The best cycling routes around Sandness And Walls

Great second-hand bookshop. They'll also make you a cuppa while the mill cafe over the road is being refurbished. They're only open Thursday to Sunday - more info can be found here: https://hatcherybookshop.kergord.co.uk/

There aren't that many cafes on Shetland so if it's open when you're cycling past, definitely stop off for some cake!

Fantastic views and lovely smooth tarmac. A real joy to ride.

Staneydale “Temple,” dating back 2,000–3,000 years, lies in one of the few parts of Shetland where the sea is out of sight. Its purpose remains uncertain—it may have been a ritual site, a chieftain’s house, or a kind of communal hall—but its construction was an impressive feat. Massive stones, some weighing up to 300 kg, were likely transported from afar. Inside, two large postholes contained charred spruce timbers—trees neither native to Shetland nor even Scotland—suggesting the wood was imported from Scandinavia or gathered as driftwood. Archaeologists estimate the vast roof would have needed about 700 metres of timber, remarkable for a treeless landscape even 4,000 years ago. Maintained by Historic Scotland, but free to enter, it’s about 1/2 mile walk from the road.

The whole length of this road is an absolute joy to ride and definitely worth turning off the main road for. Long stretches of it hug the coastline. It's a single track road with passing places but, on the whole, it is very quiet - only a few cars passed us in either direction. Heading north on the main A970 road, take the right turn that drops down the hill to skirt the northern end of Cat Firth. After winding round the head of the firth, it passes through the scattered communities of South Nesting and skirts the southern shore of the Loch of Houlland. From here a straight run takes it most of the way to the shore of the West Voe of Skellister and along South Nesting bay before climbing back up to to Brettabister, where the road bends sharply left, running round the war memorial, to head inland. The inland section crosses the moors of North Nesting and eventually descends to traverse the beautiful coastline of Drury Voe and Laxo Voe. The route ends at the T-junction with the B9071 at Laxo.

If you're planning to visit Aith, consider timing your trip to coincide with the Aith Lifeboat Gala, held annually in early June. This vibrant event features a jarl squad and displays by the Shetland Coastguard, offering a unique glimpse into local maritime culture. Attending the gala not only enriches your experience but also supports the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aith

A long and narrow peninsula sticking out from Vidlin. Lunna Ness has a couple of small villages, an old Lairds estate and a huge 2000tonne glacial erratic boulder as well as wild coastlines and incredible views. The whole peninsula is a SSSI due to the large otter population.

The Scord of Brouster is one of the earliest Neolithic farm sites in Shetland. Dated to 2220BC it comprises of three houses and several fields surrounded by walls and a cairn. The site is the north of the road and there is an information board with more details.