Episode 88: ‘Waiting for the Sun’ – Summer Solstice in Shetland (June)
Let’s spend the longest day of the year up north in the Shetland Isles. Join me for a boat trip to Noss, a walk across St Ninian’s Isle and the latest sunset of the year.
‘Waiting for the Sun’ is part of the series A Year in Scotland. This is the June episode.
In this story, I’m taking you with me to Mainland Shetland and two little islands off the east and west coasts.
Our journey begins with a boat trip from Lerwick to the cliffs of Noss. The island is a nature reserve and we’re here to spot the incredible seabirds that call Noss their home. We continue to the west side of Mainland Shetland for a walk across a very special beach and over to St Ninian’s Isle. We discover the island’s fascinating history and treat ourselves to a very special experience on the beach. Our adventure ends with the latest sunset of the year.
After the story, I share my top tips for a summer trip to Shetland.
Disclaimer: All information provided in this podcast is based on personal travel experiences. Companies mentioned in the story or tips were active at the time of release. If you listen to episodes at a later point, note that this information may have changed in the meantime.
Additional sound effects:
- Boat, yacht, front of boat hitting waves…: Produced by Tom Chapman, CC0 1.0 Universal License
- Boat, yacht, engine idle the rev to full power…: Produced by Tom Chapman, CC0 1.0 Universal License
- Speedboat Outboard Motors, Tidore, Indonesia by RTB45, https://freesound.org/s/257730/, License: Attribution 4.0
- Gannets squwaking: 20080810.gannet.colony.flac by dobroide, https://freesound.org/s/59295/, License: Attribution 4.0
- Water impact…: Produced by ZapSplat, Standard License
- Gannets squwaking: Jorick van Arneym, XC328163. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/328163.
Resources
Use my Shetland itinerary to plan your trip
Here are typical Shetland experiences you must not miss
Check out my entire Shetland blog post archive
Book a boat trip with Shetland Seabird Tours from Lerwick
Read more about hiking on St Ninian’s Isle
Book a seat for a sauna session at Haar Sauna
Read more about summer solstice traditions in Scotland
5 Travel Tips for Shetland in Summer
1) Take plenty of time
Not only is there a lot to do and see in Shetland, many outdoor activities, but especially boat trips, are also extremely weather-dependent. If you’ve listened to last season’s story about the island Mousa, you may remember that boats get cancelled due to high winds all the time. It’s important to stay flexible and spend enough time on the islands, to reshuffle your plans according to the weather.
2) Book a boat trip to Noss with Shetland Seabird Tours
I was invited to join Phil Harris on one of his boat trips to Noss during my last trip to Shetland and reflecting back on the experience, I think it was one of the most impressive wildlife experiences I’ve ever had in my life. Phil is such a passionate birder, and I felt that he did everything in his power to give us all an unforgettable experience with the bonxies and gannets of Noss.
3) Visit the Shetland Museum in Lerwick
The Shetland Museum & Archives is not only a great place to escape to on a rainy day, the gallery features exhibitions about a wide range of topics. From typical Shetland knitting patterns to the archaeology of the islands. One of the items on display is a replica of the silver treasure found on St Ninian’s Isle.
4) Hop over to Bressay and Noss on foot
Bressay is always worth a trip. The ferry from Lerwick takes only 7 minutes and you can get around the island by car or by bike. If you cross over to Bressay’s east coast, you can take a small passenger ferry across to Noss, and visit the nature reserve on foot – a great alternative if you’re not fond of long boat trips. The walk to the cliffs and back should take about 2.5 hours.
5) Hire a local hiking guide
To get the most out of exploring Shetland on foot, seeing the landscapes isn’t enough – you also need to hear the stories that put these islands into context. I couldn’t think of a better guide than Jon from Adventure Shetland. Not only will he keep you safe on the hills and moorlands of Shetland, he’s also got a degree in archaeology, which makes walking with him even more fascinating.
Pictures from my trip to Shetland
