Shetland Isles - June 2026

by Craig Round

We’ve just returned from our annual Shetland trip, where we enjoyed the best of Shetland’s wonderful scenery and wildlife. Here are just a few of this year’s highlights! 

On Fetlar we had great views of two male Red-necked Phalaropes whilst exploring the island, along with many other close views of breeding waders, including Snipe, Golden and Ringed Plover, Curlew and Whimbrel. We also had great close views of a pair of Red-throated Divers on the sea at Houbie. 

Red-necked Phalarope

 Otters were seen on several occasions, including one that surfaced just yards away from us in the harbour, whilst we enjoyed our lunch outside the Shetland museum in Lerwick! Our nighttime visit to Mousa in near perfect weather conditions was magical and gave us a brilliant show of Storm Petrels swirling around the Iron Age Broch and fluttering up the walls, before somehow squeezing into their nest holes. 

We also had a great visit to the seabird cliffs of Sumburgh, with many Puffins close by on the cliffs, along with all the other seabirds and incredible close flyby views of stunning Arctic Skuas. Bathing Bonxies just feet away at Hermaness, along with a blizzard of thousands of Gannets hanging in the wind at the cliff top almost within touching distance and thronging the ledges, meant this year’s Shetland trip was as epic as ever!

Puffin

If you would like to join in Shetland in 2027, you’ll find further information and bookings here. Please email us or phone 01479 812498 if you have any queries.