Sheepdog demonstrations, Shetland pony and sheep encounters, and orca spotting at a Shetland croft.
Deep in the coastal wilds of northwestern Shetland, you’ll spend half a day getting an immersive experience of life on a working sheep croft — traditional small, tenanted land holdings — particular to Scotland and its islands. You’ll have a personal tour from husband and wife crofters David and Isla, whose croft has been in their family for over 100 years. They’ll welcome you into their home with tea and cake, and you’ll meet their pet beagle and Shetland sheepdog.
Once the introductions are over, you’ll leave the farmhouse for a walking tour around the croft, stopping to meet, photograph, and groom the family’s herd of Shetland ponies. David is an award-winning sheepdog trainer and he’ll give you a detailed herding demonstration, talking you through the different skill set of each dog as he explains the training process. You’ll then head out by 4x4 to a more remote area of the croft to watch the dogs herd sheep in a wilder environment.
After watching the dogs work, you’ll visit the remains of Fethaland — once the largest and most northerly haaf (deep-sea) fishing settlement on mainland Shetland. David’s grandfather lived and worked here in one of the low drystone huts topped with wood and turf roofs, known as blackhouses, and you can still see the remains of these lodgings today. Fethaland overlooks a bay that’s sometimes frequented by orcas, so it’s well worth scanning the horizon for their sleek black-and-white figures before you head back to the farmhouse.
Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our Scotland specialists
These activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences around where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can suggest tours and activities that will introduce you to the local ways of life.
Seabird-spotting boat trip in Shetland
Skippered by a passionate naturalist, you’ll motor on a small boat between the seasonal nesting colonies of visiting seabirds. Expect to see the airborne mastery of gannets, and puffins peering from their clifftop burrows, while looking out for passing whales.
