Date
Cost
Availability
Deposit
Single Supp
| 29 Jun - 06 Jul 2024
£2795.00
0 Spaces
£500.00
£300.00
| |
| Leaders | Craig Round and Tim Drew |
| Day 1 | Fly into Sumburgh and travel north to our north Mainland base at Hillswick - 4 nights St Magnus Bay Hotel. |
| Days 2-4 | Exploration of Unst, including the wild cliffs of Hermaness and the small island of Fetlar, as well as north Mainland
and a night visit to Mousa. |
| Day 5 | Travel south to our base on the south Mainland - 3 nights Sumburgh Hotel. |
| Days 6-7 | Birdwatching and wildlife exploration of south Mainland, including a visit to Noss, Sumburgh Head and the
Viking settlement of Jarlshoff. |
| Day 8 | Depending on our flight time, we may be able to spend the morning bird and wildlife watching, before catching
our flight back to Aberdeen. |
| Flights | Loganair, scheduled
Outbound: Midday, Aberdeen-Sumburgh
Inbound: Afternoon, Sumburgh-Aberdeen
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| Weather | During a typical week in this season we expect to experience mixed sun and showers, with temperatures
in the range 10-20ºC. |
| Walking | Walking is generally very relaxed and easy, but on at least two of the days we may take walks of up to 3-4 miles on rough grassland and small coastal paths. |
| Meals | All included from lunch on Day 1
to lunch on Day 8. |
| Insects | Biting insects are not a problem. |
| Accom | Double, twin and single ensuite rooms. |
| Group | 12 |
Just 6° south of the Arctic Circle - far northern isles and
world-class wildlife, huge seabird colonies and delightful
Red-necked Phalaropes, at the Simmer Dim.48uep6bbph|00000E4E|Spey_BESQL3|HolidayTypes|Subheading 48uep6bbphidval|SHETLAND
| * Islands at the 'Simmer Dim' when the sun barely sets
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| * Easy flight to Shetland rather than the 14-hour ferry
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| * Mousa's Storm Petrels, Fetlar's Red-necked Phalaropes
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| * The spectacular seabird cities of Noss, Hermaness and Sumburgh
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| * Otters and offshore whales and dolphins
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| * Regular rarities and summering scarce breeders
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| * Closer to Norway than to mainland Scotland
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| Day 1 | Flying from Aberdeen, we arrive in Shetland and drive north over Mainland to our delightful hotel in Hillswick.
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| Days 2-4 | On our visit to Shetland’s most northerly island Unst, we’ll walk across the moorland to the wild and dramatic cliffs of Hermaness, where the skies are full of soaring and displaying Great Skuas (in Shetland called Bonxies, meaning ‘dumpy bird’). Breeding Snipe, Dunlin and Meadow Pipit display overhead and the plaintive call of Golden Plover can be heard. Unst also supports Wheatear, Twite and Whimbrel.
As we reach the vast seabird cliffs and gannetry at Saito, the sight that greets you really does take your breath away! A blizzard of Gannets ride the updrafts and swirl in vast flocks below you, as Fulmars and Great Skuas glide past. Puffins emerge from their burrows and scurry around our feet, as we look out to the remote Muckle Flugga lighthouse and the small rocky island of ‘Oootsta’ or Out Stack – after which there is no more Britain!
On our regular short ferry crossings between islands, Gannets can be seen diving for fish in synchronised teams and the small harbours are a favourite haunt of Otters. Marauding Arctic Skuas harry passing Arctic Terns, as Puffins, Guillemots and Razorbills stream through the narrow sounds on feeding flights between the islands. We shall be alert to the sight of any fins breaking the surface, betraying a Harbour Porpoise close inshore, or maybe even Orcas!
Another inter-island boat journey takes us to Fetlar, so named from the Viking for ‘fat or fertile land’ and the fourth largest island in the Shetland Isles. It is a stronghold for stunning and rare Red-necked Phalaropes, as they delicately spin on small lochans, picking tiny insects from the waterside stones. Fetlar
is also a great place to see and hear the weird wailing courtship cries of Red-throated Divers, which at this time of year may have young.
Arctic Skua, Golden Plover, Dunlin, Ringed Plover
and Whimbrel, or ‘peerie whap’ in Shetland meaning small Curlew, can also be seen on the
tundra-like heath of Fetlar and their ‘rippling’ calls can be heard across the island, whilst the
colourful flower-filled meadows support Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Snipe and Redshank.
A trip highlight for many is our dusk visit to the island of Mousa. Once inside the tower of the 2,000-year-old Iron Age Broch, we are enveloped in silence, until the rhythmic ‘churring’ of Storm Petrels amongst the stones brings these ancient walls alive, a moment of real ‘Shetland magic’! It’s a real privilege to watch these tiny ocean-going seabirds flying in low over the sea, to return to their nest sites in the walls of the Broch and as the last fiery glow of the ‘simmer dim’ lights up the horizon, they swirl like bats around our heads in ever greater numbers, before fluttering in to land.
