From Shetland, With Love: Looking Back on Half a Year of Our Guidebook

Life has been moving fast lately. Between work and preparing for another busy tour season, and the ebb and flow of Shetland’s seasons, it’s been hard to find a moment to stop and reflect. But as we firmly settle into a new year, I realised something—I haven’t properly taken the time to celebrate something that has been such a journey, a challenge, and, ultimately, a joy and a real passion project.

It’s been just over half a year since our guidebook, Shetland: Your Essential Travel Guide, was published. After years of planning, conceptualising, writing, and fine-tuning, Laurie and I finally got to hold the finished book in our hands. And now, months later, it’s been incredible to see it out there—on bookshelves, in people’s travel bags, and, most importantly, in Shetland itself, guiding visitors through these islands we both love so much.

A Modest Idea That Became Something Bigger

This book began as a simple idea: a small, practical guide for visitors. But as we dug into the project, it became clear that Shetland deserved more. What started as a pocket guide turned into a 250-page book—filled not just with facts, but with stories, history, and all the little details that make Shetland what it is.

And in these past months, we’ve seen just how much it’s resonated with readers. We’ve had messages from people planning their first trips to Shetland, from locals who’ve discovered new corners of their home, and from those who’ve simply enjoyed being transported to Shetland through its pages.

A Collaboration Rooted in Shetland

Laurie and I first met through our work at the Shetland Museum and Archives, where our shared passion was Shetland’s heritage. Years later, we both took a leap into self-employment—Laurie as a travel writer and tour guide, me as a publisher and tour operator—each of us driven by the same desire: to share Shetland’s stories with the world.

This book is a product of that shared love. Laurie’s deep knowledge as a born-and-bred Shetlander shines through in the details—where to find the best Sunday Teas, the quietest beaches for a swim or summer picnic, the best spots for wildlife watching. My role as creative director was to shape all of that knowledge into something that would be visually beautiful, and accessible to anyone with a love for Shetland, while also making everything happen on the practical side.

A Love Letter to Shetland

Months on, we still see this book as exactly what we intended it to be: a love letter to Shetland. It’s not just about where to go and what to see (though it covers all of that, including why you definitely shouldn’t bother packing an umbrella). It’s about the feeling of Shetland—the wild, wind-whipped winters and the long, golden summer nights, the warmth of its communities, the stories woven into its land and sea.

It’s also a reminder of what happens when you take a chance on something you believe in. This book grew beyond what we first imagined, and seeing it in the hands of readers around the world has been one of the most rewarding experiences of our careers.

So today, I just want to take a moment to say thank you—to everyone who has supported this book, shared their feedback, and helped spread the word. If you’ve read it, we’d love to hear what you think. What’s your favourite part? Where has it inspired you to go? What else would you include?

And if you haven’t picked up a copy yet, and you’re hoping for a Shetland adventure, now is the perfect time. Whether you’re planning a trip or just dreaming of one, Shetland: Your Essential Travel Guide is here to take you on a journey.

You can find it here.

For now, though, I think it’s time for a cup of tea. Maybe even a Friday slice of cake. Because sometimes, you have to stop and celebrate the things you’ve worked hard for. And we don’t do it nearly enough as we should.

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