) here in Eshaness.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
As we near the end of our trip, we make one final stop at the Bod of Gremista. Now a textile museum (no admission on this tour), the bod was built in 1780. Arthur Andersen, co-founder of the Peninsula & Oriental Steam Navigation Company, which we now know as P&O, was born here.
Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Additional time is for transportation/ travel time.
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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