Find your perfect car hire at Sumburgh Airport
Long winding country roads joined by a dramatic coastline and a wealth of natural and historic sights… The Shetland Islands really are the perfect driving destination.Land at Sumburgh Airport and pick up your Avis hire car. The open roads and breathtaking scenery of northern Scotland’s Shetland Islands are yours to explore.
Plan your journey from Sumburgh Airport
The region around Sumburgh Airport is awash with history and culture. Ancient Norse structures are dotted along the coast. The town’s cultural museums describe the island’s traditions, while wide and open landscapes seemingly roll on forever.First, head to the Iron Age Broch and village at Old Scatness. Explore the 2,000-year-old archaeological site and catch one of the many demonstrations of what life was like in the Iron Age. At Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement (just over a 20-minute drive from the airport), you can see the remains of an entire Viking settlement.
Perched on the southern tip of Shetland Mainland, Sumburgh Head offers a lighthouse, visitor centre and nature reserve. After taking in the dramatic coastline, learn about the local history and the wildlife, such as puffins and whales – sometimes spotted off the coast.
Venture further north to Quendale Mill, housed on the site where the old Mill House stood for over 140 years. Here you’ll find various exhibitions.
There’s no shortage of things to do in the Shetlands. Simply get behind the wheel of your Avis car hired from Sumburgh Airport and drive.
Beyond Sumburgh Airport
Once you’ve experienced all that Sumburgh has to offer, head off in your Avis hire car to savour more of the islands’ unique sights.Scalloway
A relaxing 45-minute drive from Sumburgh Airport is Scalloway, a harbour town that – like many others on the Shetlands – has a proud fishing tradition. Scalloway Museum is a great place to gain an understanding of local history and culture, with exhibitions covering the city’s ancient past, boom era, and its role during war times. Scalloway Castle, set near the harbour, dates back to the 1600s and is the town’s prime attraction.
Lerwick
Lerwick is the capital of the Shetland Islands and its largest city. Here you can visit Fort Charlotte to combine a historical sight with spectacular harbour views. Built in the 1600s, the stone walls of the original fort were destroyed, then rebuilt and named after George III’s wife, Charlotte.
At the Shetland Museum – home to over 3,000 artefacts from the region – you can learn all about the city’s culture and its influences. A trip down Commercial Street promises an atmospheric afternoon, with many buildings along this waterfront area dating back to the 18th century.
No matter which direction you head on the Shetland Islands, there’s always a surprise at every turn. With an Avis hire car, you get to experience it all with ease.