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Friday 31 August 2007

Visit Shetland Scotland


Visit Shetland, Scotland. Shetland is a chain of over one hundred islands to the north east of Scotland which stretches nearly ninety miles from Muckle Flugga in the north to Fair Isle in the south. Sumburgh Head is ninety miles from Caithness in Scotland, and about two hundred and ten miles from Aberdeen. The The Faroe Islands and Bergen are almost equidistant from Lerwick at about two hundred and fifty miles.

The islands were referred to by Vikings as Hjaltland, possibly because of their resemblance to a sword handle (ON hjalt), but the name may also refer to the earlier inhabitants, referred to as the Catts by the Picts, who called Shetland Innse Catt, or Islands of the Catts. Today the Viking influence remains strong, as most place names and many local expressions derive from Old Norse (ON). About 22,000 people inhabit 13 of the islands, with the majority of the population living on the Mainland. The main town and ferry port is Lerwick with a population of about 8,000.

From Orkney on a clear day Shetland appears as a series of hilltops on the horizon, Foula, Fitful Head and Fair Isle, and when approached from the sea they at first seem rocky and bleak, but on closer approach the landscape turns out to be much gentler than expected, with characteristic greens, blues and browns of land, sea and coast.

It is likely that Pytheas the Greek may have visited Shetland about 325BC during his voyage around Britain during which he established a latitude of 600, perhaps at Lerwick. Tacitus also refers to Thule, which was closely examined by the Romans when Agricola’s fleet circumnavigated Britain in AD83 after the victory at Mons Graupius.

There are many references to the islands in the Norse sagas, which date from the 13th century, and a few documents still exist going back to late Norse times, which shed interesting light on the social history of the area.

It was not until the 18th century, however, that detailed accounts began to be made about visits to the islands. In more recent times many eminent people have visited Shetland and a number have written in various terms about their experiences.

Over the years many local authors have written about their homeland, and the Shetland Times Bookshop always has a large selection of local books. The library in Lerwick has a good reference section for those wishing to consult the many books which are out of print. Shetland Museum has a large collection of old photographs, many of which may be seen on their website, while Shetland Archives is the place to research old documents.

The purpose of this Guide is to help visitors appreciate Shetland and enjoy their time here to the full. The idea is that the reader can assimilate information without effort and yet rapidly find out what they would most like to see and do, depending on interest, season or weather. There are so many interesting places to visit that a lifetime is not long enough!

Although the landscape is beautiful, there is history everywhere, and wildlife to rival anywhere on Earth, there is another aspect of the islands which is perhaps the most important and rewarding to get to know, the local people themselves. They are a friendly, hospitable people, proud of their past and at the same time go-ahead and industrious. Do not hesitate to ask the way, or about things, you are sure to get a courteous reply - and if you are lucky you might get a few good stories as well!

Maps are a great help on all such visits and the Tourist Board produces a useful one on a scale of 1:125,000. The Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 series covers Shetland in four sheets, and is recommended for all serious explorers. While some of the places mentioned in this book are signposted, most are not, and OS references are thus given for many sites of interest. The Shetland Guide Book.

Visit Shetland, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Thursday 30 August 2007

Visit Balloch Scotland


Visit Balloch, Loch Lomond, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Lauder Scotland


Visit Lauder, Scottish Borders, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Glengarnock Scotland


Visit Glengarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Loch Fyne Scotland


Visit Loch Fyne, Argyll, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Peterhead Scotland


Visit Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Aboyne Scotland


Visit Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Huntly Scotland


Visit Huntly, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Ellon Scotland


Visit Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.


Visit Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Island of Lewis Scotland


Visit Island of Lewis, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Iona Scotland


Visit Island of Iona Scotland.


Visit Iona, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Island of Barra Scotland


Visit Island of Barra, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Spean Bridge Scotland


Visit Spean Bridge, Highlands of Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Johnstone Scotland


Visit Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Newton Stewart Scotland


Visit Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Wednesday 29 August 2007

Visit Bridge of Orchy Scotland


Visit Bridge of Orchy, Argyll, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Tayvallich Scotland


Visit Tayvallich, Argyll, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Dunnet Head Scotland


Visit Dunnet Head, Scrabster, Thurso, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Corsock Scotland


Visit Corsock, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Corrie Scotland


Visit Corrie, Island of Arran, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Canty Bay Scotland


Visit Canty Bay, East Lothian, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Cambo Scotland


Visit Cambo, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Hawick Scotland


Visit Hawick, Scottish Borders, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Tuesday 28 August 2007

Visit Kirriemuir Scotland


Visit Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Markinch Scotland


Visit Markinch, Fife, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Lindores Scotland


Visit Lindores, Fife, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Lochcarron Scotland


Visit Lochcarron, Wester Ross, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Ascog Scotland


Visit Ascog, Isle of Bute, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Whiting Bay Scotland


Visit Whiting Bay, Arran, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Tour The Summer Isles Scotland


Tour The Summer Isles, North West Coast of Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Glamis Scotland


Visit Glamis, Angus, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Glendaruel Scotland


Visit Glendaruel, Argyll, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Inverae Minard Scotland


Visit Inverae Minard, Argyll, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Fort William Scotland


Visit Fort William, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Insch Scotland


Visit Insch, Garioch, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Lyne of Skene Scotland


Visit Lyne of Skene, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Ballater Scotland


Visit Ballater, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Alford Scotland


Visit Alford, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Pannanich Scotland


Visit Pannanich, Royal Deeside, Ballater, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Braemar Scotland


Visit Braemar, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Monday 27 August 2007

Visit Tongue Scotland


Visit Tongue, Sutherland, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Forfar Scotland


Visit Forfar, Angus, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Lochranza Scotland


Visit Lochranza, Island of Arran, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Larbert Scotland


Visit Larbert, Stirlingshire, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Slumbay Scotland


Visit Slumbay, Loch Carron, Wester Ross, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Sma Glen Scotland


Visit Sma Glen, Perthshire, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Visit Kirkton of Balquhidder Scotland


Visit Kirkton of Balquhidder, Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.