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Day 1 - The Mainland
Collection from Accommodation
Collection from Accommodation
Collection from Accommodation
Wherever in Shetland you happen to be staying, Jon will collect you from there to start your tour, and will drop you off there again at the end of the day. Please note, accommodation is not booked or provided by Adventure Shetland
Jarlshof
Collection from Accommodation
Collection from Accommodation
We begin with arguably Shetland's most well-known archaeological site, for a full overview of the history of the islands, including the Viking arrival in Shetland and what happened to the existing population when they got here!
St Ninian's Isle
Collection from Accommodation
St Ninian's Isle
We then explore the stunning scenery at St Ninian's Isle, with it's famous Tombolo beach, and take a walk over to the ruined chapel and the discovery site of the St Ninian's Isle Treasure - a silver hoard which may have been hidden to protect it during a Viking raid!
Lunch
Lerwick Town Hall and the Dim Riv
St Ninian's Isle
Some would say this is the most important part of the day! We'll stop off at a local cafe along the way for a spot of lunch and a chance to relax and take in what we've seen in the morning. If we have time and you still have the energy, we may take in a visit to the Viking soapstone quarry at Catpund (pictured).
Lerwick Town Hall and the Dim Riv
Lerwick Town Hall and the Dim Riv
Lerwick Town Hall and the Dim Riv
After a morning of archaeology, we spend the afternoon looking at how the Vikings have impacted on Shetland in the modern day, and what role they play in Shetland identity today. The replica longship the Dim Riv, which spends the summer in Lerwick harbour, and the stunning stained glass windows of the Town Hall are the perfect place to do so!
Up Helly Aa Exhibition
Lerwick Town Hall and the Dim Riv
Lerwick Town Hall and the Dim Riv
We finish up our day with the fun and frolics of Up Helly Aa! Shetland's fire festivals celebrating our Viking past are held from January to March, but Adventure Shetland has exclusive access to the Up Helly Aa Exhibition in Lerwick, where Jon can regale you with his own experiences and involvement with the festival.
Day 2 - Viking Unst
Ferries! Lots of Ferries!
Ferries! Lots of Ferries!
Ferries! Lots of Ferries!
After collection from your accommodation (not provided) we'll drive to Toft for our first ferry crossing (20 minutes) to the island of Yell, followed by another half hour drive and a second ferry (5-10 minutes) which takes us to Unst. We'll return via these 2 ferries as well, later in the day.
Underhoull
Ferries! Lots of Ferries!
Ferries! Lots of Ferries!
Our first visit of the day is to the Viking longhouse site at Underhoull. Your guide Jon spent his summers here in 2007/8 excavating the house, and provides unparalleled insight into the findings from the dig. We'll also take a look at the Iron Age broch next to the house and enjoy the views it provides too.
St Olaf's Kirk, Lund
Ferries! Lots of Ferries!
Brookpoint Reconstructions
From the Underhoull broch we can see the ruins of St Olaf's Kirk at Lund, and this is our next stop.
Originally built in the 12th Century, the chapel contains some really interesting features, including a possible Pictish carving, and several Norse graves surrounding it.
Brookpoint Reconstructions
Brookpoint Reconstructions
Brookpoint Reconstructions
We then travel to the north of the island to explore the reconstructed longhouse and replica longship at Brookpoint.
The house is based on those excavated in the island from 2006-10, and the ship is a full-size replica of the Gokstad ship from Norway and was built in Sweden.
I find these really help the mind's eye in visualising the 'real' archaeology as it would have been 1000 years ago.
Easting Beach
Brookpoint Reconstructions
Framgord Chapel
After stopping for lunch at a local cafe, we start to make our way south again, stopping off at the Easting Beach for a stroll among the smorgasbord of archaeology that exists here!
Iron Agre ruins, Pictish burials, trading booths from the Middle Ages, cleared crofting settlements - there's been a lot going on here.
Our focus is on the Viking longhouse, which appears to solve the mystery of narrow byre entrances with it's cow-shaped door!
Framgord Chapel
Brookpoint Reconstructions
Framgord Chapel
At the north end of the Easting beach, we find the remains of the Framgord Chapel, again built in the 1100s as we saw at Lund.
Here at Framgord we also have a proliferation of Norse period graves, including several keel-stones as well as a few cross slabs.
The one pictured above is maybe the most iconic, with a cross symbol carved in relief to stand out from the cross-shaped grave marker.
Then it's time to head for home again!