Fetlar
Fetlar is an island of birds and flowers to the east of Yell in the northern Shetlands.
Fetlar, known as The Garden of Shetland, is a green fertile land of rich pastures, much of which is farmed. The coastline varies from low sand beaches to high rugged cliffs and stacks.
Strolling around the varied landscapes of this beautiful island, visitors can trace human settlements from the Stone Age, through the Picts and the Norse, to the 19th century when the laird evicted whole townships of people to make room for sheep. The Clearances left gloomy ruins and empty lands where hundreds of people once scraped a living. But this wilderness contains a rich variety of ancient sites, exquisite flowers and perfect habitat for ground-nesting birds. Fetlar hosted the UK's only nesting snowy owls, but now the islands main avian attraction are its red-necked phalaropes - 90% of the British population.
