Rockvilla Tours - Shetland
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Example Tours

Thank you for looking at my website. I aim to tailor tours to people's interest and fitness, ideally following an email conversation. Shetland has an awful lot to offer, but I've set out four possible tours below just to give you a flavour and get you started/excited!

Some suggestions for tours are:
 1. South Mainland/Sumburgh We would visit Jarlshof, a site continuously occupied for 4000 years with buildings built on top of older buildings. The site was uncovered from the sand by a huge storm over a hundred years ago and starts in the Stone Age, has buildings from the Bronze Age, Iron Ages, the Picts (a Broch and Wheelhouses), Vikings/Norse farmsteads and finally the Earl's Hall ('Jarlshof') itself. We would also go to the lighthouse at Sumburgh to see the cliffs, the ponies and the seabirds - the Puffins are summer breeding visitors, but there are plenty of birds to see all year around, and we might see seals. Then there are some fantastic beaches, especially the double beach that links the main island to St Ninian's Isle - where the treasure was found. Time permitting we can visit the Quendale Mill and/or the Crofthouse Museum where we can see how ordinary folk lived 150 years ago.

2. The North​ West Mainland/Eshaness Here we would aim for the Eshaness lighthouse. The coastal scenery is just epic, sorry to use a term that I have picked up from tv adverts, but one that is justified here. The cliffs at the lighthouse are the remains of an extinct volcano. We will see ponies and lots of birdlife. There is also the "Nations best fish and chip shop" if this is of interest.
 
3. The Westside or the 'Wild West' as it is sometimes called. Starts in the flooded limestone valleys as in tour 4 below, but soon moves on to dramatic landscapes carved out of truly ancient rocks. We can visit a croft and meet up close with Shetland Sheep, Shelties (little Lassie type dogs) and of course Shetland Ponies. A visit to the Gardens of Sand/Da Gairdins 'o' Sand is always worthwhile. Jamiesons Spinning Mill is another option. There is plenty of varied and beautiful coastal scenery. The original Cake Fridge as seen in Jimmy Perez/the Shetland series is also out West.

4. Whiteness and Weisdale, Scalloway, Burra  This tour explores flooded valleys, islands, a castle and can include a bit of shopping. The central part of Shetland is three limestone valleys, and where they meet the sea, there are sea inlets (Voes), islands and sounds. On a good day a fantastic panorama can be seen from viewpoints on top of the hills either side of the valleys. We will visit Scalloway, Shetland's ancient capital with its castle and museum, and then continue South where the valleys are flooded. Here the landscape changes to islands and sounds with some super beaches. This tour can include some retail therapy if required. Jewellery, knitwear, Shetland lace and arts and crafts are on offer.
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Pricing:
A full day tour is priced at £300 for one or two people, £320 for three people and £340 for four people. The price includes all incidentals, admission fees and a packed lunch (if required). So other than paying me, the only other cost would be lunch in a café/hotel bar if that option is preferred, and any souvenirs.
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Photos used under Creative Commons from Pete - Seapaddler, Joanne Goldby
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