Tour summary & highlights
1 day tour / Shetland North Isles / Unst & the Hermaness national nature reserve
Unst, Hermaness national nature reserve cliff walk (April to August with seabirds), Unst boat haven & museum, Haroldswick, Norwick beach, Baltasound, Uyeasund & more
After picking you up from your accommodation these will be some of the places we will be visiting:
- After we pick you up we take a scenic route north along some voes and fjords to Toft.
- At Toft we cross over the Yell Sound to Yell, the first of our 2 North Isles.
- When driving along Yell’s Westcoast we get great coastal views out west towards the Northmavine.
- We pass the Mid-Yell and Basta Voe northeast towards Gutcher from where we catch the ferry from Yell to Unst across the Blue Mull Sound from where we regularly spot marine wildlife.
- On Unst “the island above all” we head straight to our main destination – the Hermaness national nature reserve for our most dramatic coastal cliff top walks with views of the Muckle Flugga house, seastacks and sheer cliffs with 10,000s of breeding seabirds from late April to early August.
- Our cliff top walk at the Hermaness national nature reserve is our main destination for the day and depending on the time of year, the weather and how long you wish to walk for, we can either keep that walk longer or shorter.
- After returning from our walk we head to Norwick or even as far as Skaw beach.
- In Haroldswick you can visit the Unst Heritage centre (£4/2025) and Unst boat haven (£3/2025) and the Viking house & longboat.
- If there is still more time left on Unst before our ferry back, we can explore Baltasound & the Keen of Hamar – Lunda Wick & the Standing Stone – Uyeasound & Muness castle before our ferry from Belmont/Unst across the Bluemull Sound back to Yell.
- Time permitting we can travel back on Yell’s east side via Aywick and Burravoe before catching the Ulsta/Yell to Toft/Shetland mainland ferry back.
- On our return back on the Shetland mainland, we aim to take you on a different and new route back, if there is any time left.
At the end of the short day tour we drop you back off again at any place you prefer.
- This tour can also be turned into a longer multi-day tour and can also be easily combined with any other of our Shetland itineraries.
Hermaness national nature reserve – Unst – Shetland Isles
Hermaness national nature reserve – Unst – Shetland Isles – Visit Scotland
Unst & Yell – National Trust for Scotland
Tour itinerary
1 day tour / Shetland North Isles / Unst & the Hermaness national nature reserve
Unst, Hermaness national nature reserve cliff walk (April to August with seabirds), Unst boat haven & museum, Haroldswick, Norwick beach, Baltasound, Uyeasund & more
After picking you up from your accommodation these will be some of the places we will be visiting:
- After we pick you up we take a scenic route north along some voes and fjords to Toft.
- At Toft we cross over the Yell Sound to Yell, the first of our 2 North Isles.
- When driving along Yell’s Westcoast we get great coastal views out west towards the Northmavine.
- We pass the Mid-Yell and Basta Voe northeast towards Gutcher from where we catch the ferry from Yell to Unst across the Blue Mull Sound from where we regularly spot marine wildlife.
- On Unst “the island above all” we head straight to our main destination – the Hermaness national nature reserve for our most dramatic coastal cliff top walks with views of the Muckle Flugga house, seastacks and sheer cliffs with 10,000s of breeding seabirds from late April to early August.
- Our cliff top walk at the Hermaness national nature reserve is our main destination for the day and depending on the time of year, the weather and how long you wish to walk for, we can either keep that walk longer or shorter.
- After returning from our walk we head to Norwick or even as far as Skaw beach.
- In Haroldswick you can visit the Unst Heritage centre (£4/2024) and Unst boat haven (£3/2024) and the Viking house & longboat.
- If there is still more time left on Unst before our ferry back, we can explore Baltasound & the Keen of Hamar – Lunda Wick & the Standing Stone – Uyeasound & Muness castle before our ferry from Belmont/Unst across the Bluemull Sound back to Yell.
- Time permitting we can travel back on Yell’s east side via Aywick and Burravoe before catching the Ulsta/Yell to Toft/Shetland mainland ferry back.
- On our return back on the Shetland mainland, we aim to take you on a different and new route back, if there is any time left.
At the end of the short day tour we drop you back off again at any place you prefer.
- This tour can also be turned into a longer multi-day tour and can also be easily combined with any other of our Shetland itineraries.
