5 reasons to visit Shetland in Spring

St Ninian's Isle, Shetland in her spring colours

Sunday marks the first day of spring, and to mark this calendar milestone, I’ve been thinking about what makes spring such an exciting time of year and why you should consider a springtime break to Shetland.

As the days begin to lengthen and the dark grip of winter is slowly released, shadows shorten as the sun rises higher in our northern skies, and there’s real optimism in the air. There’s an urgency to the days as people begin to busy themselves in the garden, preparing the ground for growth and tidying up after a long winter of assault from the driving wind and rain.

Here are 5 reasons to visit Shetland this spring:

Nature is springing to life once more

Spring in the garden, Shetland

We may be weeks behind the mainland, but the hopeful buds bursting forth from the garden are a reassuring reminder that the days are changing. Spring daffodils, tulips and bluebells are yet to flower, but the snowdrops, crocuses and tête-à-tête dwarf daffodils are out in full force, adding a much-needed splash of colour to our parched and winter-scarred gardens.

The birds are starting to return too, the park across the road from me has been filled with oystercatchers returning once again and, soon, the summer seabirds will come in on warmer winds, bringing the light of summer with them – I can’t wait.

The sea is sublime

Maybe it’s because our winter has been so grey, with steely grey skies set against deep, inky blue seas, a dark and foreboding force during our short days. But now, with a distinct taste of spring brought in on the stiff sea breeze, the colour of the sea has lifted and brightened with the turning days and, on today’s walk, the sea was a vivid turquoise, glistening in the early morning sun – it truly was sublime.

Like an artist’s palette, splashed with varying colours and textures, the sea in spring dances giddily to the season’s new song.

Framing the sea at the Ness of Sound, Lerwick

The light is returning

Everything looks brighter and fresher with the returning light of spring

Nowhere is the return of light more gratefully received than in northern regions. Starved of light for four long months, it has felt that the sun has forgotten to lift her head above the horizon some days. Now, the kitchen is streaming with rays of early morning sunshine where, last month, the shutters were still closed firmly against the dark, and candles brightened gloomy corners. When the light returns, it feels like an injection of energy as we can get outside once more and enjoy the freshness that only a spring day can provide.

Paths are opening up once more

Spring is a fantastic time for walking

I love hill walking all year round, but many inland areas become too boggy to venture through for large parts of the winter. But, as spring arrives, so too does a drying wind that sucks the moisture from the land, drying the hills and opening them up to walkers once more.

As the sun lifts, our horizons broaden once more.

Solitude is bliss

Enjoying a quiet moment of solitude in spring

Spring is still quiet. Many visitors still choose to visit in the summer months, where sunshine is not exclusively guaranteed but is more likely! The beauty of coming in spring is that you get

most of the beaches and sites to yourself to explore at leisure,

and, although still cool, the days are bright, and you can feel the sun warming the cheeks once you’re out of the biting wind.

This is a short blog today, but as the days are still relatively short and the sun is shining – I’m off out to fill up my proverbial tank with some rays of vitamin D!

Until next time,