History Of Shetland & Its Ponies

OVERVIEW

Gain a historical perspective of Shetland while exploring some of its southernmost attractions and namesake ponies. Along the way, you will see the world’s largest preserved broch – a round stone tower built perhaps two millennia ago as a citadel or residence – and a narrow sandbar known as a tombolo that connects St. Ninian’s Isle to the mainland. It is an extraordinary sight as the waves break on both sides of the lengthy tombolo, which is the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom. Another stop will be made to hopefully observe a colony of puffins that nests during summer months, as well as other seabirds in the cliffs at Sumburgh Head, atop which stands the Sumburgh Lighthouse, a beacon that Robert Louis Stevenson’s grandfather designed in 1821. The island is more famously known for its Shetland ponies, which you will see at Robin’s Brae, a family-run breeder that specializes in these small, hardy equines. The ponies were developed to withstand the archipelago’s harsh conditions.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Admire the seemingly endless natural beauty in the southernmost Shetland Islands.
• See the world’s largest stone tower broch and the United Kingdom’s largest tombolo sandbar.
• Observe puffins and other seabirds in the cliffs below Sumburgh Head Lighthouse.
• Visit a Shetland pony breeder and learn about the characteristics of these small horses.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate layered clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.