Unst
Unst, the northernmost island in the Shetlands, and the most northerly place in the British Isles, is home to dramatic scenery and immense birdlife.
Unst is the remote, little-visited northern outpost of the Shetlands. While some of the landscape is fairly peaceful, with rolling grassland and heather-clad hills, the coast is certainly dramatic, with stupendous cliffs, jagged sea stacks, rocky shores, deep inlets and golden beaches. Off the northern tip of Unst is Out Stack - the most northerly point in the British Isles.
Wildlife abounds: Shetland ponies roam the island, seals loll on the shore, porpoises and even orcas (killer whales) frolic in the waves, and a staggering 100,000 seabirds nest at Hermaness. You can also enjoy botany, geology, archaeology, walking, sailing and angling - or just enjoy the peace and quiet.
The Unst Boat Haven is dedicated to the history of Shetland's distinctive wooden boats and the line-fishermen who used them until the early 20th century. The pleasure-boat descendants of these Viking-inspired craft can be seen at the Unst Marina in Baltasound, along with the 'Far Haaf', a locally-built replica of a sixareen (six-oared boat). The Unst Heritage Centre tells the engrossing story of the islanders' struggle for existence over the centuries.
