Island Trails

27/03/2026

It might not feel it today with the weather but spring is round the corner now. Tomorrow (Saturday) the Sumburgh Head Lighthouse & Visitor Centre opens for 2026.
I'm planning to be there to hear the iconic foghorn being sounded at 12 noon.

05/03/2026

The days are getting longer and it feels like spring is round the corner again. In about a month's time in early April we will see Puffins (known as "Tammie Norries" in Shetland) returning to the cliffs for another breading season.
Although it is much too early to expect them making landfall here in Shetland, I read reports yesterday of the first puffin of 2026 returning to Bempton Cliffs on the Yorkshire Coast in England.

Enjoying the view from the cliff tops. Even when just hanging around the puffins appear ever watchful to their surroundings.

27/01/2026

The last Tuesday of January is always 🔥Up Helly Aa 🔥day in Lerwick. I was fortunate to get a close up view of the Jarl Squad (just some of them!) when they visited the care home where my Mum stays. It is so good they come round and visit the care homes, schools and hospital during the day. Wishing all involved a very enjoyable day and night!

31/12/2025

The last sunset of 2025 over St. Ninian's Isle. Thanks to everyone who follows my occasional posts here and to all who have come on my tours this last year. Wishing you all a Happy New Year and best wishes for 2026! Looking forward to lots of tours again next season.
James.

26/11/2025

A stunning sunrise photo this morning by Steve Birrell Photography of Netheron, the main location for the current series of "Shetland." Episode 4 is on tonight, 9pm BBC1 here in the UK.

Red sky in the morning above Lunniswick (Netherton, Levenwick). There's been a murder, an attempted murder and a drug deal gone wrong in this picturesque little hamlet in these past few weeks......at least according to the latest "Shetland" series 😉.

19/11/2025

Feeding sheep today during the first snow of winter. The current snowy spell isn't expected to last very long.

11/11/2025

Lerwick Town Hall all lit up for Armistice day, 11th November. Lest we forget.

25/10/2025

Shetland returns to our TV screens on 5th November with series 10. One of the main filming locations this year was the hamlet of Netherton in Levenwick, which I am assuming will be "Lunniswick" in the show. Netherton features at the start of this trailer.

17/10/2025

I watched the Sunset over St. Ninian's Isle earlier this evening, the end of a glorious sunny day, exceptional for October in .

15/10/2025

Great news! My midder (mother) tongue, "Shaetlan" has now received formal international recognition as a language in it's own right.

SHAETLAN has finally been recognised as a language in its own right. The recognition comes after the local language was given its own ISO code by SIL Global,...

28/09/2025

Monday 29th September Day Tour - Including the Mousa Island Boat Trip

The end of September brings our main tourist season to a close and it's also the end of the season for The Mousa Boat which weather permitting will be running tomorrow (Monday) and Tuesday for their last runs of 2025.
I'm hoping to be on their Monday trip, part of a day tour that will also include a morning visit to Clickimin Broch in Lerwick, a visit Scalloway and Tingwall Valley in the afternoon after Mousa. So that's 2 brochs, a view of Castle & a Ting site (viking parliament) all in one day tour. I will be leaving Lerwick at 9.30am and returning about 5.00pm. A few seats left in the minibus so please message or call 07880 950228 for more info.

So we've almost reached the end of season '25. The next two days, Monday 29th and Tuesday 30th look promising for our last two sailings, but that can change. Please call for a weather update in the morning at 09:30.
*As stated these will be the last two sailing days of this season.*

04/09/2025

Common seal pup Leo, who is coming on really well at the . The staff there expect to be releasing him back to the sea in the coming weeks.
A stop at Hillswick is a regular feature on my North Mainland of Shetland day tour.