North Shetland, renowned for Otters, is one of the UK’s premier locations for this elusive mammal and we have been lucky with fine views. Along the
shores we see Red-breasted Merganser and Eider (or Dunter) and further inland, coastal species nest everywhere, including Arctic Skuas (Skootie Alan) and Fulmar (Maalies), we shall really be learning our Shetland bird names!
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| Days 5-7 | Leaving the north and its many islands and skerries behind us, we venture south to our hotel at the southern end of Shetland, close to the dramatic Viking settlement of Jarlshoff and Iron Age settlement of Old Scatness and only a short stroll away from the coast.
Great Northern Diver and Long-tailed Duck all over-summer here, along with a few pairs of Whooper Swans that now breed. We’ll also see Arctic Terns, Arctic and Great Skuas, Rock Dove, Twite, Raven and perhaps Peregrine.
Also close by are the superb seabird cliffs of Sumburgh Head, which can also be a great place to look for passing cetaceans and over the years we’ve seen White-beaked and White-sided Dolphins and watched Humpback, Minke Whale and predatory Orcas!
The island of Noss is one of the finest seabird islands in Europe. On our boat trip around the island, we’ll cruise right under the sheer seabird cliffs of the Noup, dwarfing our boat and towering
some 590ft above us, it’s a truly awesome sight and sound! These are the largest cliffs on Shetland’s east coast and home to almost 9,000 pairs of Gannet alone! The great seabird city also holds Guillemot, Razorbill, Kittiwake, Fulmar, Shag and we’ll see the delightful Black Guillemot (Tystie).
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| Day 8 | We may have some time to birdwatch on the final morning, before our flight back to
Aberdeen.
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Just some of what we hope to see..
| Red-necked Phalarope | Black Guillemot | Twite |
| Whimbrel | Guillemot | Otter |
| Storm Petrel | Razorbill | Brown Hare |
| Red-throated Diver | Kittiwake | Minke Whale |
| Great Northern Diver | Fulmar | White-beaked Dolphin |
| Long-tailed Duck | Shag | White-sided Dolphin |
| Whooper Swan | Common Tern | Killer Whale |
| Great Skua | Arctic Tern | Harbour Porpoise |
| Arctic Skua | Dunlin | Shetland Wren |
| Gannet | Golden Plover | Harbour Seal |
| Manx Shearwater | Rock Dove | Grey Seal |
| Puffin | Raven | |
"We had favourable weather for our evening boat trip to Mousa which was an extraordinary experience. Clear skies and a half moon helped us to find our way past stone walls to the
fascinating broch. Sitting inside we saw and heard the occupants preparing to join their
partners. As the sun dipped, more Storm Petrels came swooping and diving around the
broch. The sound of their calls was mesmerising as we watched one bird land on the wall of
the broch and by wriggling and twisting found its way into a tiny hole between the stones.
Heading back to the waiting boat the Storm Petrels’ calls rang out from the stone walls. The
sky remained light and as we returned to the hotel the sun was rising on a new day. A night
to remember"
Gill Haveron
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"Storm Petrels at the Mousa Brock and Shetland Wrens"
John Haveron
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"The late evening boat trip to Mousa to see the Storm Petrels was exceptional, the calling of
the petrels from within the walls of the broch was an amazing sound, it made the wall seem
alive. The other highlight was the boat trip to Noss to see the seabird colony, the sights, the
sound and the smell!"
Andrew & Hazel Fardell
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"The feeding frenzy of Gannets following our boat and the Red-throated Diver on its nest"
Joyce Hoy
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"Some amazing and memorable moments ... Gannets diving straight into the sea right next to our small boat - we could see every detail of their eyes and beaks s they swooped under the water!"
Gillian & David Smith
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"Boat trips to Mousa and Noss cliffs, Oysterplant and Shetland Bee - and of course, Puffins at Sumburgh Head - all in good company"
Linda & Rob Nottage
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"Two big highlights were the visits to Mousa to see the Storm Petrels and the boat trip to Noss and the Gannet feeding frenzy. Also enjoyed the visits to Sumburgh Head and Fetlar. Seeing so many ground nesting waders with their families was a delight"
Jillian & Robin Martin
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"Shetlands has been a dream of mine and this holiday just brought the magic of Shetland to me. On Unst it was the walk to Hermaness NNR and Red-necked Phalaropes we saw at three different sites. Loch Funzie on Fetlar and looking for the Edmonton's Chickweed at the Keen of Hamar. Looking at Bobby's bush shelter and the Basking Shark we saw from the one ferry. On mainland Shetland the trip to Sumburgh head was very good despite the seas mist and the evening trip to Mousa for the Storm Petrels was amazing. The visit to Eshaness provided with more stunning views and boat trip to Bressay and Noss Sound was amazing. To see Great Skuas so close and the other seabirds. The ROV showing us the wreck was worth the boat trip alone. On the last morning we visited the Tombolo at St Ninians and to walk along the sound on my last morning there will stay with me forever. It is so difficult for me to pick out highlights as everything for me was a huge highlight and our guides Craig and Tim, the staff at both sites, all did us proud."
