Start Your Story in Scotland

Where history meets breathtaking beauty, and every visit feels like an escape.

Inspiration for your trip

Step into a land steeped in history and legend, explore our dramatic landscapes and uncover our ancient Celtic roots. Vast lochs, glens and Munros - easily accessible from our vibrant cities and towns - make Scotland the perfect place to lose yourself.

Places to go

Things to do

Accommodation

Travel & planning

Discover unique experiences in Scotland

Discover hidden gems, plan your perfect trip, or find exactly what you need—from scenic hikes and cosy cottages to events and cultural experiences.

Discover Scotland's vibrant events and festivals

FIFA World Cup 2026

Cheer on Scotland at the FIFA World Cup 2026 and find information about fan zones in Scotland, stadium tours and more.

Highland games in Scotland

From the tug o' war to the caber toss, Scotland's Highland games are not to be missed.

Edinburgh Festivals

Discover Edinburgh's summer festivals, including the world-famous Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Events and festivals in Scotland

There's something happening in Scotland right now that the whole family will love.

Countdown to Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

Less than 100 days to go until 11 days of world-class action across the city, bringing 3,000 athletes from 74 nations together to compete across 10 sports.

Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

Start planning your summer break

Witness Scotland step into summer, with longer days and plenty of experiences to enjoy from coastal walks to fun exhibitions.

Summer holidays & breaks in Scotland

Find ideas and inspiration, from family days out to top camping spots, walks and outdoor activities.

Scotland's islands

Find out about the hundreds of islands in Scotland including Arran, Lewis, Skye, Outer Hebrides and Shetland. Plan the perfect island getaway today.

Scottish music festivals

Find out what’s happening in Scotland this year

The best tours of Scotland - luxury & scenic tours

Tour Scotland at your own pace with these fantastic ideas.

Your Scottish adventure starts here

Use our interactive map to explore wild landscapes, vibrant cities, rich culture, and hidden historic gems to craft your personal Scottish experience.

Map of Scotland

As seen on TV!

From Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir's luxury Scotland itinerary to local suggestions on the highlights of Glasgow and Dumfries & Galloway, check out this top advice on trips across Scotland.

Tara & Johnny's luxury Scotland itinerary

Have you been inspired by Tara & Johnny's Scotland itinerary as seen on NBC's Extra Mile Club? Read on and plan your own Scottish adventure.

Channel 4's Where to next? Scotland itinerary

Follow in the footsteps of comedians Fatiha El-Ghorri and John Tothill on their unforgettable journey through Scotland.

Scotland trip itineraries

Plan your days in Scotland with the help of our suggested itineraries.

Your pictures of Scotland

Share your images by tagging @VisitScotland 

JavaScript needs to be enabled to see social media images for this place. You can turn this on in your browser settings.

Join our Newsletter Clan

Get Scotland inspiration direct to your inbox. Don't miss the inside track from our Scotland experts on exciting trip ideas, unique attractions and hidden gems loved by locals.

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Unst Tour - With Discover Shetland

Unst is the most northerly of the Shetland Islands and the third largest in size. Getting there is a bit of an adventure as it involves two trips on car ferries.

On Unst you can see the most northerly house, visit the most northerly shop and walk on the most northerly beach, not just in Shetland but in the entire British Isles.

The Unst tour focuses on geology and botany, the latter being very seasonal, though there is much else to savour besides. Shetland is an international, global Geopark, one of only two in Scotland. For such a small land mass, the islands have a remarkably varied geology but the jewel in the crown must be the Ophiolite of Eastern Unst. Ophiolite is an exposed section of oceanic crust and it is quite exciting to think that one can see, touch and walk on rocks that normally would lie miles beneath the surface of the Earth, hidden in the lower crust and upper mantle.

When we disembark off the ferry at Belmont, a 20-25 minutes drive north-east takes us to our first destination, the Skaw Beach. Here a number of geological delights and treasures await us. On our return journey, we visit Norwick Beach where a small headland jutting out into the sea indicates the boundary between oceanic and continental crust. We then pay a visit to the Unst Heritage Centre where displays include examples of Unst's famous lace knitwear. Our next port of call is the Hagdale café/shop. If you wish, you can stop for a soup and sandwich lunch. On our way, we pass a replica of a Viking longship and next to it a reconstruction of what a Viking dwelling may have been like, both powerful reminders of Unst's very strong Norse heritage. After our café visit we turn our attention to the Keen of Hamar. This small area is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating natural history sites in Shetland, if not in the whole of the British Isles. Made up of partially serpentinised dunite rock, the Keen is home to several Arctic-alpine plants, the most famous being 'Shetland Mouse-ear', also known as 'Edmondston's Chickweed' after local boy, Thomas Edmondston, who first described the plant in 1837 when aged 11 years. He was appointed Professor of Botany at Glasgow University at the age of 20 years but was tragically and accidentally killed within a year whilst on board a ship, waiting to disembark on the shores off the coast of Ecuador. The dunite rock is rich in chromite and in the 19th century Hagdale Quarry was the largest of its kind in the UK.

