Ten miles north of Lerwick, the `Nesting Loop' side road (B9075) winds through an intricate landscape of sheltered inlets, scattered crofts and bold headlands. There are scenic surprises around every corner, making a pleasant detour from the main A970 road over the moors to Voe. 

Catfirth, the site of a naval air station during the First World War, is a fine spot for watching sea ducks and waders. The Catfirth and Quoys burns, both popular with anglers, have relicts of the woodland which covered Shetland thousands of years ago willows, rowans and one of the islands' only two surviving hazel trees. Catfirth Haa, now in ruins, was the birthplace of the Shetland poet James Stout Angus. Nearby is the Quoys, home of the legendary 19th century boatbuilder, Dempster Laurenson.

Turning right at the shop the road leads past the Loch of Benston and its wild swans to Vassa Voe and on to the promontories of Gletness and Eswick. Gletness is one of the most picturesque corners of Shetland, the hills are packed with field systems, houses and burial cairns from ancient times offering wonderful walking. Gletness is also home to a stud of Shetland ponies.

If you sit quietly and scan the Isles of Gletness with binoculars you may see dratsi, the otter. The lighthouse at the Moul of Eswick has a panoramic view from Whalsay and Out Skerries to Bressay and Noss. Close by lies the Hoo Stack light warning of the Voder and Climnie reefs in South Nesting Bay. The bay has common and grey seals most of the year.

The coast road to North Nesting passes a prehistoric standing stone at the Skellister junction and, a little further on, an ancient settlement and field system below the Loch of Skellister. From Brettabister a side road leads to the headland of Neap, the starting point for fine coastal walks out to either the Staney Hog or Stava Ness where ravens (corbies) and puffins (tammie nories) nest.

Back on the B9075, the road turns inland from the war memorial at Brettabister and climbs the steel hill of the Kirk Ward. For one of the finest views of the islands stop the car and walk up to the First World War watchtower on top of the hill on your left. This is a good place to see red grouse and mountain hares.