Some testimonials from our guests ...

Nilmurhaa Cottage:
Great location.
Enjoyed 'Up Helly Aa' - Got to see it to believe it. Saw the otter and seals. Made several visits around the island before snow came. Will love to come back during the summer time at some point.
Thank you.
Poole, Dorset
January 2010

Nilmurhaa Apartment:
We have had a really good week exploring Shetland.The history from so many periods is fasinating and the changing coastal views with every twist and turn of the roads are magnificent. We drove north to Unst via two enjoyable ferry trips and south to Jarlshof. Walking highlights were north on Muckle Roe; St Ninian's Isle and West Burra. The Shetland Museum in Lerwick is excellent and well worth a visit. We were lucky with the weather for the time of year and had plenty of sunshine (also some showers as expected!).
Nilmurhaa has been a most comfortable and central base from which to explore and Ann has been exceptionally kind and considerate. We take home some lovely memories.
Crosby, near Liverpool
October 2009

Nilmurhaa Apartment:
True hospitality is priceless. That is what we here enjoyed both here in Nilmurhaa and throughout Shetland. We've nearly had it all this week - sun, showers, wind, rain and howling gales. We've thoroughly enjoyed every minute. The walking and the wildlife has been phenomenal. We can recommend the Valhalla beers and the butchers in Scalloway. And what a place to come back to at the day's end. Comfortable, well appointed, the best holiday accommodation we have ever had. All that was missing was the house otter. See you next year.
Burton-on-Trent
September 2009

Nilmurhaa Apartment:
The accommodation is excellent, we wanted for nothing. We all had an enjoyable, relaxing break and the weather was quite good. Saw the otter on four occasions. It was our first visit to the Shetlands but I'm sure it won't be our last. Thanks for everything.
Walsall, West Midlands
September 2009

Nilmurhaa Apartment:
A wonderful place to come back to when the Shetland winds were howling. We were lucky enough to have two sightings of the 'house otter', crossing the road at about 4pm. Highlights - Old Scatness, Mousa Broch, the otter and watching gannets diving in the bay.
Uxbridge, Middlesex
August 2009

Nilmurhaa Apartment:
We have had a great holiday. Thank you for all your hospitality!
Ashford, Middlesex
August 2009

Nilmurhaa Cottage:
Just what I had hoped for, quiet location, marvellous views and perfect cottage with a lovely welcome - thank you. I saw the otter first - couldn't believe it. We have walked for miles. The scenery is awesome. The people are so friendly. What a wonderful week.
Stafford
August 2009

Nilmurhaa Cottage:
Fabulous cottage, fantastic views, fine weather. Perfect puffins at Sumburgh, fascinating at Jarlsof. Splendid sea birds and seals on boat trip around Noss. An otter trundling down the road. Super swimming at Clickimin Leisure Centre. Smooth Shetland ferries to Yell and Unst, brilliant bus shelter, tea at Northern Lights Cafe. Colossal cliffs at Eshaness and a cafe with a view and a half. Amazing Aly Bain in Fiddle Frenzy Concert.
All in all a wonderful holiday.
I know the cottage doesn't have its tourist board grading yet, but I think it deserves 5 stars.
Whitley Bay
August 2009

Nilmurhaa Apartment:
We have had many holidays all over Scotland and the islands and we have never had a warmer welcome or been as well looked after! Thank you Ann and Chris. It was so kind of you to arrange our overnight B&B on Unst, it gave us longer to explore that wonderful Island. The highlight being the walk to Hermaness and seeing the Gannet colonies, just wish the wind hadn't been quite as strong! We have had some fabulous walks, our favourite was Culswick and Eshaness was superb.
As I said we have visited Scotland many times and never seen an otter- within 5 minutes of arriving here we saw two swimming in the bay and we hadn't even unpacked! The birdlife on the islands is just amazing, managed to see red throated divers and golden plovers. We would highly recommend The Northern Lights Cafe on Unst - to enjoy their excellent food whilst watching the Gannets diving in the bay, also the resaurant in The Shetland Museum was very good.
Thank you for a wonderful holiday, the 2 weeks have flown by.
Tyne and Wear
July 2009

Nilmurhaa Cottage:
Had a great two weeks on Shetland. Managed to visit Unst, Yell, Whalsay and Bressay.
St Ninian's Isle is a gorgeous beach and walk and Meal beach is so gorgeous. Museum in Lerwick is the best ever. House lovely, kids enjoyed freedom and seals show on beach every day - Overall good time was had by all.
Glasgow
June/July 2009

Nilmurhaa Cottage:
Fantastic location, such beautiful scenery. It was lovely to be just able to sit outside. Wonderful wildlife, especially the busy otter who seemed to trundle up and down the road outside. We love Shetland and will be back.
West Yorkshire
July 2009

