Welcome to Shetland with Laurie. Are you considering a trip to Shetland? Is this the trip that you've been planning for ages? Why not book a bespoke tour in the company of Shetland with Laurie.
“Visitors want to have the best experience; they want to see Shetland through the eyes of a local. They want to taste the salt on their faces, smell the sea and bear witness to the wind in their hair. They want to drink in the sights, the smells and the sounds of an island community. They want to be shown the places they would otherwise not discover. They want to piece together the fascinating jigsaw and truly discover Shetland; this is the trip they have dreamed of.”
*** PLEASE NOTE***
Amid the current climate of uncertainty regarding the coronavirus I am not taking any more bookings for Spring and Summer 2020. For a full update, and details about how this may affect an upcoming trip are detailed below. As the situation changes almost daily I am carefully monitoring booked tours for 2020 and may be in touch to cancel or postpone.
Feel free to email with any queries for 2021.
Amid the current climate of uncertainty regarding the coronavirus I am not taking any more bookings for Spring and Summer 2020. For a full update, and details about how this may affect an upcoming trip are detailed below. As the situation changes almost daily I am carefully monitoring booked tours for 2020 and may be in touch to cancel or postpone.
Feel free to email with any queries for 2021.
Why Shetland with Laurie?
Hello, and welcome to Shetland with Laurie. I am a 33-year-old Shetlander, born and raised in the islands. I studied history and politics at the University of Dundee before returning home and securing a job as curatorial assistant at the Shetland Museum & Archives. Whilst there I undertook a masters in museum & gallery studies at St Andrews University. After leaving the museum I edited a local lifestyle magazine, Shetland Life. I run a successful business as a tour guide and freelance writer, writing for The Shetland Times, Promote Shetland and NorthLink Ferries. I'm also the curator of Scalloway Museum, a fantastic community-run organisation which is well worth a visit. I love to explore and document my days on my blog and online via Instagram stories.
I am an accredited green badge tourist guide registered with the Scottish Tour Guide Association (STGA). I am passionate about Shetland, and all that our wonderful islands have to offer – from wildlife to culture and from archaeology to sweeping landscapes; Shetland has it all. Riding the cusp of a wave, Shetland has just been awarded a top spot in the Lonely Planet’s Best in Europe 2019 guide, so what are you waiting for? Offering bespoke tours to suit every individuals needs, I can ensure that you get the very best from your visit to Shetland. My aim is to thoughtfully guide you through your Shetland adventure; helping you unlock the secrets of these fascinating islands.
Hello, and welcome to Shetland with Laurie. I am a 33-year-old Shetlander, born and raised in the islands. I studied history and politics at the University of Dundee before returning home and securing a job as curatorial assistant at the Shetland Museum & Archives. Whilst there I undertook a masters in museum & gallery studies at St Andrews University. After leaving the museum I edited a local lifestyle magazine, Shetland Life. I run a successful business as a tour guide and freelance writer, writing for The Shetland Times, Promote Shetland and NorthLink Ferries. I'm also the curator of Scalloway Museum, a fantastic community-run organisation which is well worth a visit. I love to explore and document my days on my blog and online via Instagram stories.
I am an accredited green badge tourist guide registered with the Scottish Tour Guide Association (STGA). I am passionate about Shetland, and all that our wonderful islands have to offer – from wildlife to culture and from archaeology to sweeping landscapes; Shetland has it all. Riding the cusp of a wave, Shetland has just been awarded a top spot in the Lonely Planet’s Best in Europe 2019 guide, so what are you waiting for? Offering bespoke tours to suit every individuals needs, I can ensure that you get the very best from your visit to Shetland. My aim is to thoughtfully guide you through your Shetland adventure; helping you unlock the secrets of these fascinating islands.
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Shetland with Laurie will help you plan your travel itinerary and recommend places of interest; whether you are keen to learn more about the history of Shetland or just enjoy the outstanding scenery and beauty, I will put together a tour which will suit any budget and interest.
If you're not quite sure and would like to learn more then why not sign up to my monthly newsletter or visit the Instagram page for inspiration here. Shetland is a fantastic place for visitors to explore and having a local guide with all the inside knowledge will ensure that you don't miss out on the highlights – I might even throw in a few hidden gems too! I bring a wealth of experience with me having worked in the heritage industry for over 10 years, immersing myself in local history and culture. Born and raised in Shetland I have an extensive knowledge and passion for these wonderful islands that I call home. 
Photo: Susan Molloy
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Photo: Susan Molloy
NEWSLETTER
Sign up to my monthly email newsletter for more Shetland inspiration. Whether you are looking to book a tour, or just seeking some ideas, Shetland with Laurie is happy to help you get started on making your Shetland adventure a reality. |
Still not sure? Why not head over to the blog and find out more about Shetland and Shetland with Laurie. You will find the blog here.
If you've been on a tour, please tag any photos with #shetlandwithlaurie and leave a review on Trip Advisor or on Facebook. If you would like to read some reviews, or leave one, please click here.
