Island Vista Shetland

Island Vista Shetland Thanks for visiting our page. We are a local tour operator based in the Shetland Islands.

If you are planning a trip for your group and would like help arranging a high quality tour with a fully qualified tourist guide, then please get in touch.

🧶Shetland Wool Week 2025🐑🧶 Are you coming to Shetland Wool Week this year and looking to get a head start on booking you...
01/06/2025

🧶Shetland Wool Week 2025🐑

🧶 Are you coming to Shetland Wool Week this year and looking to get a head start on booking your tours?
🐑 Or are you not able to make it this year but looking for a virtual option to join?

If you answered yes to either of these questions, then read on. 😀

Island Vista is delighted to offer a selection of tours during SWW 2025, including exclusive tours to Uradale Farm. 🐑

Tours on offer include:
🐑 Uradale Farm - A 21st century Shetland farm with 5000 year old answers - in person tour
🐑 Uradale Farm - The saga of Shetland’s wool and the fight for Shetland's language - in person tour
🐑 Uradale Farm - Uradale Unplugged - virtual tour & class
🧶 Tour to North Mainland - in person tour
🧶 Sandsoond with Alison Rendall - in person tour & class
🧶 Tour to Unst - in person tour and class
🧶 Tour to Muckle Roe - in person tour
🧶 Tour to Whalsay - in person tour

To book these tours, please visit the Island Vista website. Link in bio. 🙂

We look forward to sharing Shetland Wool Week 2025 with you. 😀

🚌Toddlers on Tour 🚌It was a very different tour to Uradale Farm yesterday. We went with Tommy's toddler group. 😀 The bai...
29/05/2025

🚌Toddlers on Tour 🚌

It was a very different tour to Uradale Farm yesterday. We went with Tommy's toddler group. 😀 The bairns (children) loved seeing the sheep and lambs. They especially loved when the sheep "escaped" and Pip would round them up again. 😀
It was then off to The Outpost to see more animals, which included goats, pigs, emus, birds and wallabies. They loved getting to feed them. 😀
Thank you to Ronnie and Viveka and to Louise and David for a lovely day out.
The first bus photo is Tommy going and second is coming back. I think it says it all about how much fun was had. 🥰😴

What a fantastic couple of days I've had with Susan and her guests. It is an honour and privilege to be asked to do tour...
23/05/2025

What a fantastic couple of days I've had with Susan and her guests. It is an honour and privilege to be asked to do tours for one of my Blue Badge colleagues. 😊
We have explored, shopped, created, eaten and laughed. It has been so much fun. Thanks to Ian, our driver, for supplying plenty of cheeky banter.
Enjoy the rest of your time in Shetland. 😊

😪Why is Jolene sad?😪As both a business owner and as a person, I hate getting things wrong, and I hate admitting when I g...
19/05/2025

😪Why is Jolene sad?😪

As both a business owner and as a person, I hate getting things wrong, and I hate admitting when I get it wrong, but here goes...

My Taste of Shetland tour isn't selling. 😭 I'm absolutely devastated. 😭😭 I put together what I thought would be an amazing culinary experience and would be a brilliant way to support our food and drink industry. I have had so many folk, locally and further afield, tell me what a great idea it is but still nobody is booking it.
😪 Did I launch too late? Yes, maybe, but it takes a while to pull together a new tour, especially when you're a working mum.
😪 Is it too expensive? Yes, it is a pricey tour, but I believe not only do guests get good value for money, but chefs, venues, and suppliers all get a fair wage, too
😪 Is there just too much political uncertainty just now? It's possible, but we won't go too far into this one.
😪 Am I just ahead of my time? Also possible. I just wanted to create something unique and new. Nobody has ever offered something like this in Shetland before.
😪 Is it too niche? Yes, maybe, but plenty of folk travel the world for food and drink tours so why not come to Shetland for one?

As painful as it is for you to admit this, I need help making some big decisions. For 2025, do I:
☕️ Cut my losses and cancel the whole tour?
☕️ Break it down into day tours and offer each day individually? This could be open to locals too.
☕️ Hold on just a little longer and try taking out some adverts, hoping that someone will buy it.