Nilmurhaa Apartment:
This was our second visit to the Shetlands and Nilmurhaa and is was every bit as good as the first. Our only otter sighting was in a ditch beside the road about a mile south of Laxo.
Many thanks Ann - as we said, we felt at home immediately.
Hampshire
July 2009

Nilmurhaa Cottage:
We spent a very nice week at Nilmurhaa House, saw puffins, oyster catchers, gullemots and of course otters and found lots of lovely beaches.
Germany
July 2009

Nilmurhaa Apartment:
It genuinely was one of our best ever holidays, and staying at Nilmurhaa was a big part of this. We felt our holiday began long before we arrived, thanks to your brilliantly informative website and helpful emails - it meant we didn't have to worry about anything once we landed. The apartment was absolutely lovely, so well equipped, comfortably furnished etc.. We loved the outdoor landscaping and ate all but one evening meal outside. You were so generous with the groceries and great bread you left us when we arrived - sitting down to strawberries and cream once we unpacked was a fabulous start to the holiday!
Perhaps the most helpful thing of all were the maps, guides and information provided, it really helped us make the most of our time. Highlights are almost too numerous to mention. We had fantastic walks on Lunna where we saw red throated divers and Marsh Orchids. We were shocked at the huge numbers of puffins we saw at Sumburgh Head and loved walking the coast at Northmavine.
Just incase the weather's bad, the Lerwick museum is lovely, (we spent hours there.)
Thank you Ann and Chris for the most wonderful time.
We’re already talking about a return trip so hopefully we will see you again in the future. Until then, thank you again for your fabulous hospitality.
London
July 2009

Nilmurhaa Cottage:
What a place to relax in!
Scenery is perfect and the bird and wild life is spectacular - the otters playing in the bay in the evening round off the day perfectly. Plenty to do on the island with many interesting walks with stunning cliffs and birds. Great local beer too!
Edinburgh
June 2009

Nilmurhaa Apartment:
First time in Shetland Isles and very impressed by the beautiful landscape and the friendly locals. As before, the bread and welcome pack were appreciated. Spent every spare minute at the cottage on the bench overlooking the bay watching otters and seals. Weather has been stunning-suntan lotion required and applied liberally!
Over the two weeks we enjoyed travelling North to South and all over the Islands.We highly recommend visiting Noss - leave early as you will be there most of the day, we were thrilled at the scenery and tripping over puffins! Old Scatness Broch is a must see. The cliffs at Eshaness - wow! If visiting Unst The Northern Lights Cafe for high quality food and service.
This area Nesting is quite a gem and should be included in your itinerary - Gletness is dramatic and the whole north and south Nesting area is worth travelling around, even after a busy day at the 'sights'. Look out for Sunday teas in the Shetland Times - cakes and sandwiches abound! Bought beer at Valhalla Brewery, met the owner and was shown round the brewery. Had viking feast at Dunrossness very authentic and good fun. The Shetland Amenity Trust should be congratulated for their good work. Try and spend time on the Ranger walks- you will learn loads in a very short and cheap time. The cabin museum is worth a visit on a wet day, travel north to Laxo.
All in all a great holiday, much better than we expected and a base camp that topped it all!!!
Glasgow
June 2009

Nilmurhaa Cottage:
Had a great week at Nilmurhaa, especially after discovering the walk around the Neap - a little treasure on the doorstep. The sun has shined on us nearly every day! Have spotted seals playing and basking in the bay early morning and evenings.
Favourite places visited - Fishing lodges at Fetherland and Hermaness Nature Reserve on Unst. Meal beach is also a must.
London
June 2009

Nilmurhaa Apartment:
Another wonderful week on our second visit to Nilmurhaa.This time the weather was so much kinder to us! The welcome, the cottage, the bread (even from a distance) as warm as ever and all the 'extras' much appreciated. We have used extensively this time the walks in Shetland book on the bookshelf and found it a marvellous way to discover areas we would probably have missed. On most walks we found spectacular scenery and wildlife and no-one else around at all. We would highly recommend it.
Big thrill was finding an Otter holt quite close to the cottage and spent an absorbing morning watching mum and cubs - magical!
Unst and Yell a must visit especially on a glorious sunny day. Do go to The Northern Lights Cafe and gallery for crafts and cakes. Loved the Sunday tea party at North Nesting village hall too, met some lovely people over tea and cakes again.
We just love these islands and feel so relaxed and happy at the end of our week. See you next year.
Seighford, Stafford
June 2009