Paul Hobbs
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"The Nightjar sat out in the daylight. The fact that we saw red-necked phalaropes on three consecutive days, I had never seen one before. The way the storm petrels flew close to us whilst at the cottage and the fact we could hear them as they were in the walls surrounding it. Seeing the brittle starfish under the boat when we went on the trip around Noss, and the seal coming on the back of the boat to get the fish. My other highlight would have to be the food at Busta House Hotel."
Linda Hobbs
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"Hermaness for the seabird spectacle takes some beating, the Red-necked Phalarope sightings were memorable, as was the evening Storm Petrel trip. The boat trip gave us close-up views of the seabird colonies and the Nightjar and Blyth's Reed Warbler sightings, with the latter singing, were a big added bonus. Thanks to both leaders for helping to make this a superb all-round trip."
Paul Bennett
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"Probably too many highlights to list but what we liked about this trip (our first with Speyside) was that we learnt about all natural life - birds, mammals, flowers, insects etc and also some history of the Shetlands, so we really feel we "know" The Shetlands. Craig and Tim were brilliant: funny, interesting, considerate, good company - and very good bird guides."
Susan & John Burge
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The Mousa/Storm Petrels was brilliant. The Red-necked Phalarope on Unst was unexpected. But Franks boat trip and Steve the Grey Seal experience was superb. However I really loved the variation in each island, the lochs and voes and just being in such a different environment."
Norman Haynes
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"Great view of Otter running across a beach, pausing long enough for a photo! Red necked Phalarope jumping for insects. Seen the spinning action before but never leaping out of the water! Storm petrels nesting in the Broch on Mousa. The guides brilliant bird ID, their enthusiasm and sense of humour."
Carolyn Wilson
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"The sight at midnight of Storm Petrels returning to nest sites in the broch and walls on Mousa. The sighting of Red-necked Phalaropes in large puddles at the side of the road at two separate sites on two separate days on Unst. The seabird colonies on the cliffs at Noss."
Roger Rooke
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"We particularly enjoyed the boat trip to the Noup of Noss since we felt as if we were almost part of the seabird spectacular. The evening trip to the Moussa broch was also very memorable especially hearing and seeing the birds in the tiny cavities in the rock."
Liz & Keith Barton
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"Every day had a highlight so it's hard to pick out something specific. We visited such a variety of special places giving me many good memories."
Hazel Pickering
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"There were so many highlights. Three days on Unst was a revelation and the Red-necked Phalarope walking around Craig's legs was particularly memorable. The sea cliffs and birds at Hermaness and Noss were spectacular. The scenery at Eshaness was amazing. The Artic Skuas off Sumburgh Head were spell binding. St Ninian's Isle in the sunshine was beautiful. Shetland at its best."
Melanie & John Parker
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"Walk to Hernaness was very enjoyable and the reward at the end of trek was well worth the effort. Waiting to see Red-necked Phalarope on Fetlar was so fantastic and so worth waiting for, wow!! Boat trip out to Mousa was just magical - sunset, Storm Petrels arriving, sunrise - it was just amazing and has to be experienced to appreciate the magnificence of it all, descriptions don't do justice! There were just so many highlights it is so difficult to isolate one thing - to be at the very top end of the U.K. and experience the long hours of daylight, the blue seas and blue skies, the cliffs and all those amazing seabirds was breathtaking and made Brexit seem so, so insignificant! Finally, Craig is so knowledgeable it was a pleasure to have him guide us again, thank you to him and to all the team behind the scenes who make it all happen."
Janet & Peter Mann
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We first stay at St Magnus Bay Hotel, a friendly, family run hotel, which has a lovely location overlooking the bay. All rooms are ensuite and offer free Wi-Fi and tea/coffee making facilities. Facilities include a restaurant, bar/lounge and laundry. A great base for exploring North Mainland, Unst and Fetlar.
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Built in 1867, this former laird’s home offers accommodation in an ideal location in the South Mainland of Shetland. All rooms are ensuite and offer free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee making facilities, TV, phone, iron and ironing board. The hotel overlooks the West Voe of Sumburgh and the archaeological site of Jarlshof is nearby.
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