Scottish Islands
( Shetland Islands, Orkney Islands & Outer Hebrides)
Unst
Stones of Stennes, Orkney
100 islands comprise Shetland, with 16 inhabited and others accessible by boat. On Mainland, the capital Lerwick is home to the Shetland Museum and Archives while nearby, Scalloway’ s museum tells of the topsecret WWII Shetland Bus operation. See also the seabird colonies of Sumburgh Head; Old Scatness, a recently excavated Iron Age village; the archaeological treasures of Jarlshof the Zenith of Iron Age Shetland, Fair Isle, Unst, Foula, Fetlar and Whalsay.
Orkney has sites and cultural attractions across 70 islands, of which 16 are inhabited. On Mainland, in the capital Kirkwall, see St Magnus Cathedral, the Orkney Museum and Bishop’ s and Earl’ s palaces. In West Mainland, discover beautiful Heart of Neolithic Orkney, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which includes Skara Brae, Europe’ s best-preserved Stone Age village; the Ring of Brodgar; the Stones
of Stenness and the Maeshowe chambered tomb. See also Hoy, the Brough of Birsay’ s Norse ruins, Rousay’ s archaeological sites; and North Ronaldsay.
In the Outer Hebrides, the Isle of Lewis boasts history, heritage, wilderness, wildlife, arts, crafts, crofting culture and adventure. In Stornoway see Lews Castle, and in Uig taste the spirit of the islands at the Uig Abhainn Dearg Distillery. Discover also Ardroil sands, Garry Beach, Bosta on Great Bernera or the Flannan Islands for wildlife. Another must-see are the Callanish Standing Stones.
All offer a chance to spy the Northern Lights, particularly in autumn or winter.
Uig
OUTER HEBRIDES
Ness ISLE OF LEWIS
Stornoway
ORKNEY ISLANDS
Birsay
Rousay
MAINLAND Stromness Kirkwall
Hoy
MAINLAND SCOTLAND
SHETLAND ISLANDS
Foula
John o’ Groats
Sumburgh Head
Fair Isle
Scalloway
North Ronaldsay
Fetlar
Whalsay MAINLAND
North Sea
Lerwick
See pages 6-7 for Travel information & Shetland car hire
80 SCOTTISH ISLANDS call 0800 1975 212