The spectacular surprise that is Shetland

St Ninian's Isle (Mainland) - In 1958, a local schoolboy unearthed one of the most remarkable hoards of Scottish early medieval silver metalwork ever found: the St Ninian's Isle treasure. The original pieces are housed in the Museum of Scotland, but you can see replicas in the Shetland Museum & Archives in Lerwick. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)

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St Ninian's Isle (Mainland) - The island is also known for its "beach," which is a tombolo (or narrow sandbar) that connects St Ninian's to the mainland. It's visible during the summer months.

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Isle of Noss - The entire island of Noss was designated a National Nature Reserve in 1955. Lofty sea cliffs harbor over 100,000 breeding seabirds. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Isle of Noss - In addition, the island's interior supports hundreds of pairs of great skua. Noss is accessed by dinghy from Bressay.

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Mainland - Scalloway Castle, a tower house located at Scalloway, was built in 1600 by Shetland nobleman Patrick Stuart, who briefly ruled the islands. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-ND 2.0)

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Mainland - To get an idea of what it was like to live and work as a 19th-century island crofter, take time to browse the Croft House Museum at South Voe in Boddam. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-ND 2.0)

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Burra - The collective name for two Shetland islands, the ancient parishes of West and East Burra feature examples of a singular architectural style—cottages with decorative shell facades. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC 2.0)

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Mainland - A carefully restored example of an Iron Age drystone hollow-walled structure known as a broch (round tower), Clickimin Broch near Lerwick is certainly worth a diversion. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Mousa - The small uninhabited island of Mousa is where to admire the Broch of Mousa, the finest preserved example of an Iron Age broch anywhere.

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Mainland - A panorama over the Bay of Scousburgh and Loch Spiggie near south Mainland. Shetland has some stunningly picturesque beaches!

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Shetland pony - A visit to the Shetland islands will bring you into close contact with one of its most endearing residents, the adorable Shetland pony. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC 2.0)

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Shetland sheep - The hardy Shetland is a small, wool producing breed of sheep noted for the numerous shades of its coat. Shetland wool is used to produce the islands' famous knitwear and traditional knitted lace shawls.

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Atlantic puffin - This colorful and comical-looking bird is seen on the islands during spring and summer (up to mid-August). The best time to visit a colony is early morning or early evening.

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Mainland - The Shetland Islands host no less than 12 annual midwinter fire festivals known as Up Helly Aa, a unique blend of traditional Scottish and Scandinavian revelry. The biggest festival takes place in Lerwick. Pictured are "Vikings" marching on the town.

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Mainland -

The fiery climax of Up Helly Aa is the burning of a Viking longship. The flaming spectacle is simply jaw-dropping.

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Mainland - Lerwick, the main port of the Shetlands, is also the Scottish islands' largest settlement.

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Mainland - Located on Mainland (the main island of Shetland), Lerwick was founded in the 17th century, although evidence of human settlement in the area dates back 3,000 years.

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Shetland Museum & Archives - The Shetland Museum & Archives in Lerwick chronicle Shetland's heritage and culture with a series of collections that relate to all aspects of the islands' history.

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Mainland - The town, or burgh, is an obvious base for visitors planning to explore Shetland for any length of time: Lerwick is the region's principal transport hub.

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Mainland - A view of Old Lerwick, which includes the Town Hall, built in 1884.

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Fair Isle - Fair Isle, which lies halfway between mainland Shetland and Orkney, is the most remote inhabited island in the United Kingdom. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Fair Isle - The island has a permanent bird observatory, and is one of the best places to find rare birds in Britain. Pictured is a calandra lark. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Fair Isle - It's also one of the most exciting destinations in the United Kingdom to observe migrant birds, whether common or rare. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

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Fair Isle - Among the many species regularly spotted are warblers. Pictured is a melodious warbler. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

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Fair Isle - The island is known for its traditional style of knitting, used to create patterns with multiple colors. A Fair Isle jumper makes a wonderful souvenir.

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Unst - The Hermaness National Nature Reserve in Unst is a refuge for thousands of seabirds. This is also Britain's most northerly point.

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Unst - The most northerly military fortification in the British Isles, Muness Castle dates back to the late 16th century. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Unst - A semi-ruin, Muness Castle is an island landmark and cared for under the auspices of Historic Scotland. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Unst - Baltasound is also famous for its decorative bus shelter. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-Nd 2.0)

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Mainland - Mainland is Shetland's largest island. The view pictured here draws the eye south over Jarlshof and the West Voe. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Mainland - Jarlshof, located on Mainland, is the best-known prehistoric archaeological site in Shetland.

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Mainland - Jarlshof features remains from the Bronze Age, Iron Age, Pictish, and Viking age periods. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

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