Europe > United Kingdom > Scotland > Shetland > Hillswick
Hillswick is a tiny village in Northmavine, the wild northern lobe of Shetland's Mainland. It is not a town of museums and cafes; it is a base for rough coast, hard weather, and the feeling that the Atlantic has the upper hand.
The reason to come is the land around it. To the west, Eshaness has volcanic cliffs, geos, blowholes, and the lighthouse road that gives one of Shetland's best short coastal walks. Nearby Tangwick Haa Museum puts the hard old life of Northmavine into a small laird's house, while Dore Holm sits offshore like a sea arch drawn by someone with a sense of humour.
Inland, Ronas Hill rises to the highest point in Shetland, with Arctic-alpine plants and a Neolithic cairn on the summit. Hillswick works best for travellers with a car, boots, and time to let weather decide the day. If the clouds lift, go straight for the coast or the hill.