Wild Skies Shetland

Wild Skies Shetland is a young, Unst-based charity, which aims to showcase the local skies in a wide variety of different ways. Building on the success of their Unst Planetary Walking Trail, they are currently working to develop an Unst Sky Trail.

Like many of the best things in life, Wild Skies Shetland started as an idea at the kitchen table! A madcap idea, hatched in Unst, Britain’s most northerly island, back in 2017. Wild Skies Shetland is now a registered charity with 7 trustees, working hard to showcase one of Shetland's greatest assets - our big, big skies.

The sky in shetland is as varied as it is enormous. Our lack of trees and low light polution levels mean that the area is ideal for stargazing, catching the northern lights or the simmer dim, observing events such as moon halos and sun dogs, weather phenomena galore, as well as more serious astronomy. If you want to slow down and take the time to let nature surprise you, there is always something to see, no matter the season and no matter the weather conditions.

The charity's aim is to benefit the community in Unst, and beyond, by helping more people get enjoyment out of observing Unst’s beautiful and varied skies. They organise a programme of sky-related events and are, of course, developing an Unst Sky Trail, which will be available in 2022. In the long term they hope to build a series of sky-watching shelters in Unst.

Get in touch to find out what's on during your visit or to support their work.