Sumburgh Head Bird Cliffs and Lighthouse
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Port
Lerwick, Shetland Islands, United Kingdom
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Activity Level
Moderate Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$130
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 3½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Depart through Lerwick, the capital of Shetland, as you begin your trip to the island’s most southerly point. On the drive south, conditions permitting, you will pause to admire the view of the magnificent Mousa Broch, the tallest and best preserved of all brochs in the world. You will continue down the west coast, hopefully see some seals at Rerwick, and perhaps catch a glimpse of St Ninian’s Isle where the famous Pictish horde of silver dating from the 9th Century was found in 1958.
Continue south to the RSPB Reserve at Sumburgh Head where you will see Shetland’s first lighthouse, built in 1821 by Robert Stevenson. The cliffs around Sumburgh Head are on the southernmost tip of Mainland Shetland and attract thousands of seabirds, including puffins, guillemots, shags and fulmars. Gannets are regularly seen offshore too. The seabird breeding season, May to mid-August, is the only time to visit Sumburgh Head for this spectacular show. Each species of seabird has its special nesting place on the cliffs. Our guide will be knowledgeable about Shetland’s bird life and will further enhance our visit.
The seas here are home to various animals and you may be lucky enough to see harbour porpoises (neesicks), white beaked dolphins and whales – killer, minke and even humpback whales are sometimes seen. Common seals often haul themselves out onto the rocks.
During your tour you will also be able to visit the world class Sumburgh Head Visitor Centre, where you will explore the history and natural heritage of Sumburgh Head; from the early Iron Age settlers to the Lighthouse Keepers who used to keep mariners safe while living on this fascinating site.
After your time here, we will return to Lerwick with our guide telling us more about these islands as we look out for Shetland’s famous ponies on the way.