It was praised by the magazine for its spectacular beauty spots and amazing seafood.This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
It is a great place to see puffins up close.(Image: Richard McManus / Getty Images)
A group of islands have been named by National Geographic as the best to “celebrate midsummer”. The legendary travel magazine praised the archipelago for its dazzling cliffs and glens that are dotted with lochs, as well as its breathtaking walks and mouthwatering seafood.
On Sunday, May 3, National Geographic published an article detailing the Scottish islands that “celebrate midsummer like nowhere else”. According to the magazine, Shetland is the best place in Scotland to visit at the height of summer for those looking for a scenic adventure.
Shetland is an archipelago in Scotland situated between Orkney, the Faroe Islands, and Norway that is home to a population of around 23,200 spread out across 16 inhabited islands. It is the northernmost region in the whole of the United Kingdom, and is accessible only via ferry or plane.
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One attraction that was recommended by National Geographic is Sea Kayak Shetland on the Mainland island, which allows visitors to explore Shetland’s coastline first-hand in peace and quiet led by a qualified expert. The magazine also praised the The Swan, which is a 126-year-old ship that runs a service to the islands of Yell, Unst, and Fetlar.
National Geographic highlighted Unst, which is the most northern of the inhabited British Isles, as among the top destinations in the Shetland Islands. The third-biggest island in the archipelago after the Mainland and Yell, Unst was noted for the Hermaness National Nature Reserve that is famous for its puffin-spotting opportunities and mesmerising coastal views.
Puffins at Hermaness(Image: James Warwick / Getty Images)
According to National Geographic, Shetland also has a thriving culinary scene that is especially renowned for its fished and foraged produce. Visitors can enjoy fresh oysters, scallops, salmon, mackerel, and mussels on menus across the archipelago, as well as lamb and mutton.
National Geographic singled out the island chain’s main town of Lerwick as a standout destination when it comes to food in Shetland, highlighting The Dowry café and bar on Commercial Street that serves up separate breakfast, day, and evening menus. Fjarå Cafe Bar is another venue that earned praise from the magazine, noted for its freshly ground coffee and incredible sea views.
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National Geographic wrote: “Sprinkled across the wave-ruffled Atlantic and North Sea, the Shetland Islands drift midway between Scotland and Norway like stepping stones to a wilder world. Prehistoric settlements, Iron Age brochs and turf-roofed Viking longhouses map out the archipelago’s rich and mysterious past in lichen-mottled stone.
“Its white cliffs and loch-bejewelled glens are at their most radiant during the months of da simmer dim, a period around the June solstice when the sun barely dips below the horizon, bathing everything in dreamlike pastels.”
National Geographic praised Shetland’s “loch-bejewelled glens”(Image: mcKensa / Getty Images)
If you are interested in travelling to Shetland, Northlink Ferries operates an overnight service between Aberdeen and Lerwick, with a fleet of 12 ferries connecting to outlying islands. According to National Geographic, driving around Shetland is “peaceful” and visitors can rent a car in Lerwick.
One of the most popular accommodation options in Lerwick is The Grand Hotel, which offers free parking and comfortable en-suite rooms in a historic building. Through Booking.com, visitors can currently book an overnight stay for two people at the hotel for as little as £276.
The guest rooms at The Grand Hotel feature private bathrooms with baths and showers, carpeted floors, televisions, electric kettles, and wardrobes, while family rooms are also available. On Booking.com, the hotel has an overall rating of 7.6 out of 10 and has been described as “comfortable” and “clean” in reviews.
Elsewhere, one of the top-rated accommodation options in Lerwick on Booking.com is the Norlande guest house. The guest house, which is found in a central location, has an overall rating of 9.0 out of 10 based on 442 reviews—with visitors praising it as “exceptional” and “the most perfect wee place”.
Norlande features rooms that come with private bathrooms, tea and coffee makers, and free Wi-Fi, while other amenities include a washing machine, a kitchen, and a dining area. An overnight stay for two at the guest house can be booked through Booking.com for £125.
More information can be found on the National Geographic website.