Hermaness national nature reserve – Unst – Shetland Isles
Hermaness national nature reserve – Unst – Shetland Isles – Visit Scotland
Unst & Yell – National Trust for Scotland
Tour price per person
£45 per person (£39 per student) + internal Shetland Isles ferries (in 2025 it was about £3 return pp)
Extra costs & ferry info (if applicable)
The Shetland Isles intenral ferries return per footpassenger is £2.80 (for the 4 ferry rides from the Shetland mainland – Yell – Unst – Yell – Shetland mainland) in total
Early booking discounts
for
2 – 7 day tours
Scottish Islands & off the beaten track best of Scotland (with a per person price)
Read more
| Book multi-day tours 3 months+ early | 15% per person discount | 25% per student discount |
| Book multi-day tours 2 months+ early | 10% per person discount | 20% per student discoun |
| Book multi-day tours 1 month+ early | 5 % per person discount | 15% per student discount |
| Book multi-day tours 2 weeks+ early | 10% per student discount | |
| If you book your tour only a few days before departure, Coast, sea Highlands & Islands - Unicorn Tours might not be able to assist you with your accommodation, especially during the peak summer holidays and for island accommodation, which tends to be busy and very limited | ||
| Book multi-day tours 8 day+ early Book multi-day tours within 7 days of departure | Only applies for mid-semester tours Students 5% off the pp price | |
| 1 day tours - Scottish islands & off the beaten track | 15% student discount off the per person price | |
| Winter ½ day tours from Stirling & the Uni | 25% student discount off the per person price | |
| Walks with transport from Stirling | 25% student discount off the per person price |
Tour links
Tour options
Free time & activities
Hermaness national nature reserve – walk, cliff top coastal scenery & seabird colony watching
Beach walks (optional)
Unst & boathaven museum (optional)
Tour pick up/start & tour joining places along the route
pick ups and drop offs:
- from anywhere on the Shetland mainland, any accommodation, incl. Lerwick, Sumburgh airport and the Northlink ferry terminal, bus station
- Toft/ferryterminal to Yell – Shetland mainland
- Anywhere on Yell, incl. the Ulsta & Gutcher ferryterminals
- anywhere on Unst
- Laxo ferryterminal to Whalsay
- Vidlin ferryterminal to the Out Skerries
Enquiries & bookings – contact@unicorntours.co.uk
contact@unicorntours.co.uk
Tour status
Minimum number has not yet been reached
Booking deadline
Only applicable for 2 days & longer tours
Day by day tour
itinerary & overnight accommodation:
1 day tour / Shetland North Isles / Unst & the Hermaness national nature reserve
Unst, Hermaness national nature reserve cliff walk (April to August with seabirds), Unst boat haven & museum, Haroldswick, Norwick beach, Baltasound, Uyeasund & more
After picking you up from your accommodation these will be some of the places we will be visiting:
- After we pick you up we take a scenic route north along some voes and fjords to Toft.
- At Toft we cross over the Yell Sound to Yell, the first of our 2 North Isles.
- When driving along Yell’s Westcoast we get great coastal views out west towards the Northmavine.
- We pass the Mid-Yell and Basta Voe northeast towards Gutcher from where we catch the ferry from Yell to Unst across the Blue Mull Sound from where we regularly spot marine wildlife.
- On Unst “the island above all” we head straight to our main destination – the Hermaness national nature reserve for our most dramatic coastal cliff top walks with views of the Muckle Flugga house, seastacks and sheer cliffs with 10,000s of breeding seabirds from late April to early August.
- Our cliff top walk at the Hermaness national nature reserve is our main destination for the day and depending on the time of year, the weather and how long you wish to walk for, we can either keep that walk longer or shorter.
- After returning from our walk we head to Norwick or even as far as Skaw beach.
- In Haroldswick you can visit the Unst Heritage centre (£4/2025) and Unst boat haven (£3/2025) and the Viking house & longboat.
- If there is still more time left on Unst before our ferry back, we can explore Baltasound & the Keen of Hamar – Lunda Wick & the Standing Stone – Uyeasound & Muness castle before our ferry from Belmont/Unst across the Bluemull Sound back to Yell.
- Time permitting we can travel back on Yell’s east side via Aywick and Burravoe before catching the Ulsta/Yell to Toft/Shetland mainland ferry back.
- On our return back on the Shetland mainland, we aim to take you on a different and new route back, if there is any time left.
At the end of the short day tour we drop you back off again at any place you prefer.
- This tour can also be turned into a longer multi-day tour and can also be easily combined with any other of our Shetland itineraries.
Hermaness national nature reserve – Unst – Shetland Isles
Hermaness national nature reserve – Unst – Shetland Isles – Visit Scotland
Unst & Yell – National Trust for Scotland
also see these private tours we offer:
Shetland Isles – including private 1, 2 & 3 day tours
Private 1 day tour prices (for a group of up to 8) – Unicorn Tours
More pick up options for this tour