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It was an absolute pleasure touring around Shetland with Laurie -- she knows the islands inside and out and has such a vast understanding of the unique culture and history of Shetland. On top of that, she is such a lovely and pleasant person -- I can't imagine a better tour and would definitely recommend to anyone looking for the ultimate Shetland experience! Thanks Laurie!
Erin R
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Laurie took us to the northern reaches of Mainland and was the perfect guide. She is knowledgeable, frinedly, enthusiastic and funny. She's a good driver, too! We had a totally delightful day in her company. I'm sure you will, too.
micheleru
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I had a great time with Laurie, she is nice, arranging, and she has a huge amount of knowledges, from history to geology passing by ornithology :-) I totally recommanded her.
lyouhe
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Superb tour. Laurie was very knowledgable and has an excellent manner. The tour was full of interesting information and history was really brought to life. She answered any questions clearly. A highly engaging way to learn about Lerwicks' past, would thoroughly recommend this tour for locals and visitors alike.
Wilson M
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So enjoyed this 2 hour interesting historical walking tour of Lerwick. Highly recommend! Thank you Laurie.
Pam L
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Husband and I had Laurie take us on a walking tour on our last day in Shetland. She took us all over Lerwick and then some. She was very knowledgeable, sweet and helpful! And we love her! Would definitely come back for more...
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Brilliant week night tour with Laurie who is so knowledgeable in what she does. Despite living in Shetland a long time I learnt so much about where we live. Fully enjoyable evening whilst also enjoying the simmer dim and fresh air. Would definitely recommend this activity whether you are a visitor or Shetland resident. Good value for money!
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We look forward to hearing from you and greeting you in Shetland on your next adventure.
Shetland with Laurie News
Updated 19th March 2020:
Amid all the uncertainty regarding Covid-19, I wanted to let you know that I am following the current Scottish Government, NHS and Travel Industry Legal advice and recommendations, as well as my intuition.
As many of you will know, Shetland has a growing number of confirmed cases of Covid-19, a proportionally high number given the population of the islands. NorthLink is still operating services in and out the islands, and Loganair continues to fly back and forth to Shetland although their service is reduced. Our government has outlined that any non-essential travel should be avoided (read into that what you will). I will continue to monitor the situation and keep you up-to-date with any cancellations or changes. The local authorities here decided to close the local schools ahead of the rest of the UK so, as of Monday, I am now homeschooling my two children (aged seven and three).
I continue to monitor the situation daily, and I have decided to postpone or cancel all tours until at least the end of April, and most likely beyond. Following that (end of April), I will review the bookings in place over the summer and depending on where we are and what the national advice is telling us – as well as what travel restrictions may or may not have been placed on individual countries – I may need to cancel more.
I have relaxed my cancellation policy so if any visitors have bookings but would like to postpone or cancel, please get in touch and there will be no fee, and where payment has been made upfront, I will reimburse you the full amount. These are exceptional times, and we need to all pull together and help one another through. I have been in touch with those of you who have bookings between now and the end of April and will keep everyone else updated as the situation develops. If you would like to get in touch, make changes, cancellations or ask me a question you can email at info@shetlandwithlaurie.com.
Amid all the uncertainty regarding Covid-19, I wanted to let you know that I am following the current Scottish Government, NHS and Travel Industry Legal advice and recommendations, as well as my intuition.
As many of you will know, Shetland has a growing number of confirmed cases of Covid-19, a proportionally high number given the population of the islands. NorthLink is still operating services in and out the islands, and Loganair continues to fly back and forth to Shetland although their service is reduced. Our government has outlined that any non-essential travel should be avoided (read into that what you will). I will continue to monitor the situation and keep you up-to-date with any cancellations or changes. The local authorities here decided to close the local schools ahead of the rest of the UK so, as of Monday, I am now homeschooling my two children (aged seven and three).
I continue to monitor the situation daily, and I have decided to postpone or cancel all tours until at least the end of April, and most likely beyond. Following that (end of April), I will review the bookings in place over the summer and depending on where we are and what the national advice is telling us – as well as what travel restrictions may or may not have been placed on individual countries – I may need to cancel more.
I have relaxed my cancellation policy so if any visitors have bookings but would like to postpone or cancel, please get in touch and there will be no fee, and where payment has been made upfront, I will reimburse you the full amount. These are exceptional times, and we need to all pull together and help one another through. I have been in touch with those of you who have bookings between now and the end of April and will keep everyone else updated as the situation develops. If you would like to get in touch, make changes, cancellations or ask me a question you can email at info@shetlandwithlaurie.com.
Best in Europe
Shetland has recently been awarded in the Top 10 for Best in Europe by Lonely Planet. This is no surprise to us, but a fantastic accolade for the islands.
We hope that you too will get the opportunity to come here and have a taste of our unique landscape, culture and wildlife and agree that it's a well-deserved award.
Shetland has recently been awarded in the Top 10 for Best in Europe by Lonely Planet. This is no surprise to us, but a fantastic accolade for the islands.
We hope that you too will get the opportunity to come here and have a taste of our unique landscape, culture and wildlife and agree that it's a well-deserved award.
