The great metropolis that is London is undoubtedly a fantastic place to live with its cultural panacea and high octane feel – but sometimes we all need a little break from the rat race to sit back and enjoy some R&R. If you’re looking to do your own escape to the country, then the Shetland Islands are the perfect place to head to. Sitting 800 miles from London is a tiny island called Unst, which you’ve probably never heard of. It’s the most remote island of Shetland – you literally cannot go any further in the UK. Next stop Norway! It’s the absolute end of every Great North road in Britain and boasts the northernmost of everything, from RAF bases to tearooms. Unst is easily among the most spectacularly beautiful and interesting islands within Europe and well worth a visit.

BOTANICAL GREENS UNFORGETTABLE UNST If it’s quiet, relaxed beauty in a remote location that you’re after – then you’ll find it on Unst. There are only 700 permanent residents – easily outnumbered by the flocks of sheep covering the hills. Unst stretches just twelve miles from end to end, and at just five miles wide, it’s very remote, rural feel comes from these rolling hills, hidden beaches and clifftop walks, where you are more likely to see puffins than people. You’ll find a variety of heathery hills in Unst (covered in sheep!) and rough, uneven sea stacks beneath stunning cliffs. Within low, rocky shores there are plenty of remote, sheltered inlets – some only reached by boat – plus a plethora of freshwater lochs and farmland to support the demands of the island. What you will not see is a single tree on the island. The salt from the sea and an inhospitable ground mean that no trees can flourish here. Along this beautiful, varied landscape there is a rich variety of wildlife, plus the famous, purebred Shetland ponies. These equine inhabitants don’t stop with roaming the common grazing lands, they are also often found roaming the roads! It’s not uncommon to have to stop and wait for sheep or ponies to move out of your way; it’s delightfully ‘auld worlde’ and representative of the quiet, laidback way of life on Unst. If you’re a walker, Unst is one of the best places in Scotland to do this, with its moorland walks, meandering coastal paths and trails, all within stunning scenery. There are lots of trails across this island which have been created especially for walkers of all abilities. Within the Saxa Vord resort there’s also a room dedicated solely for walkers and giving you all of the necessary information. In the Hermaness nature reserve, there are some rare arctic-alpine plants on the Keen of Hamar to see, plus loch-angling and some inviting coastal walks. This is a particularly beautiful spot to visit.

And it’s not just aesthetics that recommend this island – Unst is also steeped in centuries of history. The Boat Haven is Shetland’s only museum to be dedicated to the fishing history of the island. You can learn about the line fishermen and see examples of their distinctive wooden boats which were in use as recently as the beginning of the 20th century. If that whets your appetite, leaving you eager for more, then you’ll find further boat history from a visit to Unst marina in Baltasound which should satisfy. There’s also the ‘Far Haaf’ to see, a replica of the old sixareen (six oars) style boat. The Unst Heritage Centre tells the fascinating story of the islanders’ struggle for existence over the centuries and how it has also played an important role in supporting our nation’s defences. The remains of a very early, Second World War radar station can still be seen, and the MOD radar is visible from most of the island, resting as it does at the top of Saxa Vord.
AND – SEEING AS IT’S THE VERY FAR NORTH – WHAT IS THERE TO DO IF IT’S BAD WEATHER? Being this far north, having a choice of indoor activities is a must. You can pick from: • Belmont, the nation’s most northerly stately home which can be viewed by prior arrangement. • In season, the RAF museum at Saxa Vord sits alongside both a bar, and restaurant, as well as the ‘Walkers are Welcome’ visitor centre. • For gin aficionados, the Shetland reel distillery is definitely somewhere to pop into. Visits can be arranged in advance to enjoy its tasting room and to have a tour of the gin-making process. • For truly rubbish weather days, you can head to the surprisingly modern Unst Leisure Centre which has a gym, squash courts, pool table and heated indoor swimming pool. • The fantastic Victoria’s Vintage Tearoom is the only café on the island but only open at certain times around the tourist season so do your research before pitching up here.
There are two ways of getting to Unst, you can fly – or you can drive. Flights are not direct, but from London you have Heathrow on your doorstep. Flying to Glasgow or Edinburgh and then onto the very tiny airport of Sumburgh on Unst doesn’t need to be a hassle. Driving to Shetland is slightly more challenging, involving a nine hour drive to Aberdeen, a 12 hour overnight ferry crossing and then a couple more hours of driving and two small ferry rides to hop from the mainland to the island of Yell and from there to your final destination. Unst is easily the most beautiful jewel in Shetland’s remote crown.