Shetland Islands are the northernmost isles in UK - as far north as Oslo and southern tip of Greenland. Because of it's remoteness, the Islands lie behind main tourist routes.
However , this is truly a fascinating place and draws visitors keen on discovering local culture , learning about reach history of this region and for watching wildlife. Or just to enjoy the peaceful side of this Europe's corner .
Lighthouse on Bressay Island .
For most visitors the starting point on Shetland Islands is Lerwick -the capital town on largest island ( Mainland ). The ferry boat connects the town with Orkney Islands and Aberdeen . The town due to its central position on archipelago is a great base for tourists wanting to explore all corners .
Lerwick's harbour
The Islands for five centuries was strictly tied with Scandinavian Kingdoms - Norway and later Denmark .The Vikings started the colonisation of Shetland ( along with Orkney ) in 9th century , and there are traces of Norse language dialect spoken today .
Stone with Scandinavian runs in Shetlands Museum in Lerwick
Lerwick became an important in 17th century as the Dutch fishing fleet set up their temporary base , during summer 10 000 people could live in this settlement . Later the British built a fort overlooking the harbour to keep control over Lerwick during British - Dutch war .
Unfortunately , the first fort was destroyed by Dutchmen in 1673 and the fort was rebuilt a century later as Fort Charlotte . The old town grew around the Fort , the town became Shetland's capital in 19th century . Nowadays, the old parts around harbour are nicely renovated , what makes a nice walk along pretty Commercial Street and the waterfront .
Fort Charlotte
On the second day I moved south to
Sandwick , where I was going to get on a boat and explore small Mousa Island . I had to wait long for the boat to come (on Monday at 13.00 from Leebitton),so I walked to Hoswick , a nearby village.
In the local visitor centre I learnt that Hoswick , a bustling fishing village in 19 th. century , had been a place of massive whale's killing . Flocks of small whales were drawn by people in boats to the shallow bay in Hoswick . It all reminded me of the way , the people of Faeroe Islands kill Pilot's Whales in modern days . The exhibition shows the archive photographs of that time and tells the story how fishermen won the legal battle in 1889 over local landlord , who claimed a third value of captured whales .
Leebitton , where ferry boat leaves to Mousa .
Mousa is a popular visiting place on Shetlands , due to Mousa Broch and RSPB nature reserve , which attracts bird watchers . I went there mainly to see the Broch , which is the best preserved Iron Tower in Scotland . There are 120 remains of this ancient buildings on Shetland but this one is really impressive . These towers built over 2000 years ago using no mortar , were probably constructed either as a watch towers and a living place . The spiral staircase inside leads to the top of the Broch , which is 13 metres high . Some people come to Broch at dusk , to watch Storm Petrels coming back from the sea to their nests hidden in the Broch .
In the reserve I could watch indeed rare species of nesting seabirds - Great Skuas, Shags , Fulmars , Great Skuas and Arctic Terns. I have especially remembered the encounter with Arctic Terns -these little birds were attacking me ferociously, diving toward my head from different directions .They could be really nasty during nesting season.
Fulmars nesting on cliffs
The village of Uyeasound , Unst .
Herma Ness , the northernmost tip of land of the British 
Islands , is a heaven for numbers of seabirds ; large colonies of different birds are found on sea cliffs . Main attractions for tourist are puffins - these little , cute birds are marvelous. They catch a small sand eels in the sea and feed their chicks hidden in deep burrows . Sitting on the edge of the cliff and watching these funny birds, made me feel extraordinary - like being David Attenborough sent on mission to the remote part of the world .
Puffin in Herma Ness nature reserve
Gannets gathers before taking off to their nests , which are build on inaccessible rocky outcrops .
Collection of small rocky islets , called Muckla Fugga , comes to view at Herma Ness. Beyond towards north , only vast expanses of the North Atlantic . This is also one of the most often photographed sights on Shetland Islands . The white lighthouse on the top was build in 1857-58 by father of famous writer , Thomas Stevenson . Looking at the lighthouse and misty ocean behind , you may think this is really the gate to the end of the World.
I found more idyllic scenery in the south Unst , having moved to Uyeasound the next day .This beach on the picture above is called Sandwick and when the Sun appeared suddenly , the view was breathtaking .If there were palm trees growing around , the beach would look like serene spot from Caribbean Islands . If if ... after a while the shroud of clouds was back again .
Church overlooking the beach from the cliff, adds to the magic ambience of the place .
I returned to Lerwick on the last day of my stay in Shetland - I had limited time . I came back on early morning bus from Unst , so I had enough time to make a short trip to Scalloway , on west coast . It used to be a Shetland's capital in the past , and it is the second largest settlement of the Archipelago. Scalloway turned out to be pleasant place , developed around a deep bay with neat streets and with some trees ( trees are almost nonexistent on Shetland Islands ).
Scalloway is known for its tribute during World War II ;
so called " Shetland Bus " operation was being carried out between 1942 - 1943 . The local fishing boats were bringing secretly people and supplies between Shetland and Norway under Nazi's occupied Norway . There is a small memorial on the waterfront , commemorating lost lives during the operation .
However, the most interesting facts I found in Scalloway Castle , which is actually a large tower house . Built by Earl Patrick Stewart in 1600 , represents the tyranny of the Stewart family after annexation of Islands by the Kingdom of Scotland. Patrick Stewart was executed in 1615 as a result of his brutal and repeating actions against his local rivals .His son Robert shared his father's fate. Interestingly Robert Stewart, who on behalf of his imprisoned father started a rebellion (to subdue their local rivals) , kept old Norse customs in use.Not in line with the Scottish Crown , though .
Whenever I see Shetland Ponies ( cute beasts they are) , it will remind me of Orkney . Maybe I will return there one day .
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