Then for 2026, do I try again? I have a few folk interested for 2026 but there's no guarantee that will convert to bookings and I may find myself back here again next year. And I can tell you, this isn't a nice place to be. 💔

If you think you might be interested, for either 2025 or 2026, please let me know asap: [email protected]. I'll need to make a decision soon. 😕
Details of the tour are on our website: https://www.islandvista.co.uk/products/taste-of-shetland-tour-august-2025

Thanks for listening to my tale of woe. This isn't an easy post admitting when you got it wrong. 😪

💜14 Years today💜I don't usually post twice in one day, but Facebook reminded me that it's 14 years ago today since I off...
18/05/2025

💜14 Years today💜

I don't usually post twice in one day, but Facebook reminded me that it's 14 years ago today since I officially passed my tourist guide exams and became a fully accredited Green Badge guide for Shetland. 🥳
14 wonderful years of doing a job I absolutely love. 💜 It has never stopped challenging me and teaching me new things. No two tours are ever the same, which adds to the excitement. I still get such a buzz from showing people how amazing Shetland is. It is an honour and privilege to do what I do. 🥰

🧶Makkin Our Way Through Shetland - Days 5 and 6🧶And just like that, our first Makkin Our Way Through Shetland tour of 20...
18/05/2025

🧶Makkin Our Way Through Shetland - Days 5 and 6🧶

And just like that, our first Makkin Our Way Through Shetland tour of 2025 is over. 🫤 What a lovely group we've had. It has been so much fun. 😀
Thursday, the group got to look for some puffins at Sumburgh Head before visiting the Crofthouse Museum. Then it was off to the Shetland Textile Museum to view the exhibits before having the afternoon off to shop and visit the Post Office. Ahem! 😉 And the sun was still shining. 😎
Our last wasn't quite so bright but that's exactly what you want for Eshaness, a moody sky and some waves adds to the atmosphere. 🙂 We had a lovely lunch at Busta House and then had our coffee in the Long Room, while Hazel did an inspiring show and tell about some of things she has knitted over the years.
We had an impromptu stop at The Original Cake Fridge on our way back to town, then it was time for our farewell dinner. Always the worst part of the tours 😪
Thank you for joining us on our tour, we hope you'll come back and see us again sometime. 🙂
If you want to be part of our 2026 tours, and want early access to the ticket sales, send me an email to be added to the waiting list: [email protected].

🧶Makkin Our Way Through Shetland - Day 4🧶Our guests started their day off with a textile tour of Shetland Museum and Arc...
15/05/2025

🧶Makkin Our Way Through Shetland - Day 4🧶

Our guests started their day off with a textile tour of Shetland Museum and Archives, led by the lovely Linda. 🙂
A quick lunch at Islesburgh Cafe before starting a steeking workshop with Terri Laura. 😀 Terri teaches 3 different methods for steeking and helps build the confidence you need for cutting your work. 😊
The day finished up in No.88 for yet another beautiful meal. 😋
And again, the sun was shining. 😎🌞 We're kinda getting used to this. 😎

🧶Makkin Our Way Through Shetland - Day 3🧶Today, our guests started their day with a Fair Isle yoke bag class with Janett...
14/05/2025

🧶Makkin Our Way Through Shetland - Day 3🧶

Today, our guests started their day with a Fair Isle yoke bag class with Janette Budge. They got to have a look through her plentiful stash and select colours for their yoke bags. 😀😍
Then it was off to Bressay, where they got to see Chris and the colourful occupants of Garths Croft. The guests were also treated to a shearing demonstration by Chris before having a tour around Bressay in clear blue skies and sunshine. 😎 Thanks, Anne and Shirley, for looking after our guests today.
It was much appreciated, as it meant I got my usual Wednesday off with Tommy. 🥰🥰
Today, Tommy and his toddler group took a bus to Michaelswood for a play date. Michaelswood is a lovely woodland creation with pirate ships, teddy bears and dinosaur trail, created by a lovely couple in memory of their son who was lost at an early age in life. 💜💜 It's a wonderful place and the kids loved it. 😊 They loved the bus too, especially Tommy, who had to have a shot in the driver's seat. 🤣
HUGE shout out to our wonderful driver, Victor, who pulled a double duty today. He took the kids to Michaelswood while our group was with Janette, then took our guests to Bressay for the afternoon. What a guy! 💜

