SHETLAND WILDLIFE IN SUMMER

SAT 8 JULY – SAT 15 JULY 2023

SAT 13 JULY – SAT 20 JULY 2024

PRICES: from £2195pp

Single supplement: £230. Deposit £300pp

Max 7 clients. Leader Scott O’Hara (2023)

Price excludes flights from Aberdeen to Sumburgh.

With so much to do and see, summer is a superb time to visit Shetland. On this wide-ranging natural history tour there is something for all and our varied itinerary will be of interest to birdwatchers, general wildlife enthusiasts, botanists and island baggers alike. During the holiday you will see some of the most densely populated seabird colonies in the country. Gannet, Shag, Puffin, Guillemot, Razorbill, Black Guillemot, Kittiwake, Arctic Skua, Common and Arctic Tern are all represented, some in abundance. An evening excursion to the Storm Petrel colony on Mousa will be an exciting highlight, as will a special boat trip to wild Foula off the west coast. There, the waters offer much potential for cetaceans and we also plan to cruise under the sheer cliffs plus explore on foot the home of the largest Great Skua colony in Britain!

Freshwater lochans host breeding Red-throated Diver and we seek rare breeding waders including Whimbrel, Golden Plover and delicate Red-necked Phalarope. Shetland is a good place to see both Otter and Grey Seal, while rare plants could include Oysterplant and Edmunston’s Chickweed, the latter growing only on Unst! We take in all the flora and fauna we encounter, with plenty of opportunity for scenic photography as we go. We intend to see as much of the rugged archipelago as possible, and this tour is definitely one for the island bagger. Visiting eight islands with dedicated trips to Mousa, Foula, Yell, Unst, Fetlar, Noss, Bressay and Mainland Shetland. At a relaxed pace, we take in some of the fascinating historical, cultural and archaeological heritage of the islands within Shetland. We plan to visit the Jarlshof site, Mousa Broch, a replica Viking longboat and longhouse on Unst and see the town of Scalloway, the ancient capital and home to the Shetland Bus operation during the Second World War. In July, long evenings give way to an ethereal twilight known as the ‘simmer dim’ – Shetland really is a fantastic place to experience the long, northern summer! Number of centres 2

Eagles, Divers & Dotterel (p21), Highlands & Wester Ross (p22).