Shetland is one of the best places to be for the Outdoors. Most of the land is unspoilt and undeveloped, giving every sport a sense of adventure and wilderness wherever you go. We often forget that others in the UK would love to have all this on their doorstep, we just take it for granted! 'm not talking about the bird watching or sightseeing that the tourist board like to promote either, there is another very different side to the Shetland Experience.

This new website aims to bring together these sports and pursuits, providing a place to come and share your experiences find out what's going on, and to promote this quiet side of Shetland. It is also an information hub to welcome people to the sports and of course for visitors to find out where to go and who to speak to.
The Sports...
Shetland's sea cliffs provide a vast amount of climbing, most of which has never been done. Its hard to find an area so undeveloped these days but with so much potential. Shetland's rock climbers are very lucky! Rock climbing in Shetland has grown from almost nothing a few years back to a thriving club with over 30 members. Promoted through the website www.climbshetland.co.uk, the success is what has led me to found this website.
Walking in Shetland is one of the more obvious activities. Recent pushes from authorities and tourism are leading to waymarked routes, more publicising of the best walks to do and a better environment for us to enjoy this simple but rewarding pastime.
Shetland's scenery can usually be admired from the roadside, but at 60mph its over to quickly! Cycling in Shetland is great fun and there are endless routes that can be done on quiet and challenging backroads throughout the islands.
Game shooting in Shetland does not hold much sport, other than the odd rabbit, but Shetland's shooting club are very active as a formal sport.
Inshore trout fishing in Shetland has to be some of the best anywhere, and sport can be found in roadside lochs or ones as far away as you care to walk. Brownies are the most popular catch and the peaty waters give superb flavour to your catch.
Shetland has a very active sailing community and its not surprising given the fishing background of the islands and the vast amount of coastline available. Norway's not far either!
Sea caves, arches sheer cliffs are just part of the complex coastline of Shetland that has made sea kayaking such a popular sport, with many partied visiting annually to sample some of the best waters in the UK for exploring.
It's not quite Hawaii but Shetland's surfing community is growing fast! The North Atlantic and the North Sea will always guarantee you swell and good waves, and some of the beaches and coastal features around Shetland give this sport a great promise for the future.
Shetland has some excellent venues for diving, with clear waters and plenty of wreck sites and wildlife abound.
Site Features
Each sport will have its own section of the site with News Items, Events Calendar and full information about the sport and any club details, contacts, links etc.
Forums will be set up as per the requirements for each sport and collated into one overall forum.
A map powered database is the long term project of the site. It will eventually contain full information of the places to go for each sport as well as detailed information for each spot. Backed up with where to stay, eat, buy groceries, this will become the definitive directory for Shetland's Outdoors.
User galleries will be available to all, and cateorised into the different sports. It'll be the place to share photos of an event or just post your Shetland outdoor snaps.
   

Although still in early stages of development, a skeleton preview of the site can be found here. Please email me if you have any suggestions or comments.

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