The South Mainland of Shetland has many attractions that tourists love to explore. This are is also called the "tail of Shetland" with most of the villages lying on the east coast. You can still feel the presence of the Vikings in place names such as Gulberwick, Quarff, and Fladdabister. The largest of the villages is Cunningsburgh. From Greenmow, you can see the high cliffs of Bressay affording you a spectacular photo taking opportunity. At Mousa, you will see the best-preserved broch in Scotland. This historic site is open to the public from April to September, but you have to take a ferry from Sandwick. Jarlshof is an interesting set of layers showing different stages of habitation down through the centuries.
If you fly to South Mainland, Sumburgh will the first place you see. The Old House of Sumburgh was built in the 1500’s and is open for public tours during the summer season. Here you will find many bays, coves, beaches and small settlements built around the airport, such as Grutness Voe, the terminal of the ferry to Fair Isle. Old Scatness is one of the best preserved Iron Age villages where you will see demonstrations of how chores were done in the past. You can also purchase crafts and souvenirs at the gift shop. Catpund Burn is the remains of a Viking quarry tucked away in the hills between Sandwick and Cunningsburgh. Here you can still see where stone was quarried out to make tools and weapons. Just as in other parts of Shetland, there are many cliffs and mountains in South Mainland. Visitors love the experience of climbing the peaks and view the panoramic scenery below them. In fact the only flat land here is at the airport. The road just south of the airport crosses the runway and this is the only place in Shetland where you will find traffic lights – for obvious reasons of course.
Sumburgh Head is the location of a nature preserve with the most accessible colony of puffins in the UK. Another wildfowl preserve is located at the Loch of Spiggie where Whooper Swans and Greylag Geese come from Iceland each year. St. Ninian’s Isle is a very romantic location for a picnic or just to be alone. It is uninhabited and has a beautiful beach and walking trails. Swimming is also available at Levenwick Beach, just a short distance from Bigton. If you are in Cunningsburgh in the springtime, you will be just in time for the annual Spring Flower Show. However, you will always be able to see the flower show that nature provides in the many blooms along the sides of the road.
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Photographs © Graeme G Storey ShetlandTourism.Com
