things to do and see

on unst you will find the very best beaches,  from the sparkling sands of Burrafirth beach to the picturesque landscape of Norwick beach and of course skew Britain's most northerly beach!  there are so many to explore, feeling the remoteness of the island as you usually won't see another person on the beach 

unst has a full and rich history of vikings! with Uyeasound up helly Aa being the second oldest up helly Aa starting in 1911 

unst  is thought to be the first foot-fall of Vikings in the North Atlantic. There are the remains of at least 60 longhouses, the highest density of rural Viking sites anywhere, including Scandinavia.  three of these sites have been excavated and made acsesable to the public they are belmont , Underhoul and Hamer more information can be found on the shetland amenity website 

also the very popular Vikiing long house and replica long boat the  Skidbladner   in Haroldswick 

 
Unst may be remote, but it's well-served with 3 local shops a post office and a farm shop

H. Henderson’s in Baltasound – A well-stocked general store offering everyday essentials. Electricals, gifts and homewares

Skibhoul Store & Bakery with a self serve café  – Known for its fresh baked goods, local produce, and friendly service. 

  Skibhoul Bakery 

The Final Checkout & Café – A handy shop and café combo where you can grab groceries and enjoy a bacon roll! 

Victoria’s Vintage tea room and farm shop  – Located in Haroldswick, offering homemade cakes, unique gifts, local produce from our farm shop, and seasonal treats. along with a unique space with a self serve facilities, inside and outside, accessible seating amazing views over Haroldswick bay 

enjoy learning about Unsts history at the Unst heritage centre and finding out about the rich maritime heritage Unst has. 

unsts local leisure centre is the heart of the community many locals use it regularly and so do the school and local groups, it has a swimming pool gym and a squash court plus a sports hall that can be hired for badminton or tennis. 

 Muness Castle on the south side of the island Uyeasound is a great place to explore the spooky basements and cellars of this 15th century castle ruin,    Muness is the most northerly fortalice in the British Isles. It was designated as a Scheduled monument in 1953 and is run  by Historic Environment Scotland 

 Overlooking Muckle Flugga – Britain’s most northerly point – Hermaness National Nature Reserve (NNR) is a dramatic cliff-top haven for thousands of seabirds. Birds that breed here include fulmars, gulls, shags, gannets, puffins and kittiwakes. During the summer months, the moorland becomes a carpet of colour. You’ll find heather, crowberry, bog bilberry and mosses on the moor. In the coastal grasslands spring squill comes into bloom followed by the arrival of flowering sea pinks (thrift).Whether you come to watch the birds or simply to enjoy the sensation of being at the edge of the world, you’ll find a stunning landscape. It’s an hour’s walk each way across moorland to reach the seabird cliffs. Allow 3 to 4 hours to explore the whole reserve. 

 This unique nature reserve may appear barren, but is in fact home to a unique collection of plants that have adapted to survive upon the rare serpentine rock that covers the land. These include Edmondston’s chickweed, which is found nowhere else in the world, and moss campion with its pink flowers which bloom in spring.  

bobbys bus shelter has become something of an attraction in itself, starting from being a normal bus stop after a local boy  bobby McCauley asked sic to put a bus shelter at the stop he had to wait each morning for school, once built a sofa appeared, along with other items to make it a cosy area to wait for his bus in the morning, the bus shelter has since had many themes and is visited by hundred's of visitors each year. we think it must be the most photographed bus stop ever and defiantly the most interesting, there is also now a honesty box to buy homemade cakes from. 

A visit to Glansin Glass is a must when visiting Unst, Cheryl Jamison is a talented fused glass artist offering workshops where you can make your very own piece of art with her extensive knowledge  and expertise guiding you from the design right up to the finished piece, 

you can also have a look around the studio and have the chance to buy Cheryl's glass.

A truly unique gift to take away with you. 

Shetland reel gin distillery is Britain's most northerly distillery making the world renowned Shetland reel 

the tours and tasting sessions are a highlight to your unst visit, based in Haroldswick just 5 mins from Victoria's vintage tea rooms a great place for some lunch after your tour.  

Tours begin at midday, Tuesday - Saturday and can be booked in advance online.