Sumburgh Hotel

About Sumburgh Hotel

Sumburgh Hotel occupies a former laird's home built in 1867, at the southern tip of the Shetland mainland close to the airport, and it has been privately owned and run for years rather than passing through a chain. Its position makes it the obvious choice for anyone whose visit is built around Shetland's wildlife and archaeology: the puffin colonies at Sumburgh Head and the layered prehistoric and Norse remains at Jarlshof are both a short drive or walk away.

Rooms are traditional in style, reflecting the building's history as a private house, and the hotel caters to both leisure visitors drawn by the surrounding attractions and business travellers using the nearby airport. The public rooms retain some of the character of the original laird's residence, and the setting, on open ground close to the cliffs and the sea, is as much a part of the appeal as the building itself.

Being five minutes from Shetland Airport also makes the hotel a practical first or last night stop for anyone flying in or out, without needing to travel the full distance to Lerwick, around 25 miles to the north. For a South Mainland base focused on wildlife, archaeology and the airport, it remains the principal option in the immediate area.