Top Shetland Islands Cruises & Sailing Tours: Reviews & Guide
The Shetland Islands, a truly remarkable archipelago way up in Scotland, sitting between the vast North Sea and the wild Atlantic Ocean, offers this compelling mix of gorgeous rugged coastlines, rich wildlife, and quite the intriguing Viking history, drawing in so many travelers with, really, an appetite for remarkable adventure and some seriously breathtaking natural beauty. Cruises and sailing tours, yet, become remarkably popular ways so you can explore these special islands, providing experiences that come in close to these stunning landscapes and abundant wildlife.
1. Shetland Seabird & Wildlife Boat Tours
For people really wanting to get up close and super personal with Shetland’s awesome birdlife, a Shetland Seabird & Wildlife Boat Tour is, perhaps, just the absolute ticket. Departing pretty regularly from locations such as Lerwick or even further smaller harbors, these tours very often focus squarely on seeing iconic seabird colonies that thrive on the steep cliffs and also stacks all across the coast. Look out for these opportunities so you can, just maybe, get to see puffins, gannets, fulmars, and those guillemots in great numbers. Sometimes you might just get very, very lucky so you spot seals basking on these rocks, or even porpoises gently playing around in the waves. Typically the tours are usually guided by, basically, very well-informed local experts who truly know everything and happily provide keen commentary relating to the area’s natural history and, naturally, ongoing conservation efforts.
Many consider the Noss National Nature Reserve to be an undoubted highlight of these seabird tours. During the breeding season, the cliffs absolutely hum with just over a cacophony of noisy seabirds and their frantic activity, truly presenting so many dramatic photo opportunities and memories that stay long afterwards. So it is almost like viewing is generally possible from the water for a great number of areas, so you minimize disturbance and, perhaps more vitally, so respect the truly sensitive ecological balance of such vital nesting locations. That said, don’t discard your seasickness pills if things get bumpy. Be certain you read our total rundown: Shetland Seabird & Wildlife Boat Tours Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Book Now)
2. Unst and Fetlar Day Sails
Exploring the really gorgeous northern isles, specifically Unst and Fetlar, becomes, usually, far better by taking a more personalized sailing trip. The advantage is almost having access to these locations offering chances for experiencing those unique perspectives, views, and that solitude just away from any larger crowds. These types of day sails very often come with experienced skippers who can just readily take you to all of the top wildlife spots while also regaling you with so much engaging local knowledge. Now there are, yet, hidden coves and beaches just awaiting those very lucky sailors as, too, are plentiful locations that offer great opportunities for really seeing quite rare birds such as the snowy owl (on Unst) and the red-necked phalarope that exists over on Fetlar.
Unst, the northernmost inhabited island in the United Kingdom, includes vast open landscapes that are, basically, so ideal for hiking as well as birdwatching. It comes with a particularly rich geological heritage including areas just like the Keen of Hamar National Nature Reserve, quite an interesting place just showing off rare plants and soils. Sailing close to the coastline almost adds the most exciting dynamic way, too, that you appreciate those rugged cliffs and remote bays. The Isle of Fetlar, generally named “The Garden of Shetland,” gives us a very gentler scenery, boasting a quite diverse mix of habitats, starting with fertile farmlands to moorland. If you’re getting onboard that small sailboat, then access is almost yours, granting those unique views of those special landscapes, yet, giving plentiful opportunities to spot local birdlife. Don’t forget our more in depth write up: Unst and Fetlar Day Sails Full Review and Details Check Prices, and maybe also Availability, plus Reserve (Availability Here)
3. Lerwick Harbour Tours
Lerwick, Shetland’s bustling capital town, can easily be an awesome central hub just for the purpose of marine tours, mostly offering many different boat trips round the very active Lerwick Harbour. Now there are frequent trips which provide remarkable insights as to Lerwick’s really awesome maritime history, focusing mainly on the harbor’s role within fishing, trade, and North Sea oil efforts. Boat tours provide such intimate understanding just of how the islands stay so interconnected within global industries even today.
Frequently, cruises cover so many top landmarks such as Fort Charlotte, an almost imposing 17th-century fortress, plus the really busy small boat harbor, so there’s always activity and other amazing vessels entering and leaving this central Shetland port location. You also get many opportunities, you see, so that you might catch sight of all different local wildlife right inside harbor. Spotting those playful seals which are constantly swimming inside, sometimes even trying so to get near some fishing boats almost makes them that very top attraction just for boat tours operating here. Typically, these boat rides tend to last a relatively shorter period of time, maybe just some hours or thereabouts, just ideal if time might be rather limited so still hoping so you take a look from your ship deck, or if needing easier tours to get onboard with young family members. Really go ahead to find out the full details:Lerwick Harbour Tours Full Review and Details View costs plus when you could Reserve (Check Now)
4. Mousa Boat Trip: Discovering Ancient History
An awesome journey to Mousa definitely presents this captivating opportunity to come and also see this well-preserved Iron Age broch and the quite abundant wildlife, just providing quite the unique mix of, basically, both natural beauty as well as some absolutely remarkable history. So the little boat trip towards Mousa almost happens quite quickly from the mainland Shetland coast, often making those trips brief yet wonderfully interesting. When you arrive, then discover one quite imposing sight within the very impressive Mousa Broch just taking pride of place over on this truly little island landscape.
Tour providers generally coordinate those nighttime trips during season which match up with the really highest number from nesting storm petrels, a little nocturnal seabird, and there’s literally thousands residing in drystone walls coming from the Broch. Now, boat trips just usually work just very carefully along with experienced tour operators and knowledgeable professionals for reducing interruption for protecting all those little colonies of birds when visiting; such conservation truly counts whenever you appreciate these delicate ecological destinations as well as important traditional locations respectfully! More you will see in our detailed write-up:Mousa Boat Trip: Discovering Ancient History Full Review and Details See rates, plus even schedules to reserve now! (Learn more here!)
5. Multi-Day Sailing Adventures
For a truly great, thoroughly captivating, fully immersive way of really discovering everything those breathtaking islands may be able to give, taking so much time while doing extended multi-day boat adventures really comes as really great. Plenty different types from longer sailing itineraries become, of course, frequently readily available, offering all sorts like expeditions designed quite closely to fit specific traveler pursuits as well as those varying schedules which might well get scheduled, usually as personalized private options, so everybody locates something fulfilling regardless if your requirements or timelines change too!. Numerous cruises get fully focused completely on exploring areas right across Shetland’s beautiful shores including places for instance Foula along with Fair Isle far-off towards where visitors enjoy witnessing many species that thrive at the specific place like puffin colonies nesting over rugged high slopes as gannets which seem relentlessly plunged into deep dark blue ocean.
Maybe that particular route focuses more closely just upon checking a part of quite distinct traditional sites; ancient locations that are situated within quiet bay sites far taken out off land masses, so getting insight so that anyone understands old people residing those beautiful harsh natural Shetland landscapes ages ago while concurrently feeling closeness along what precisely they possibly knowledgeable years by gone! A multiple-day-sailing adventure makes people understand better Shetland by visiting coastal remote sites alongside seasoned navigators which share intriguing background narratives including the culture along with neighborhood info! Do you need so much details? Click here now!Multi-Day Sailing Adventures Full Review and Details Prices together alongside possible availabilities? Take a peek here and Reserve now! (Learn More)
