Shetland: Your Essential Travel Guide
Crafted for explorers who thrive on seeking out the hidden, who are not content with skimming the surface but who yearn to delve into the heart of their destination.
It is for those who seek to understand the soul of a place, its people, and its past and present. In these pages, you’ll find not just routes and directions, but pathways to essential experiences that many travellers miss – those that truly encapsulate the spirit of Shetland.
We have carefully curated hidden gems and lesser-known tales that highlight the richness of Shetland.
This book is designed to keep you exploring and to encourage you to see, feel, and engage with the place more deeply.
An exciting new guidebook, celebrating Shetland’s beauty and rich cultural heritage.
Created by the travel writer and Shetlander Laurie Goodlad and the Shetland publisher Misa Hay, two passionate advocates for the islands’ unique charm, this guidebook is an invitation to experience the soul of Shetland, the most northerly islands in the UK.
ABOUT THE GUIDEBOOK
Get a feel for what's inside the guidebook
SPRING
Essays
Activities
Areas
The Basics
Itineraries
- Getting Here and Around
- Brief History
- Culture
- Shetland Today
- Food & Drink
- Events Calendar
- What to Buy
- Where to Stay
- Accessible Shetland
SPRING
Essays
Activities
Areas
- Lerwick & Central Mainland
- South Mainland
- Fair Isle & Foula
- West Mainland
- Papa Stour
- Whalsay & Out Skerries
- Nesting, Lunnasting & Delting
- North Mainland
- The North Isles: Yell, Unst & Fetlar
Essentials
Itineraries
Areas
SPRING
Essays
Activities
Areas
The Basics
Itineraries
- Natural Wonders
- Wildlife
- Beaches
- Photography
- Museums & Heritage
- Archaeology
- Arts & Crafts
- Knitting
- Trips & Tours
Actvities
SPRING
Essays
Activities
Areas
Essentials
Itineraries
- Weather
- Geology
- Scandinavian Influence
- Language & Folklore
- Clearances
- Island at War
- Knitting Heritage
- Oil Boom
- Up Helly Aa
- Shetland, by Ann Cleeves
Essays
SPRING
Essays
Activities
Areas
Essentials
Itineraries
- 3 Days in Shetland
- 7 Days in Shetland
- Shetland with Kids: Family Adventures
The Author
Laurie Goodlad
"A thank-you for the summer nights, the winter storms, the calm and the chaos; they are a thank-you for the sting of salt on the cheeks and the first warmth from the May sun, and an acknowledgement of the extreme privilege I have to be able to call Shetland my home."
This guidebook is a love letter to our islands, a thank-you of sorts.
Explore Shetland with our brand-new guidebook
For those who have already fallen in love with Shetland, this guidebook is your gateway to discovering even more. And for those yet to experience its magic, prepare to be captivated in ways you never imagined. Shetland isn’t just a destination to visit: it’s a world to be experienced, a landscape that urges you to wander and wonder.
From Shetland with love
Our initial idea, a modest pocket guide, has evolved into something much grander — a guidebook of more than 250 pages, filled with our passion for the islands where Laurie was born and raised and I moved to 20 years ago. This is not just a collection of places and facts: it's an immersive journey into Shetland's history, heritage, and the very essence of its communities and wild beauty.
More than anything, this guidebook is a love letter to Shetland. Through its pages, we invite you to explore the islands' captivating stories, delve into the significance of its place names, and discover the rich tapestry of geography, geology, community, and wildlife that makes Shetland unique.
Shetland: Your Essential Travel Guide will feature detailed information on the practical elements of a trip to Shetland – including why to not pack an umbrella – as well as in-depth guides to each area, and details of accommodation, attractions and getting about.
Born-and-bred Shetlander Laurie has made sure to include plenty of insider knowledge and tips for getting the most out of visiting these fascinating islands, such as the best beaches for wild swimming, the tastiest Sunday Teas, or where to spot puffins and whales.
Our paths crossed and intertwined years ago, rooted in our work at the Shetland Museum and Archives, where our shared passion for Shetland's rich heritage and natural beauty developed into a friendship.
But our story is not just about the past. After many years of employment, both Laurie and I decided to embrace the path of self-employment, driven by a deep desire to pursue our dreams and share our love for Shetland with the world.
Laurie, with her experience as an assistant curator and her qualifications as a tour guide, has blossomed into a remarkable travel writer.
Meanwhile, my background in tourism and marketing, coupled with my role as a heritage manager, led me to establish a tour company and a small publishing house.
About Laurie Goodlad and Misa Hay
Together, we are carving out our independence, proud to have established businesses that champion the spirit of Shetland.
And the next part of the story is our guidebook, crafted over countless brainstorming sessions, adventures across the islands, and a deeply rooted commitment to promoting Shetland as a place to visit or make a home.
Our collaboration merged Laurie's intimate knowledge of Shetland's history and culture with my love for promoting the place in a guidebook that offers both a deep, local insight and a broader appeal to visitors.
Shetland Wool Adventures
Misa Hay
Crafted with an appreciation for the islands' dramatic contrasts — from the calm serenity of its secluded beaches to the exhilarating force of its winter gales. Our adventures here and the lessons they've taught us breathe life into its pages, offering readers not just information, but an experience and inspiration.
Our guidebook is a homage to Shetland
