Shetland Islands
From Wikitravel
Contents
The Shetland Islands [1] are an archipelago in Scotland. Composed of over one hundred islands, of which fifteen are inhabited, Shetland is located more than 100 miles North of the Scottish Mainland. Today, the local economy is very dependent on the fishing industry and public services. Although there is limited evidence of its presence, the North Sea oil industry is still important and tourism, agriculture and knitwear are also part of the economic picture.
[edit] Islands
- Mainland -- the main island in the group
- Yell
- Unst - the northernmost inhabited island in the UK
- Fetlar
- Whalsay
- Out Skerries
- Bressay
- Papa Stour
- Foula
- Fair Isle
[edit] Towns & Villages
[edit] Towns
[edit] Villages
[edit] Other destinations
[edit] Understand
[edit] Talk
[edit] Get in
The main transport links to Shetland are to and from the Scottish Mainland.
[edit] By sea
- Northlink Ferries provide a daily passenger and vehicle service to Aberdeen which also calls in at Kirkwall in Orkney up to twice a week depending on the time of year.
- Smyril Line operated weekly ferries to and from Lerwick to Hanstholm (Denmark), Tórshavn (Faroe Islands), Bergen (Norway) and Seyðisfjørður (Iceland) but this service was withdrawn from September 2007. There is a possibility that a new service will link Norway, Shetland and Scotland from 2008 or 2009.
[edit] By air
- Loganair provide the only scheduled passenger air service to the Scottish Mainland. This operates from Sumburgh Airport which is located 30 miles south of Lerwick. Flights operate to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Kirkwall.
- Atlantic Airways provide a twice weekly service (June to October) to London (Stansted).
[edit] Get around
[edit] By sea
The inhabited islands are served by regular ferries, operated by Shetland Islands Council.
[edit] By air
Loganair operates flights from Tingwall Airport (10km from Lerwick) to the islands of Foula, Out Skerries, Papa Stour and the Fair Isle, as well as Sumburgh to Fair Isle and Whalsay to Out Skerries services.
[edit][add listing] See
[edit][add listing] Do
The Shetland Folk Festival Every May. Concerts and random assemblages of musicians in halls and pubs all over mainland and the outlying islands. The range of music on offer is truly eclectic - local, European and the Americas commonly appearing together in one programme - and the atmosphere is unique - long tables of concertgoers of all ages crammed into village halls,with concerts running well into the night(and night falls late in Shetland in May!)
Sea Kayaking Seasonal
[edit][add listing] Eat
Some of the better eating options in Lerwick include Monty's bistro, the Olive Tree (daytime only, in the Toll Clock Shopping Centre), the Queen's Hotel and the Peerie Shop Café. There are a couple of good curry houses, two places doing Chinese and Thai and several takeaways, including excellent fish and chips. Outside Lerwick, from north to south, some possibilities include the St Magnus Bay Hotel, Eshaness Café, the Booth at Hillswick, Busta House Hotel, the St Ninian's Isle Café and Spiggie Hotel.
[edit][add listing] Drink
In Lerwick, the best place to sample local music and simultaneously imbibe is upstairs in the Lounge Bar, where there are regular sessions.
Out of the town to the north there are several places to visit for a drink including the Mid Brae Inn (Brae), Pierhead Restaurant (Voe), and the century old St Magnus Bay Hotel (Hillswick).
[edit] Stay safe
Shetland is a relatively safe place. The main hazards, if you stray off the beaten track, tend to be Bonxies (Great Skuas) and Scooty Alans (Arctic Skuas), which will dive-bomb you if you stray anywhere near their nests. Hold a stick above your head, but more importantly move out of their territory.
[edit] Get out
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