🧶Makkin Our Way Through Shetland-Day 2🧶Another sunny day for our guests today. 😎Today, we started off with a quick visit...
13/05/2025

🧶Makkin Our Way Through Shetland-Day 2🧶

Another sunny day for our guests today. 😎
Today, we started off with a quick visit to Scalloway. We were really lucky with our timing. We got to see the Andholmen leave Scalloway. She was one of the boats used in World War 2 as part of the Shetland Bus movement and is part of the Liberation Convey, which has been in Shetland for a week now. It was so special getting to see (and hear) her leave. 🥲
Then it was off to Uradale Farm, for a wonderful morning of cute lambs, good coffee and biscuits, excellent conversation, knitting fun and a fascinating lecture about our language. Lunch was from Island Deli, and hit the spot as always. 😋
We then had such a good fun at Joanna Hunter’s studio in Scalloway. We laughed a lot. 😂 Always good to hear Joanna's story and see where her inspiration comes from. 😀
Dinner was at Fjara and was delicious as always. 😋
Then we rounded the day off with a makkin and yakkin night at Islesburgh, which our guests always really appreciate. 😀
A full but fun day. 😀

🧶Makkin Our Way Through Shetland - Day 1🧶It was the first day of Fair Isle week today. Our first Makkin Our Way Through ...
12/05/2025

🧶Makkin Our Way Through Shetland - Day 1🧶

It was the first day of Fair Isle week today. Our first Makkin Our Way Through Shetland tour of 2025. 😀 It was a great start to the tour. 😊
The guests started off with meeting some legends at The Wool Brokers. 😊 They got to hear all about wool grading and sorting from Oliver and then some free time in the shop to buy yarn, helped by Ella and Sandra. 😊
It was then off to Hoswick for a bite to eat and to make some purchases in Hoswick. 😀
The afternoon was spent in Burra, hearing from Wendy all about her Burra Bears and where the idea started. 🧸 Rounding off with some time with Donna Smith, hearing how she produces the yarn and yes, possibly some more time for shopping. 😊😉
A great first day. 😀
Thanks Thea, Winnie and Karen for the photos. 😊

That's been another busy and most enjoyable week. 😀Since Wednesday:🛳 I've worked for 2 cruise ships🚙 Done a private tour...
10/05/2025

That's been another busy and most enjoyable week. 😀
Since Wednesday:
🛳 I've worked for 2 cruise ships
🚙 Done a private tour for one of my Orkney guiding colleagues and her family
🤓 Taken Tommy to see the Liberation convey. A flotilla of restored WW2 vessels from Norway. I don't think it's too young for them to learn our history.
😍 Shown 137 people how beautiful Shetland is (I love seeing Shetland through their eyes)
😎 And all that was in glorious sunshine and clear blue skies. 😍
Have I told you before that I love my job? 🤔🤣
Now, it's time to get ready for our first Makkin Our Way Through Shetland tour of 2025, which kicks off tomorrow night. 😀
Im planning to launch the 2026 tours in the next month or so. If you'd like to be added to the waiting list, pop me an email: [email protected]

Day 5 with Jacalyn Another superb day out. 😀We started off with learning a brand new skill - nalbinding! I was so much f...
02/05/2025

Day 5 with Jacalyn

Another superb day out. 😀
We started off with learning a brand new skill - nalbinding! I was so much fun and Helen is a great teacher. And also a great baker and soup maker. 😋😋 Check out the view I had too. 🐑🥰 Thanks Helen. 😀
The afternoon was spent with the Doull Family, where we got to meet some of the mammies in waiting and see some brand new lambs. 🥰🥰 We were spoilt with a delicious afternoon tea. 😋 Thank you for your hospitality. 🙂
We finished off our day with a yummy tea at Busta House Hotel. 😀 Always a pleasure to see you Grant and the team. 😀
It's been a busy week but what a lot of good times we've had. 😀 I know I've said it before but I really do love my job. 😀

Address

Gutters' Hut, 7 North Ness Business Park
Lerwick
ZE10LZ

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441595696966

Website

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