The Shetland Islands of Scotland have been ranked as one of the top ten regions in the world to visit in 2011.
The region is described in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2011 guide as the “last untamed corner of the UK” while advising “adventurous travellers to step this way”.
The complete list is: Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula (1), Istria (2), Marquesas Islands (3), Cappadocia (4), Westfjords (5), Shetland Islands (6), Great Barrier Reef (7), US West Coast (8), Chilean Patagonia (9) and Gili Islands (10).
The top ten countries for next year are Albania (1), Brazil (2), Cape Verde (3), Panama (4), Bulgaria (5), Vanuatu (6), Italy (7), Tanzania (8), Syria (9) and Japan (10).
The top ten cities are ranked as New York City (1), Tangier (2), Tel Aviv (3), Wellington (4), Valencia (5), Iquitos (6), Ghent (7), Delhi (8), Newcastle in Australia (9) and Chiang Mai (10).
The annual guide to the 2011’s hottest journeys, destinations and experiences also ranks Glasgow as one of the world’s top “comeback” cities and Edinburgh is spotlighted as an artistic destination.
London joins Edinburgh as one of the world’s artistic hot-spots. The book also identifies vampire-spotting as one of the hot new trends for next year, with Whitby in North Yorkshire a prime pilgrimage point for Dracula fans.
Key trends identified for 2011 include super-luxe travel, best value destinations and the best places for dance fever.
Lonely Planet spokesman Tom Hall said: “This year’s picks for Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2011 reflect the passion for discovery that our readers have.
“It’s no surprise then that we’ve singled out a little-known but beautiful and rewarding corner of the UK as a must-see next year. The Shetland Islands have a huge amount to offer wildlife-watchers, outdoor enthusiasts and culture buffs.”