This guide provides information on the histories and cultures of the Shetland Islands. Fully illustrated throughout and with several maps it, gives great insight into the lives of these islands.
A guidebook to 80 walking routes on Scotland's Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland. Routes are described on the islands of Orkney (Orkney Mainland, Hoy, South Ronaldsay, Burray, Rousay, Eday, Westray, Papa Westray, North Ronaldsay) and the islands of Shetland (Shetland Mainland, West Burra, East Burra, Foula, Fair Isle, Isle of Noss, Bressay, Whalsay, Papa Stour, Muckle Roe, Out Skerries, Esha Ness, Yell, Fetlar and Unst). Routes vary in length from 1 mile to 16 miles, with something to suit all abilities. Offering a variety of landscapes together with a wealth of remarkable archaeological sites such as Skara Brae and Jarlshof, Orkney and Shetland are a walker's dream. Step-by-step route descriptions are accompanied by clear OS mapping and a time estimate for completing each route. The book includes plenty of information on the region's wildlife, archaeology and history, as well as practical tips such as when to go, what to take and getting to and around Orkney and Shetland. Quiet, remote and abounding in rare plants and wildlife, together with some of the world's most fascinating archaeological sites, Orkney and Shetland offer a treasure trove of natural and historic wonders, and makes an ideal walking holiday destination.
Longlisted for the Ondaatje Prize Shortlisted for the Highland Book Prize Shetland: a place of sheep and soil, of harsh weather, close ties and an age-old way of life. A place where David has lived all his life, like his father and grandfather before him. A place that Alice has fled to after the death of her husband. A place where Sandy, a newcomer but already a crofter, may have finally found a home. But times do change, and the valley that they all call home must change with them, or be forgotten. The debut novel from one of our most exciting new literary voices, The Valley at the Centre of the World is a story about community and isolation, about what is passed down, and what is lost between the cracks.
When the rain stops falling and the mist clears there is no more beautiful place on Earth than Scotland’s northernmost archipelagos, the Orkney and Shetland Islands. Leave the Scottish mainland and set foot on a land of ancient relics, deserted beaches and stunning wildlife. Norse settlers occupied these islands for centuries, making for a unique cultural mix of Scandinavian and Scottish influences. Footprintfocus Orkney & Shetland Islands gives you the information you need to get the most out of your trip; covering beautiful coastlines, mysterious ancient monuments, evocative bays and glorious wilderness, along with the best places to stay and eat and where to enjoy a wee dram of your favourite malt whiskey. • Includes Essentials section with indispensable information on getting around. • Get off the beaten track and discover jaw-dropping scenery and experience real wilderness. • Accommodation listings aplenty, plus where to eat and drink. • Detailed street maps will help you find your way around. • Slim enough to fit in your pocket. Packed with practical and detailed advice on how to navigate these ancient archipelagos, this concise Footprintfocus guide helps you make the most out of your trip without weighing you down
Shetland is closer to the Arctic Circle than to London and was ruled by Norway for over 800 years - longer than it has been part of Scotland. This comprehensive guide traces the history, landscape and nature of Shetland from the earliest times to the present day. Distinctive maps, colour photographs and drawings combine the lively text to describe the dynamic mix of land, sea, life and legend that is the Shetland Isles.
As the leading guide to the Orkney and Shetland isles, this book provides excellent information on practicalities, such as transport to the islands, accommodation and events, as well as shedding light on hidden gems. Scottish Islands - Orkney & Shetland will lead the visitor to sights and places that might otherwise be missed, including how to book a bed in a lighthouse or a castle, where to find the best preserved Stone Age village in Europe or a fossil fish 300 million years old and how to find the best of the islands' traditional folk music. Consisting of more than 170 islands and islets, the islands have much to offer the discerning visitor. Once remote from outside influence, they are now reaping the benefits of tourism and modern communications, while still managing to preserve their individual characters and traditions unspoilt by commercialisation. The guide informs readers of species of wild flowers, some of which are found nowhere else on earth, and where to locate land and marine wildlife including whales, dolphins and otters. There is also information on how walkers, cyclists, canoeists, yachtsmen and kayakers can all pursue their individual sports in the islands' stunning countryside
In this gloriously illustrated companion to her crime novels featuring Inspector Jimmy Perez, Ann Cleeves takes readers through a year on Shetland. Discover its past, meet its people, celebrate its festivals and see how the flora and fauna of the islands change with the seasons. An archipelago of more than a hundred islands, Shetland is the one of the most remote places in the United Kingdom. Its fifteen hundred miles of shore mean that wherever one stands, there is a view of the sea. It has sheltered voes and beaches and dramatically exposed cliffs, lush meadows full of wild flowers in the summer and bleak hilltops where only the hardiest of plants will grow. It is a place where traditions are valued and celebrated, but new technologies and ways of working are also embraced. Whether it is the drama of the Viking fire festival of Up Helly Aa in winter, or the piercing blue and hot pink of spring flowers on the clifftops, the long, white nights of midsummer or the fierce gales and high tides of autumn, Shetland is vividly captured in all its bleak and special beauty. A book to treasure, full of photos and insightful notes about the stunning location of the Shetland series, now a major BBC One drama starring Douglas Henshall.