Last updated on January 1st, 2026 at 01:08 pm
Having been lucky enough to visit Shetland nearly 30 times over the last 4 years I have got to know lots of great people and businesses.
Here’s my list of Shetland recommended local contacts.
These are all people and places I know very well.
Table of Contents
👇 My Favourite Travel Resources 👇
- Trivago – I’m getting fab deals here! 🏨
- Booking.com 🛌
- Trip.com – great flight deals & offers 🛬
- Kayak Flights – great for research 🛬
- 10-30% Off Priority Pass Airport Lounges 🛫
- All My Favourite Travel Gear 🧳
- I’m also an Independent Travel Agent 👍
- Coverwise Insurance – great value cover 🌍
- Medical Insurance – compare quickly here 🏥
- Cruise Insurance – compare quickly here🚢
- Get Your Guide – great activities all over 🚴
- Viator – lots of activities here too
- Discover Hire Cars – deals around the world🚗
- All My Travel Tools – everything I use 🌏
Sumburgh Head Lighthouse
- A fascinating place to visit and an amazing view from the cafe area. You can even stay there too!
- Sumburgh Head Lighthouse
Hoswick Visitor Centre
- I always try and squeeze in a visit to Hoswick when I am in Shetland. There is a lovely cafe that does sassermaet rolls and bannocks for a taste of something local too.
- Hoswick Visitor Centre
Shetland Resources
- My Shetland Image Gallery – just browse or order an image for yourself
- Shetland Travel Essentials – all the things you need to visit Shetland including midge spray!
- Shetland Local Contacts – all my tried and trusted local contacts
- Shetland Merchandise – great products to show your love for Shetland
Shetland Museum
- This museum is always a hit with guests. It’s well laid out, always has great temporary exhibitions too and has lovely staff.
- Shetland Museum
Speldiburn Cafe
- It is well worth taking the ferry across to Bressay just to visit this cafe! Beatrice makes the most amazing cakes and soups. It’s also a popular stop after the most Northerly park run in the UK.
- Speldiburn Cafe
Da Haaf Restaurant Scalloway
- This restaurant is always busy with locals and always a hit with my groups too. Run by a lovely couple, it has a great selection of fish dishes, including fish macaroni!
- Da Haaf Restaurant Scalloway
Kergord Hatchery Bookshop
- This is a great bookshop with a fab selection of used books on a huge range of subjects. There is always a friendly welcome and always something to buy!
- Kergord Hatchery Bookshop
Frankies Fish and Chips
- Not only is this the most Northerly Fish and Chip restaurant in the UK it’s also one of the best. Mussels are always popular too
- Frankies Fish and Chips
Mareel Arts Venue and Cinema
- The Mareel is the UK’s most Northerly cinema. It shows a great selection of films and has lots of other events and activities too.
- Mareel Arts Venue and Cinema
Busta House Hotel
- This is one of my favourite hotels anywhere, not just in Shetland. I love the welcome, the nooks and crannies, the comfy beds and rooms, the great food and the amazing trees
- Busta House Hotel
Garths Croft Bressay
- If you want to see native Shetland sheep, visit a Polycrub and learn what it is like to live on Shetland then a visit to Garths Croft is essential
- Garths Croft Bressay
Shetland News Bookshop
- I love this bookshop. They always have a great selection of womens history/feminist books too
- Shetland News Bookshop
Braewick Cafe
- This great cafe has amazing views across The Drongs sea stacks. It also has a great menu with friendly service. There are glamping pods if you want to the stay there also.
- Braewick Cafe
Shetland With Laurie
- Laurie Goodlad is a tour guide, writer and now guide book publisher too. Check out her blog for lots of great information including a fab podcast and a link to buy her beautiful book too.
- Shetland With Laurie
Jamiesons
- For everything wool related including great wooly Fair Isle jumpers check out Jamiesons. Everything in the shop is made from Shetland wool.
- Jamiesons
Carols Shetland Ponies
- Carol has been breeding Shetland ponies for many years. She also keeps a flock of sheep on the hills around the house where she lives.
- Carols Shetland Ponies
Breckenlea Croft
- If you want to see Shetland ponies, sheep, and Shetland sheepdogs up close then Breckenlea is a must.
- Breckenlea Croft
The Original Cake Fridge
- The original cake fridge in Shetland. It’s now much more than a fridge, with a outdoor seating area, cafe and gift shop too. A recent addition is a shop in Lerwick as well.
- The Original Cake Fridge
Jarlshof
- The first time I went to Jarlshof I cried because I could almost feel the history coming out of the stones. It’s a fab site whether you are interested in archaelogy or not.
- Jarlshof
Shetland Resources
- My Shetland Image Gallery – just browse or order an image for yourself
- Shetland Travel Essentials – all the things you need to visit Shetland including midge spray!
- Shetland Local Contacts – all my tried and trusted local contacts
- Shetland Merchandise – great products to show your love for Shetland
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