Nilmurhaa Apartment:
We had a wonderful welcome from Ann and Chris to this beautifully located holiday flat. The special gluten free welcome pack was much appreciated.
Weather was excellent, fine and sunny but it turned rather cold at the latter end of the week.
Wonderful Otter spotting - some of the best in years especially in the Bay. This changed however with the change in wind direction and the mother took her cub elsewhere. However we have seen otters every day at other spots on the island.
Wonderful birds too - Golden Plover, Eider duck with chicks on her back, Red Throated Diver etc. Thank you Ann and Chris.
Denbighshire,
June 2009

Nilmurhaa Cottage:
7.40 Saw an otter in the sea opposite the dining room window. It surfaced, floated and dived. Further sightings throughout the week and watched one playing close to the beach. Saw seals at Stenness and Puffins at Sumburgh Head. Eshaness has stunning scenery on a sunny calm day and the lighthouse at Muckle Flugga is brilliant against a blue sky. Meal beach has white sand with rocks and dunes to escape the wind. We have had a brilliant week of sunshine and Nilmurhaa is the perfect place to stay.
Harpenden, Hertfordshire,
May 2009

Nilmurhaa Apartment:
Another fantastic week - good weather excellent walking, (but always take a map/compass - routes not always marked. Great visits to Unst and Yell and so much to see - but our favourite was walk to Fetherland - so remote, so beautiful. Everybody so polite and helpful. No mad rush like it can be at home.
Again thanks to Ann for all her hospitality, our bits and pieces, (wow that bread!). Shetland is such a lovely place and the accommodation is 100%.
Looking forward to coming back.
Selkirk,
May 2009

Nilmurhaa Apartment:
We want to thank you Ann and Chris for the lovely stay at Nilmurhaa. The apartment is cosey and comfortable, anything you need you can find, a fully equipped kitchen,very useful books about walks, birds and maps. . . The welcome pack was highly appreciated and it's an original idea too. Shetland Islands are really beautiful, we had wonderful walks and saw alot of wild animals, puffins,seals, one otters and alot of different birds. Eshaness and Hermaness reserves are a must. You can find georgous views behind every corner. We hope will come back one day. The weather during our stay was windy, cloudy and sunny but never rainy.
Bergamo Italy
April 2009

Nilmurhaa Apartment:
Thank you for a lovely week at Nilmurhaa, in beautiful, peaceful surroundings and think that Shetland is beautiful.
Thanks for your generous food box which made self catering easier and was very useful. Home made bread was a bonus. We have had a good week for weather only one day of rain and another rather damp, but we had a superb day for travelling through Yell-Unst and then walking to Muckle Flugga- a day to remember.
The museum in Lerwick is excellent and we had our own guide for two hours which made the experience all the more worthwhile. We had a lunch and an evening meal at the restaurant at the Lerwick museum which were excellent.
Thanks again & hope you have a successful summer for bookings
Chelmsford, Essex
April 2009

Nilmurhaa Cottage:
Thanks so much for a lovely week, its a beautiful spot and really good location for exploring the islands. Cottage has been ideal and worked very well for us all.
Thank you once again, best of luck with everything here, can definitely see the attraction!! - I will be visiting again!
Herefordshire,
April 2009

Nilmurhaa Apartment:
Yes, it is October, as we expected plenty of strong winds, rain - mainly heavy showers most days, but we have enjoyed good sunny periods. With a low sun this has given us many 'Rainbows' and beautiful light on the countryside. We have watched two otters, one at Billister about 1/2 mile right to the pier, the second one at The Brig, North Collafirth by the pier. The 'house otter' proved to be more elusive, my wife had a brief view of it behind the garage, down the drive, but not in the bay.
We have had a very relaxing holiday at 'Nilmurhaa', despite the weather we have been warm and cosy.
Our thanks to Ann and Chris for the Welcome Pack and the loaves of home baked bread. Your attention to detail was much appreciated.

Ince, Cheshire,
October 2008.

Nilmurhaa Apartment:
Memorable week!
Spectacular scenery. Amazing wildlife! Accommodation just what was needed. Food Pack on arrival very much appreciated. Bread - super! It would appear we had more than our share of 'otters', just wonderful. Chris's technical skills - invaluable???

Thank you Ann for everything.
Co. Down, Northern Ireland,
September 2008.

Nilmurhaa Apartment:
A warm welcome by Ann made us feel at home right away - we loved the house; well designed to be both functional and comfortable, with many thoughtful touches which were much appreciated, not the least the delicious pile of goodies! Our one regret was not being able to sit outside to enjoy the view or see the otters, but the weather really didn't allow for that, perhaps next time!

We had so many interesting visits to places all over the island, (so impressed by the museum we went twice!!) Spectacular walks at St Ninian's Isle and Eshaness, the highlight being our trip to Unst thanks to Ann deciphering the ferry timetable! So many lovely memories, particularly the friendliness and kindness of the people of Shetland and the peace and beauty of the island - Thank you Ann and Chris for a wonderful week.

East Lothian,
September 2008.