Shetland has been named among the “must-visit” remote spots of the world.
The Far North island chain was the only place in the UK to make the list of 25 named by top travel guide Wanderlust.
In fact Shetland came sixth, beating such exotic destinations Christmas Island in Australia, Komodo Island in Indonesia and Cocos Islands in Costa Rica.
Wanderlust picked out the Viking fire festival of Up Helly Aa and Unst’s “pure wild escapism” as highlights on Shetland.
“Explore the British Isles’ distant north, exploring the Shetland archipelago across more than 100 windswept islands. Just 15 are populated, with the best time to visit in January, when whole towns light up for Up Helly Aa, a raucous Viking-style fire festival to mark the end of Yule.,” said the guide.
“The biggest festival is held in capital Lerwick, which flickers to the licks of torchlight as its main procession gets going. But if you want to escape, tranquil Bressay Island is a short ferry ride away, where you can spot rare birds and seals in peace.
“Elsewhere, Unst is the northernmost inhabited island in the Shetlands, its wind-scored tip host to the battered ruins of Muness Castle. Above it circle flocks of sea birds from the colonies in Hermaness reserve, in autumn grey seals pup in the caves below and 25,000 puffins burrow its cliffs. Pure wild escapism.”
Top of the 25 of the world’s must-visit remote outposts was the Cook Islands in New Zealand followed by Angel Falls in Venezuela and Easter Island in Chile.
“The middle of nowhere can be the most exhilarating destination of all – well worth the effort to get there. Explore pirate islands, volcano villages, incredible wildlife and Arctic tundra in the furthest reaches of the world,” said Wanderlust.
Steve Mathieson, the islands manager for VisitScotland, said:”With around 2700kms of coastline you won’t meet anybody else on Shetland unless you really want to.
“Shetland is one of the last wild places left in the UK. It is a wilderness within the British Isles which you can have to yourself.”