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Walk on the Wild Side!

Walk on the Wild Side!

HERITAGE TRAILS Directions To ensure you get the most from your visit: Shetland Museum and Archives

Directions given as if travelling from . Many roads are single track — please use passing places provided. For information on public transport routes, timetables and fares Walk on contact Visit Shetland. Be safe East Isles the wild side! • Shetland weather can change very RSPB © Image Noss (by land) Scottish Natural Heritage run a small inflatable ferry from to Noss quickly! Always take warm and (late April to late August only, 10am – 5pm). No ferries to Noss on Mondays or Thursdays. Visit the five star museum and archives to find out more about our heritage and Take Bressay ferry from Lerwick and follow signs to Noss. Park at end of road. Walk 400m down waterproof clothing. Some walks are culture. Walk through Shetland’s story from early beginnings to present day in the a steep track to Noss ferry. Both ferries non-bookable. Contact SNH for further details. unsuitable for poor weather conditions. exhibitions galleries, and visit the archives to uncover a wealth of accessible • Be careful at cliff edges. information. Be sure to look in on Da Gadderie, the temporary exhibitions gallery, Explore Shetland’s top wildlife destinations. Private operators run boat cruises around Bressay and Noss. Noss (by sea) then why not stop for a bite to eat at Hay’s Dock Café Restaurant. Booking essential. Contact Visit Shetland for further details. • Be responsible for your own actions. Shetland’s premier attraction truly does offer something for everyone! Ferry run by private operator (April to mid September only). Booking essential. Head south on the A970. Turn into Sandwick, follow signs for Mousa Broch. Park at Heritage Centre next to pier. Be prepared

Sumburgh Head Travel south on the A970 and pass junction to Sumburgh Airport. • Not all areas of Shetland have a shop At turn right and follow single track road to car park. or a fuel station — check relevant

area leaflets. Piquer Didier — VisitShetland © • At peak times North Isles ferries can A970 north. At Voe turn right onto the A968 to Toft. Yell ferry from Toft to ferry terminal. be busy, booking is recommended. • Off-road wheelchairs available from From Ulsta ferry terminal follow A968 to . ferry from Gutcher to Belmont. Follow A968 from Belmont to . Turn off to Hermaness (B9087) Disability Shetland. Booking essential. just before Haroldswick. Drive to end of road and park at SNH Visitor Centre car park. • Allow plenty of time for your route.

Keen of Hamar Directions to Belmont as for Hermaness above. From Belmont head north on A968, following signs for and Haroldswick. After Baltasound turn right to Littlehamar. Park at end of road. Be considerate Useful contacts Loch of Funzie From Ulsta ferry terminal follow A968 to Gutcher. Bluemull Sound ferry from • Respect people’s privacy. Disability Shetland Noss ferry info line Shetland Museum Gutcher to . Drive six miles (10 km) east on the B9088. Park at small car park west • Leave all gates as you find them. Market House, 14 Market (freephone) and Archives of Loch of Funzie. Street, Lerwick, Shetland, 0800 107 7818 Hay’s Dock, Lerwick, • Use a path or track if there is one. ZE1 0JP Scottish Natural Heritage Shetland, ZE1 0WP • Keep your dog under control, 01595 743920 Stewart Building, Esplanade, 01595 695057 and dispose of dog dirt. Emergency Services Lerwick, Shetland, Visit Shetland Distances by road from Lerwick Miles Journey Miles Journey • Leave the environment as you found it 999 ZE1 0LL Market Cross, Lerwick, 01595 693345 Shetland, ZE1 0LU Noss 3 (5km) 20 mins Keen of Hamar 52 (83km) 2½ hours — do not leave litter, or pick flowers. Mousa Boat Trips 08701 999 440 Mousa 15 (24km) 30 mins Loch of Funzie 59 (95km) 3 hours • Be careful not to disturb wildlife 01950 431 367 Shetland Amenity Trust Shetland Biological Records 25 (40km) 40 mins Toft 27 (43km) 45 mins or livestock. 07901 872 339 Hermaness 57 (92km) 3 hours Gutcher 45 (72km) 2 hours Centre and Rangers

© VisitShetland — Didier Piquer Didier — VisitShetland © North Isles Ferries Garthspool, Lerwick, 01957 722 259 Shetland, ZE1 0NY Know the code before you go! Find out about the Scottish Outdoor Access Code at www.outdooraccess-.com, or contact Scottish Natural Heritage for further details. 01595 694688 Printed on recycled paper

