South Mainland Tour - With Discover Shetland

The village lies on the Atlantic seaboard, six miles west of Lerwick and played a central role in the 'Shetland Bus' operation in The Second World War.

From Scalloway we head south diverting through the very picturesque district of Fladdabister. Like most places in Shetland, the name derives from the ancient Norse language and means 'flat farm'. Fladdabister is a good place to see Shetland Ponies and hosts an abundance of wild flowers in the summer time. A few miles further on we approach the Sandwick viewpoint. Nearby is the site of what was the Sand Lodge copper mine which operated from 1799-1923 and, in its day, was the biggest such mine in Scotland. From the viewpoint, we can also look eastwards to the island of Mousa on which the best preserved broch (Iron Age tower) in Scotland stands some 13 metres high and dating back to around BC200. It is best viewed through a pair of binoculars.

Our next stop is Bigton, looking over to St Ninian's Isle and the famous tombolo stretch of shell sand that connects the island to the mainland. If time and weather permit, we can walk over to the island and visit the site of the ancient church. In 1958, an archaeological dig was taking place at this spot. An eleven-year-old school boy was helping and whilst digging in the nave of the medieval church he struck silver! - a wooden chest containing 28 silver objects, thought to be Pictish in origin and dating to around 800AD. They are now housed in the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh.

Our southward journey takes us past some exotic beaches and landscapes where, at certain times of the year, it is possible to see dozens of North Atlantic Grey Seals hauled out on the sand.

A further 15 minutes or so takes us to the south end of the Shetland mainland. The road crosses the main runway of Sumburgh Airport (don't worry, it is safe!).

At the eastern end of the West Voe Beach is Jarlshof, one of the most important archaeological sites in Scotland. The name was coined by Sir Walter Scott in his novel, The Pirate, published in 1822. In the 1890s, after some terrific storms, the site was partially exposed. A series of excavations have taken place and it is now possible to follow a clear timeline tracing evidence of continuous human habitation, dated at the time of the excavations, from 2,700BC to the 1600sAD.

Our final stop is Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, now a visitor centre. It is a fairly steep climb up the winding tarmac pathway from the visitor car park to the lighthouse complex but the views are magnificent and from mid-April to mid-August the cliffs are host to thousands of seabirds: Guillemots, Razorbills, Fulmars and of course, everybody's favourite, the remarkably tame and cute Puffin! Also, from the cliff-side walk, one can glimpse other birds such as Great Skuas, Arctic Skuas, Gannets and do keep an eye out for whales, especially 'Minkes' and 'Killers'. (Transport up to the lighthouse can be arranged for anyone with mobility problems).

On the return journey to Lerwick, we call by the Shetland Croft House Museum where one can get an idea of what croft life was like a hundred years ago or so.

As with any tour in Shetland, flexibility is inbuilt, not least because of the weather. It is advisable that visitors wear adequate footwear and bring warm, waterproof clothing. The walk to St Ninian's Isle is really only practical for visitors doing the full-day tour. When cruise ships are visiting, some of the popular sites like Jarlshof and the Croft House Museum can be congested and may best be avoided unless a 'must' on your agenda.

For full-day tours, David can, if you wish, book lunch at the Sumburgh Hotel. Please note that the costs of refreshments and admissions are not included in the tour package.