Well I have only been once but I had to give this the title of my first time because I am going back. It was the most gloriously rugged place but begging to be visited in the spring and summer when the wildlife is at it’s peak and the wonderful historic sites were open.

This trip though was to see the Viking festival of Up-Helly Aa C has always wanted to go and so this was the year and it was a very worthwhile experience. Not as spiritual as I think we hoped but exciting, a wonderful spectacle and a good laugh. Though you must make sure you get into one of the halls to really experience it, and pick up a copy of shetland life as many of the squads ‘shows’ are related to current affairs on Shetland.