Confirmed · South Mainland · Harbour and village
Sumburgh Head
Lighthouse-complex café doubled as Willow Reeves’ hotel in Shetland. Public visitor routes; allow 1–2 hours.
- On screen as
- Lighthouse-complex café doubled as Willow Reeves’ hotel
- Access
- Public visitor routes
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Where
- Sumburgh Head, Shetland
On screen
How Sumburgh Head appears
The lighthouse complex at Sumburgh Head has a specific Shetland connection: the official South Mainland trail identifies the cafe location as the hotel where Willow Reeves stayed during an investigation. That should not be confused with Sumburgh Hotel, which the same source identifies with a care-home role. Keeping those real places separate prevents a useful public visit from being attached to the wrong screen building. The wider headland also provides the coastal setting that makes this end of the Mainland distinctive.
The real place
What you can visit
Sumburgh Head combines a working lighthouse, heritage facilities and an RSPB nature reserve. The Northern Lighthouse Board records the lighthouse's history, while the reserve information explains the seasonal seabird interest. Indoor opening and the availability of cafe facilities are different from a walk in the landscape. Summer birds are an additional reason to visit, but no particular sighting should be promised. Use the viewing areas and paths without disturbing nesting birds, and consider the uphill approach and exposure when deciding what suits your group.
Plan the lighthouse visit separately from an airport arrival or departure. Being in the same southern area does not remove the need for transport, a final approach walk and a margin for weather.
Promote Shetland: official television location trail ↗The public car park is below the lighthouse complex, with a walk up to the buildings. RSPB information describes specific Blue Badge arrangements. By bus, the official Shetland guide warns that Sumburgh Head is about a two-mile walk from the Sumburgh Hotel stop. Allow for that distance in both directions rather than assuming a bus drops passengers beside the lighthouse door.
Common questions
Planning a responsible visit
Which building played Willow's hotel?
The official trail identifies the cafe location at the Sumburgh Head lighthouse complex. It distinguishes that from Sumburgh Hotel's care-home role.
Does the bus stop at the lighthouse?
The official travel guide describes about a two-mile walk from Sumburgh Hotel. Plan that final section and the return connection.
Will the visitor centre be open whenever the cliffs are accessible?
Indoor facilities have their own seasonal arrangements. A landscape walk and entry to the heritage buildings are different visits.
Plan your visit
Build it into the day.
Scousburgh Sands and St Ninian's Isle provide other documented South Mainland landscapes. Jarlshof is a nearby archaeological attraction, but proximity alone should not be described as a filming credit.
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Map
Days out including this place
Continue with a prepared day out
Nearby
Continue through South Mainland
St Ninian’s Isle
Beach parties, smuggling and scenic sequences
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Scousburgh Sands
Beach discoveries especially in series 5
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Sandsayre Pier and the Mousa Boat
Mousa Boat filmed for series 7
See the location →