Private Tour
Available languages
5 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Join military historian and professional archaeologist Chris Dyer, a Shetland resident for over twenty years, to explore Shetland’s fascinating wartime heritage on our brand new Shetland at War tour. We will visit astoundingly well-preserved military fortifications within a range of spectacular, beautiful landscapes.
During the twentieth century, Shetland played a crucially important role in the defence of Britain during both World Wars due to its strategic military location on the northern periphery of Britain and Europe. Enemy shipping and submarines favoured the North Sea as their preferred passage to the North Atlantic Ocean. Shetland was therefore an important base for the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, who patrolled the surrounding waters, and for the associated military radar stations, scanning the skies and seas.
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Not recommended for travellers with mobility problems - a moderate amount of walking is involved
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Private transportation
Admission fee
Government Fees
Air-conditioned vehicle
Parking Fees
Lunch
Gratuities
Select a pickup point
Lerwick
Our tour begins in Lerwick (or your chosen location) where we're joined by professional archaeologist and military historian Chris Dyer who will accompany us as we explore the wartime history of Shetland's South & Central Mainland.
Sumburgh Head Lighthouse
We will visit Sumburgh Head, the site of an internationally-recognised nature reserve famed for its seabirds alongside Shetland’s first early Victorian lighthouse. At this location, from December 1939, Admiralty Experimental Station Number 1 began plotting surfaced U-boats attempting to escape from the North Sea into the North Atlantic but also capable of detecting aircraft by transmitting and receiving radio waves. Travel time from Lerwick - 30 minutes
Pickup included
Transit
Pickup included
Operated by Robertson's Tours & Holidays