Island Trails

01/11/2024

Well worth a look for some early Christmas shopping if you are in Lerwick over this weekend.

18/10/2024

Otter alert! We stopped at Hillswick this morning on a North Mainland tour and parked up next to the toilets and in front of the Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary. I went to the shop and on my return Rebecca Gruber who was on tour with me had seen an Otter crossing the road and disappearing through the gate into the sanctuary! Rebecca managed a very short video clip despite her obvious excitement.

03/10/2024

It's been great working with another Red Fox Travel group who are visiting Shetland during "Shetland Wool Week."

15/09/2024

Last minute spaces available on a North Mainland of Shetland small group tour, tomorrow 16th September.
Leaving Lerwick 9.30am and returning 5pm.
The Eshaness coastline is one of the key stops and for more info and prices please message Island Trails or call James on 07880 950228

12/09/2024

The Norwegian tall ship "Sorlandet" in Lerwick Harbour today.

20/08/2024

Still a few puffins about as reported yesterday by Sumburgh Head Lighthouse & Visitor Centre. They are usually all gone by now, heading out to sea for the winter.

As of yesterday, there were still a few Puffins seen on the cliffs at Sumburgh Head. It’s such a treat to still see Puffins this late into August. There must have been a few late starters at the beginning of the season!

13/08/2024

Please sign to save the Tourist Information Centre in Lerwick. Visit Scotland are closing all the TICs in Scotland which seems to be a very ill thought out plan. We need to keep this resource for Shetland and have it under local ownership and control.

Prevent the Closure of Shetland Tourist Information Centre in Lerwick

11/05/2024

I enjoyed playing a small part this week on Shetland Nature's Wild and Wooly holiday, led by Kate Humble. I got a good day of weather to show the group St. Ninian's Isle earlier this week where I shared some of the old stories about the Isle. The group were looking for somewhere to have their packed lunches so I took them along to Paparwark Furniture where Cecil set out some of his folding garden benches for the group to sit on, in the lee of the workshop buildings.

02/05/2024

Here in Shetland it is lambing season and I am involved full time with lambing on our family croft. We are coming well through it now and I expect to be back to tour guiding by the middle of May. A busy time but very satisfying work, so far it's gone well and the weather has been good most of the time!

09/04/2024

They are back again! Great news from Sumburgh Head Lighthouse & Visitor Centre, another sign of spring.

Puffins are back on the cliffs at Sumburgh Head, as of today!

17/03/2024

Pre Season open day at the Quendale Mill - Sat 30th March.

Quendale Mill Open Day, 30th March - see Poster.

31/01/2024

Some mobile phone pics from . It was a bit windy but thankfully dry for the procession and galley burning.

30/01/2024

It is the last Tuesday in January and in Lerwick that means only one thing...🔥🔥 Up Helly Aa! 🔥🔥
You can watch this evening's procession online via links in this post from Promote Shetland

26/01/2024

I am planning some tours for visitors to Shetland around 🔥 Up-Helly-Aa 🔥 which takes place in Lerwick on Tuesday 30th January. I will be focusing on the South & Central Mainland including the remains of Viking longhouses at Jarlshof as shown in this photo.
Weather permitting I will be available to run tours on Sat 27th, Mon 29th, Wed 31st January and Thurs 1st & Fri 2nd February.
For more info see the news page on my website at www.island-trails.co.uk/news or give me a call on 07880 950228.
Wishing everyone a good weekend whatever you are doing!

04/01/2024

Wishing everyone who follows my occasional social media posts a Happy New Year and all the best for 2024!
I do appreciate all your comments and likes.
This photo was taken earlier this year on a windy day at the Eshaness cliffs, not unlike the weather we are experiencing right now here in Shetland!
It may be windy and cold just now but Shetland is spectacular in all seasons and the longer days will soon return.
Best wishes to you all, James.

21/11/2023

A brief calm in Lerwick Harbour today. Photo taken about noon and look how low the sun is in the sky at 60 North this time of year! Yes that's the sun through a layer of hazy cloud.

20/11/2023

Please support this online petition to have the St. Ninian's Isle treasure returned to Shetland where it belongs. If you have been on my South Mainland of Shetland tour you will have heard about the treasure and where it was found.

Return The St Ninians isle treasure to Shetland

09/11/2023

Afternoon sky today at 3pm. Days are getting shorter and the sun is getting lower in the sky. A soft gentle light.

05/10/2023

I was delighted to be asked to take part in this video by Promote Shetland by showing Kate Humble around the Jarlshof archaeological site. A special place with 5000 years of history all in the one spot.
Filming took place back in early May, which for me was just at the end of lambing season. I hope it didn't show too much!

06/09/2023

I was really pleased to have 3 of my photos used to make Postcards earlier this summer exclusively for sale in our local village shop, Bigton Community Shop. Glad to be supporting the shop in a small way.

10/08/2023

Such a variety of weather this week! Yesterday had strong westerly winds when I was leading a North Mainland of Shetland tour including a visit to the Eshaness cliffs. Spectacular in all weathers.

02/08/2023

Some of Shetland's hills display a beautiful purple carpet this time of year as the heather blooms.

01/06/2023

Tourist season 2023 is now in full swing and I have been doing tours for a few weeks after the lambing. Sumburgh Head is a regular stop to see Puffins. "They are back" could equally be about tourists too!!

24/03/2023

The South Mainland 🔥 Up Helly Aa 🔥 procession is starting soon here in Bigton. See the post from Promote Shetland on how to watch online.

23/03/2023

Beautiful skies above just now. This is just a quick mobile phone photo of the aurora.