There is a working talc quarry in Unst and if time permits we usually pay a visit to the Baltasound Pier where there is often a 'mountain' of talc waiting for shipment to England.

Our tour normally ends in the south-east corner of Unst with a visit to Muness Castle, built in 1598 by Laurence Bruce, a relative of Earl Patrick Stewart who built Scalloway castle.

As with any tour in Shetland, flexibility is inbuilt, not least because of the weather. Although there are no long walks on this tour, it is essential that visitors have a good pair of walking boots and warm, waterproof clothing.

 David will book ferries but the costs of ferries, admissions and refreshments are not included in the package.

Prix sur demande

Dates de départ

  • Lundi
  • Mardi
  • Mercredi
  • Jeudi
  • Vendredi
  • Samedi
  • Dimanche

Janvier — Décembre

Coordonnées

Discover Shetland

Discover Shetland
Scalloway
Shetland
Ze1
Voir les coordonnées du prestataire

Tour information

Point de départ

  • Mainland, Shetland
  • Shetland

Durée

1 Day

Type de circuit

  • Bespoke
  • Private

Thèmes

  • Archaeology
  • Geology
  • History
  • Landscapes
  • Wildlife
Discover Shetland

Information sur le prestataire

Discover Shetland

Discover Shetland is owned and managed by local Shetland resident David Malcolm. David can take small groups (2-4 persons), and is ideally placed to give you a personal, informal and intimate experience of the islands. Discover Shetland offers the following tours: Central Mainland (half day); South Mainland (full day or half day); North Mainland (full day); Island of Unst (full day).

Visitez Discover Shetland

Horaires d'ouverture

open all year

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North Mainland Tour - With Discover Shetland

North Mainland Tour - With Discover Shetland

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Durée:

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Visitez: Site internet
Visitez:South Mainland Tour - With Discover Shetland
South Mainland Tour - With Discover Shetland

South Mainland Tour - With Discover Shetland

Point de départ: Mainland, Shetland, Shetland

This shorter tour is particularly suitable for cruise-ship passengers. This t...

Durée:

1/2 day(s)

Prix à partir de:

Sur demande

Visitez: Site internet

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Start Your Story in Scotland

Where history meets breathtaking beauty, and every visit feels like an escape.

Inspiration for your trip

Step into a land steeped in history and legend, explore our dramatic landscapes and uncover our ancient Celtic roots. Vast lochs, glens and Munros - easily accessible from our vibrant cities and towns - make Scotland the perfect place to lose yourself.

Places to go

Things to do

Accommodation

Travel & planning

Discover unique experiences in Scotland

Discover hidden gems, plan your perfect trip, or find exactly what you need—from scenic hikes and cosy cottages to events and cultural experiences.

Discover Scotland's vibrant events and festivals

FIFA World Cup 2026

Cheer on Scotland at the FIFA World Cup 2026 and find information about fan zones in Scotland, stadium tours and more.

Highland games in Scotland

From the tug o' war to the caber toss, Scotland's Highland games are not to be missed.

Edinburgh Festivals

Discover Edinburgh's summer festivals, including the world-famous Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Events and festivals in Scotland

There's something happening in Scotland right now that the whole family will love.

Countdown to Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

Less than 100 days to go until 11 days of world-class action across the city, bringing 3,000 athletes from 74 nations together to compete across 10 sports.

Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

Start planning your summer break

Witness Scotland step into summer, with longer days and plenty of experiences to enjoy from coastal walks to fun exhibitions.

Summer holidays & breaks in Scotland

Find ideas and inspiration, from family days out to top camping spots, walks and outdoor activities.

Scotland's islands

Find out about the hundreds of islands in Scotland including Arran, Lewis, Skye, Outer Hebrides and Shetland. Plan the perfect island getaway today.

Scottish music festivals

Find out what’s happening in Scotland this year

The best tours of Scotland - luxury & scenic tours

Tour Scotland at your own pace with these fantastic ideas.

Your Scottish adventure starts here

Use our interactive map to explore wild landscapes, vibrant cities, rich culture, and hidden historic gems to craft your personal Scottish experience.

Map of Scotland

As seen on TV!

From Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir's luxury Scotland itinerary to local suggestions on the highlights of Glasgow and Dumfries & Galloway, check out this top advice on trips across Scotland.

Tara & Johnny's luxury Scotland itinerary

Have you been inspired by Tara & Johnny's Scotland itinerary as seen on NBC's Extra Mile Club? Read on and plan your own Scottish adventure.

Channel 4's Where to next? Scotland itinerary

Follow in the footsteps of comedians Fatiha El-Ghorri and John Tothill on their unforgettable journey through Scotland.

Scotland trip itineraries

Plan your days in Scotland with the help of our suggested itineraries.

Your pictures of Scotland

Share your images by tagging @VisitScotland 

JavaScript needs to be enabled to see social media images for this place. You can turn this on in your browser settings.

Join our Newsletter Clan

Get Scotland inspiration direct to your inbox. Don't miss the inside track from our Scotland experts on exciting trip ideas, unique attractions and hidden gems loved by locals.

Get the Scotland newsletter