Unst Isle Tourist Information

Unst Tourist Information - Shetland Ponies

Unst, along with Yell and Fetlar, make up the North Isles of Shetland which are often less visited by tourists despite good ferry connections. Unst is the most northerly of these islands and the most northerly inhabited island in Britain. The island has a wide range of geological types giving rise to a wonderful array of landscapes. Steep cliffs, low rocky shores covered with flat farmland and peat bogs contrast sharply against each other. Today it is something of a wildlife haven with two National Nature Reserves, the serpentine moonscape of Keen of Hamar and the spectacular cliffs of Hermaness NNR overlooking Muckle Flugga.

It is also a good place to see the true Shetland Ponies that crofters allow to roam around the Unst countryside. They have been a feature of the landscape in the Shetlands and particularly Unst for twelve centuries. They independent lifestyle has meant they have evolved to cope with the harsh environmental conditions and have produced a hardy breed. Traditionally they were used as workhorses for cultivating the land and bringing in the peat from the hills. The breed has frequently been in demand for other industries such as the coal industry in the nineteenth century where the little horses where used instead of children to bring the coal out of the mines! Good places to see them in Shetland are on Unst as well as Walls, Tingwall, Dunrossness on Mainland.

There is a Tourist Information Point at Unst Heritage Centre in Haroldswick which has general local information. There is B&B accommodation concentrated in the northern half of the island as well as a youth hostel (Britain's most northerly!) not far from the Belmont ferry in the south that also offers camping and bike hire. Baltasound in central Unst has the post office (Britain's most northerly!) and leisure centre with heated swimming pool.

Getting to Unst - Scottish Island Hopping

Unst is accessible by modern car and passenger ferries from Gutcher on Yell to Belmont on Unst. The journey across Bluemull Sound only takes five to ten minutes. It's recommended to allow twenty five minutes to travel across Yell from that ferry at Ullsta to the ferry for Unst in Gutcher if you're purely driving straight there. There is generally a ferry every half hour. Booking is advisable in peak season and fares are reasonable.

A triangular services runs between Yell, Unst and Fetlar which runs less frequently than the direct Yell to Unst service. These can be a little irregular but there are usually a few services each day. If you want to get to Mainland from Unst you have to go via Yell catching the ferries from Ullsta at the south west corner of Yell. Unst Ferries Booking Information: Voicebank: 01595 743972 Bookings: 01957 722259. Ferry services general information: 01595 743970. Booking office opening hours: 8.30am-4.45 pm.

There is also an "Overland bus" service that runs from the Viking bus station in Lerwick on Mainland to Yell, Unst and Fetlar which picks up the above ferries to reach the islands.

Unst - Britain's Most Northerly Walking & Nature Reserves

Hermaness, the most northerly point in Britain, is the big draw to Unst with its seabird colonies of gannets, puffins, fulmars, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, shags, black guillemots and gulls totalling over 100,000 seabirds cackling away on the cliffs. The views from here are also worth the trip stretching out to Muckle Flugga from the steep seacliffs with stacks and arches punctuating the swirling seas. The moorland on the clifftops are home to the largest colony of great skuas in the world. The "bonxies" as they're called locally, have got something of a notorious reputation for dive-bombing those that venture out to their moorland nesting grounds. Holding a stick above your head is the usual way to ward them off although they rarely actually hit anyone!

The best time to visit Hermaness is mid May to mid July although this is the nesting season so care should be taken not to disturb the birds. There is a visitor centre at the old lighthouse shore station and a recommended walking route is marked over moderate ground that will take three to four hours if doing the whole route. Go prepared for rough terrain and changeable weather as fog in summer is not unheard of.

The other National Nature Reserve is the wonderful Keen of Hamer, probably the most unusual reserve in the country. Its specialness lies in the plants that are able to grow on the rare serpentine rock found on Unst such as northern rock cress, Norwegian sandwort and the only locality for Edmondston's chickweed. This plant was discovered by 12 year old Thomas Edmondston in 1837 and his descendants still live on Unst. The Keen of Hamer is something of a lunar landscape and is one that is only found in a handful of locations in Britain. It is believed that this is how much of Northern Europe one looked after the Ice Age 11,000 years ago. The best time to visit Keen of Hamer is mid May to mid July when the flowers are out. The NNR is open all year round. There is a small car park signposted from the A968 and it is a flat area so is easy for walking. There are leaflets available online from the nature reserve links right that give you more detail of the nature reserves' wildlife and geology.

The south west coast is where you'll find some of the prettiest scenery on Unst dotted with Viking houses and brochs. By the road to the sixteenth century Muness Castle (open to the public) are two prehistoric standing stones. For more information on walking on Unst, including walking itineraries, check the Walk Shetland website, link right and Shetland author Peter Guy's guidebooks including "Walking the Coastline of Shetland".

Unst Tourist Attractions Shetland Isles

As you may have already guessed, Unst makes much of being the most northerly inhabited island in Britain and it is one of its attractions for visitors. But there's much more to the island stemming from its history and culture. The Unst Heritage Centre in Haroldwick traces the story of the often difficult island life over the centuries. Exhibits have been donated by the islanders themselves and together show how crofting, quarrying, fish farming, craftwork (fine lace knitwear and spinning), wildlife tourism and Unst's important role in the nation's defences have all shaped the culture and life on the island. There are also displays on geology and Shetland geneology. Open daily 11am-5pm between 1 May-30 September.

Just across the way is Unst Boat Haven, a collection of traditional Shetland fish craft that takes you through the maritime history of Shetland. All the boats are traditionally made stemming from Viking methods powered by oar or sail including "whillies", "yoals" and "sixareens". Open daily 11.00am - 5.00pm between 1 May-30 September.

Next door to the boat haven is the Haroldswick shop that has a cafe with table-top maps of Unst and is a good place to watch seals, particularly at low tide. Heading further north takes you to Norwick beach and dunes and to Britain's most northerly house in Skaw that has an outhouse made out of an upturned boat. The northern coastline looks out to Muckle Flugga where another of the Stevensons' lighthouses takes its proud place as being Britain's most northerly lighthouse! It is possible that Unst was used in Robert Louis Stevenson's as inspiration for Treasure Island as the map closely resembles Unst. His father built the lighthouse and he visited the island himself in 1869 and apparently signed the visitor book in the lighthouse.

As you're travelling around Unst look out for Bobby's bus shelter on the road north from Baltasound. It was apparently the brainwave of Bobby Maculay who started to make the place a little more like home after a particularly long wait for a bus. You'll know it when you see it as it's furnished with sofa, telly, curtains, pictures and you can even have a snack while taking the weight off. It is probably the island's most popular tourist attraction and visitors from all over the world have visited it. Check the visitor book for people's thoughts.

Valhalla Brewery - Britain's Most Northerly Brewery

In central Unst at Baltasound is Valhalla Brewery - yes you guessed it - Britain's most northerly brewery.

Run by husband and wife Sonny & Sylvia Priest, they've been brewing real ales since 1997.

You can take a tour around the brewery which includes a sample of ale at the end. If you can't make it to the island take a look at the virtual tour on their website, link right.

Shetland Refreshments Ltd, Valhalla Brewery, Baltasound, Unst, Shetland ZE2 9DX. Tel/Fax: 01957 711658. Email: mail@valhallabrewery.co.uk.