Excursion Jarlshof & sumburgh head cliffs tour at Lerwick

Experience the best Scotland's incredible coast has to offer on this half-day excursion. Depart through Lerwick, the capital of Shetland, as you begin your trip to the island's most southerly point. On the drive south, conditions permitting, pause to admire the view of the magnificent Mousa Broch, the tallest and best preserved of all brochs (ancient round stone towers) in the world.

Continue down the west coast, hopefully spotting seals at Rerwick, and pass St Ninian's Isle where the famous Pictish horde of silver dating from the 9th Century was found in 1958.

Continue south to visit the remarkable archaeological site of Jarlshof. The site was uncovered by a violent storm in the winter of 1896/97, revealing an extraordinary settlement site embracing at least 5,000 years of human history. The site contains a remarkable sequence of stone structures: late Neolithic houses, a Bronze-Age village, an Iron-Age broch and wheelhouses, several Norse longhouses, a medieval farmstead, and the 16th-century laird's house. Visit the remains of these village settlements with your guide to make the most of your time here.

Then depart for the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) Reserve at Sumburgh Head where you will see Shetland's first lighthouse, built in 1821 by Robert Stevenson. The cliffs around Sumburgh Head are on the southernmost tip of Mainland Shetland and attract thousands of seabirds, including puffins, guillemots, shags and fulmars, as well as gannets offshore. The seabird breeding season, May to mid-August, is the only time to visit Sumburgh Head for this spectacular show. Learn about each species of seabird and their special nesting places on the cliffs from your knowledgeable guide.

Return to Lerwick as the guided tour continues, looking out for Shetland's famous ponies on the way.  

Note

Please note: This tour may be less suitable for individuals with limited mobility; walking on this tour does include a very steep uphill walk to the visitor center at Sumburgh Head, and there are stairs inside the center, as well as an hour's walk at Jarlshof with some uneven ground and steps. Warm layered clothing and comfortable footwear are recommended. Wildlife sightings likely but not guaranteed.