WELCOME to our islands and to the online edition of Shetland Visitor 2011.

This magazine is produced in the hope that it will help you get the most out of your stay in Shetland by giving details of travel, accommodation, shopping and services, activities and events, as well as some information on the islands, their history, people, wildlife and culture.

SHETLAND’S 100 scattered islands lie at a crossroads of the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean and, although one of the remotest parts of Britain, are easily accessible. Daily flights and ferries operate throughout the year and provide convenient connections from and to the British mainland and beyond.

A VARIED range of accommodation is available throughout Shetland, from Fair Isle in the south to Unst in the north and from Skerries in the east to Papa Stour and Foula out west.

As the countdown begins for The Tall Ships Races 2011, Shetland and its islands are gearing up for one of the most fantastic spectacles in the maritime calendar.

Visitors from all over the world will flock to Shetland to watch as up to 70 vessels sail into its ports to join the fun, festivities and celebrations that will give centre stage to the beautiful town of Lerwick.

Shetland’s ‘larder’ contains an increasing and surprising selection of tasty, fresh produce, either to purchase for cooking yourself, or prepared for you in one of the varied selection of ‘eating-out’ establishments. From fishmongers, butchers, the local dairy, and the new cheese creamery to crofters, market gardeners, chip shops and restaurateurs, local suppliers offer plenty of choice to stop you going hungry.

SHETLAND can boast a wealth of talented knitters, craft makers, artists and photographers who are engaged in producing various quality items for both the local and tourist markets. Work is available direct from the makers or from local shops, websites, craft fairs, markets and gallery outlets.

TODAY’S visitors to Shetland can experience a wide range of musical genres, not just the fiddle music for which the islands are probably best known. Besides that, still very popular, tradition, you can enjoy jazz, blues, country, Scottish dance and various versions of pop and rock. The islands have a choral society, a brass band and a pipe band, choirs and classical music groups, and even an African drum group, who all enjoy their own special kind of music and encourage anyone with an interest to come and take part or just listen.

TO GET the most out of a holiday in Shetland you should try to fit in a trip with a guide who knows the local history and folklore, or the best places for wildlife watching, trout angling, walking or just sight-seeing, both on land and from the sea.

ON the trail of heritage centres, museums, cultural exhibitions and history groups you will discover the magical story of Shetland, its history, its people and traditions. The network provides an insight into the lives and livelihoods of the islanders from prehistoric times to the present day.

FOR THE visiting naturalist or wildlife enthusiast the Shetland Islands offer truly unparalleled opportunities and experiences. Few places in the British Isles host such a uniquely diverse and truly awe inspiring area of wildlife; some of the country’s rarest breeding moorland bird species, intensely busy seabird colonies of major national and international importance, the highest density of otters in Europe, breathtaking displays of wild flowers and, of course, regular summer killer whale sightings. All of these exhilarating spectacles can be encountered and enjoyed in the isles, some with effort, some with patience, some with luck, but rest assured none will be forgotten!