Exploring Shetland: A Paddleboarders Dream - July 2025

Written by Stuart Findlay

When Alasdair phoned to ask if I’d like to go with him to Shetland on one of his paddleboarding adventures it didn’t take long to say yes! I’d reached the age of 62 and never made it to the northernmost archipelago of Scotland. The gift of a Norwegian king back in the 1460s and never given back!

Eight of us gathered at Jamieson Quoy where the Lerwick ferry leaves Aberdeen harbour and prepared for our 16 hour journey. The company was excellent and the food very good accompanied by decent local ale. The crossing was very benign and some sleep was snatched through the night on the pod reclining seats. The bunk type accommodation at Anderson high school lodge was ideal for this type of trip.

The adventure began on day one with a trip up to Rona’s Voe on the northwest of mainland. The paddle along this rocky part of the coast was spectacular with beautiful colours of sea and cliff with many caves to explore. Daniel even gave us a rendition of ‘ By yon bonnie banks’ in a cave from his board. His voice is worth hearing!

I shuttled across on the rib to Shetland’s longest beach, Da Lang Ayre, with its backdrop of red granite cliffs and the odd stray sheep. This is a very inaccessible part of the island that is a days hike in so was fantastic to see it by the water. The stronger paddlers had managed this under their own steam in relatively strong paddleboarding winds. Very impressive! Having the boat as backup was a very worthy addition that made the trip enjoyable and accessible even for a novice paddler like myself!

Then to the Eshaness cliffs of very grand proportions and fish and chips at the famous Frankie’s. The northern most chippy in Great Britain. Exploration of Lerwick in the evening revealed the Noost bar.. a lively if somewhat noisy establishment.

Day 2 and we were off to Vementry island with challenging choppy conditions for less strong paddlers like me but no bother for the stronger lot! After the greeting by Shetland ponies at the beginning, old WW2 guns were investigated midway. We enjoyed hand dived Shetland scallops on the beach! Delicious. A sole minke whale approached us on this day. Alan missed it as he was away trying to fish for a mackerel! He did however catch one so we enjoyed that for our main course after the starter of scallops. 🤤

On leaving the sea we passed by The Cake Fridge honesty shop near Aith. The recommendation of the Saffron Indian restaurant was an excellent one for dinner and all eight paddlers enjoyed the Asian food and ale. We’d worked up the appetite. Daniel even treated us to more singing in the Marlex pub across the road.

Day 3 involved a trip south to Scousburgh sands from which the three strongest paddlers managed to power through a two metre swell to arrive at St Ninian’s  island’s tombolo beach. The others had managed Scousburgh bay which was calmer and I had a ‘dry’ day with Nick our local boatman. Some SUP surfing was managed on the aforesaid beach with a very enjoyable hour in and out of a travelling beach sauna.

The trip was nearing its end and we travelled back on the 6pm ferry with another very calm crossing and views west to Fair isle as we sailed south.

If this description even gives a flavour of the trip then job done. If you get the chance to go on one of Glasgow Paddleboarders Co, Shetland adventures do not hesitate to say YES!

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Trips in 2026 are organised now.

June 17-21

July 21-26

Please get in touch for more info. Limited places available. Get in quick before it sells out.