Get active in Shetland this winter

Discover varied landscapes and miles of unspoilt coastline - and with a mild climate in winter there’s no shortage of exciting outdoor events to pursue in Shetland.

 

Shetland is a popular destination for watersports, with surfing in Sumburgh and windsurfing favoured around the west coast, particularly around Sandness and Sandwick. Weather permitting, the clear waters of Shetland’s shores attract divers keen to explore underwater stacks, cliffs and caves, not to mention the fascinating sea life.

 

With more than a thousand miles of road to explore, Shetland offers everything you could hope for on a cycling trip, giving easy access to the islands’ many attractions and sea views. Cycling lends itself well to a spot of island hopping, with the convenient and regular inter-island ferry service.

 

If fishing is more your thing, Shetland has it all with the choice of loch fishing across more than 300 lochs and sea angling . The brown trout season ends in October and begins again in March but salmon fishing peaks over October and November and there is still the opportunity to catch salmon and sea trout throughout the year. Girlsta Loch - Shetland’s largest and deepest loch - is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the only loch in Shetland where you can catch Arctic char.

 

For those keen to stay indoors, Shetland has a fantastic range of leisure facilities. The Clickimin Leisure Centre in Lerwick offers everything required to keep the whole family occupied, from a swimming pool and squash courts to a health suite. There are smaller - but modern and fully equipped - leisure centres across the isles.