North Isles Trails arose from an Initiative at the Edge project to provide an activity for visitors and to offer information about local attractions. The intention was to create a set of themed trails across Yell, Unst and Fetlar and to market these trails by printing leaflets and by using local media and the internet.

'Discover Yell, Unst and Fetlar', the first trail produced, begins at Burravoe, South Yell and ends at Funzie on Fetlar. The leaflet for this trail opens with the words, ' Find enchantment under the magical spell of Britain's most northerly islands. Explore the breathtaking delights on each of these remote and mysterious ancient places.' It continues to describe the journey across the three islands, giving accurate directions where necessary and imparting useful knowledge about local places of interest.

Bordastubble Standing Stone

The second trail, 'Stones Sea and Settlements', hopes to provide some insight into the often harsh struggle for survival faced by people living in remote and fragile places. This trail begins in North Yell at the 'Fishermen's Memorial' in Gloup, where a total of 58 men from small local communities were lost from 10 small open boats, and ends at the Iron Age Broch of Underhoull.

Bough Lodge Tower

At present, there are two leaflets available and more are likely to follow. They can be downloaded here or found at Sumburgh Airport, Visit Shetland, Shetland Museum, Viking Bus Station, North Link Ferries, Shetland Library and in shops and visitor centres in the North Isles.

For more information about the work that Initiative at the Edge North Isles does click on the link http://www.shetland-communities.org/IATE/