Baltasound A968

B9083 Belmont Gutcher Go wild and get close! East Isles Map North Isles Noss | Living life on the edge! Hamars Ness Hermaness | Watch your head! Hundreds of eyes are on you — perhaps bird, seal, insect or otter. B9088 To see extreme living, get to Noss! For a challenging cliff-top walk, head to Unst. So why not turn your eyes on them! A968 The towering cliffs are a hive of activity. A970 As well as discovering one of Shetland’s best Collafirth Hill Yell © VisitShetland — Didier Piquer Didier — VisitShetland © B9087 seabird colonies, brace yourself to meet bonxies You are at one of Britain’s top wildlife destinations. Heather clad Crags and ledges are plastered with B9081 Banksflooer (Thrift) Collafirth Haroldswick — one of Britain’s most aggressive and thousands of breeding seabirds, and in Ulsta Sundew hillsides are thriving ecosystems, fresh water lochs are sheltered Baltasound small nooks and crannies natural rock B9078 spectacular birds. homes, shorelines are secret hiding places, and towering cliffs A968 gardens grow. B9079 Toft Map with suggested routes is provided at the site entrance. These large Unst are immense seabird cities. birds break national speed limits as they dive, A truly dizzying sight! Best seen May to August. A970 B9083 3 to 4 hour walk. Moderate ground, entering the water at Shaw Deryk © Belmont 100km/h (62mph)! 10,000 B9076 Gutcher but with boggy areas and steep cliffs. Hermaness Walk around the island. No dogs allowed. Moncrieff Alec © is one of the best pairs of these elegant Mavis Grind Some wooden paths provided. Bonxies creatures grace the places in the world to A968 see bonxies! 50% of the 3 to 4 hour walk. Hamars Ness are proud parents. To protect their chicks cliffs at Noss. (Kittiwake) world’s population is in Moderate ground but steep cliffs. Rippek maa B9071 B9088 they will dive bomb you. To limit disturbance Shetland, and 650 pairs Voe Fetlar breed on the moor at Solan (Gannet) keep moving. If need be hold a stick above NorthA968 Nesting Hermaness. Only seen B9071 your head to deter them. April to September. About this guide A970 Golden Plover () A970 Yell B9075 Bonxie South Mainland Sandness B9081 Grab your binoculars, pull on Further interpretation is available Ulsta Keen of Hamar | The one and only! Mousa | A magical moment! B9078A971 your warm coat and strong shoes, at each site, and look out for the Walls B9079 Toft Get on your hands and knees and discover some and get out there to explore! symbol – it indicates topics which Mousa is special at any time of day or night. On Whiteness of Britain’s rarest plants, snuggled between the A970 can be further explored at Shetland the way look out for neesiks (porpoises) and Tingwall rocks of this lunar landscape. This trail leaflet will help you select other sea mammals. Selkie (seal) sightings B9076

© VisitShetland — Didier Piquer Didier — VisitShetland © A970 B9074 Lerwick Museum and Archives. Also look are guaranteed with up to 200 Common Seals Brae The ground here is the oldest and poorest in where to visit, and help you to find A968 Britain, and is how much of Northern Europe This plant is ashore to moult on the east coast. Vidlin found nowhere else out for SNH and RSPB leaflets on Selkie (Common Seal) B9071 and identify what’s out there. Voe may have looked after the last ice age! in the world! It was Moonwort discovered by a local your travels, which provide further Storm Petrels When evening falls prepare for a rare treat, are the smallest and B9071 North Nesting Plants are best seen May, June and July. botanist, Thomas information. most elusive of Britain’s as elusive alamooties (Storm Petrels) flock A970 Edmondston of Buness, in 1837. Only seen seabirds! They feed at ashore to nestle in the walls of Mousa broch. CunningsbuB9075 rgh sea during the day, and Walk about 180 metres, following sign at end of road. May to September But watch out! The more you only come ashore in the Evening trips available late May to mid July. evening to nest in burrows 1 hour visit. Rough ground, Weisdale look, the more you’ll discover! or stone walls. Please follow trail markers around the island. A971 and stiles to cross. Bigton

3 hour visit. Moderate ground. Shetland Museum Dickson Wendy © (Storm Petrel) and Archives Edmondston’s Chickweed Alamootie A970 Tingwall Herring hog (Minke Whale) B9122 Arctic Sandwort A970 B9074 Scalloway Lerwick Sumburgh Head | Up close and personal! Sumburgh Bressay Noss Loch of Funzie | A birding paradise! Come within arm’s length of inquisitive Head to the RSPB hide at the Loch of Funzie Guide to symbols to get up close to beautiful Red-Necked puffins, and watch them walk in and out Shaw Deryk ©

of their burrows. Easily accessed. Smith Malcolm © Phalaropes as they spin about on the water Strong footwear not required. in search of food. Unusually the females Take in the take in the sight, sound and are brightly coloured, and the dull-coloured smell of thousands of breeding seabirds at Longer or more difficult walk. Sandwick Loom (Guillemot) males care for eggs and chicks! Britain’s most accessible seabird colony. Strong footwear recommended. Bigton Peerie whaup (Whimbrel) Keep your eyes peeled throughout your visit A fantastic family day out. Viewpoint accessible to A970 as Fetlar is also a good breeding ground for These small wheelchair users at car park. B9122 comical birds beat Walk up to the lighthouse from the car park. Whimbrel, and otters haunt the shoreline. 90% of the their wings up to UK’s total population 400 times per minute, and Viewpoints are indicated. breed here – a truly can hold up to 62 small Sumburgh From car park walk 100m, and follow signs unique opportunity to fish in their beak at one 2 to 3 hour visit. Steep climb up tarred road, Shaw Deryk © to the hide, which is about 300m from the road. observe this fascinating time! Only seen April but with resting places. Disabled parking Rendall Allister © species. Only seen to mid-August. 1 hour visit. Moderate ground. May to July. available at the top. 10 miles

Tammie norie (Puffin) Sea Craa (Razorbill) Dratsie (Otter) Red-Necked Phalarope

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