SHETLAND is the most northern point of Scotland with a world-famous mix of Norse and Scots identity that thousands of people flock to experience every year.
With many from the islands identifying as Shetlandic rather than Scottish, the region has its own mythology, culture and dialect.
We’ve put together everything you need to know, including how to get to the island and a look at some of the best attractions available.
How to get to Shetland
As the most northern point of Scotland, the most common way to travel to the isles is by ferry.
NorthLink ferries depart from Aberdeen all year round, seven nights a week for Lerwick – the capital of Shetland and the administrative centre found on the largest island known as “the mainland”.
The ferry is an overnight voyage which lasts for 12 hours direct or 14 hours with a stop in Kirkwall, Orkney.
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Passengers can book cabins, sleeping pods or a reclining chair.
You can also fly to Shetland with Scottish airline Loganair from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Kirkwall and London. In the summer months, flights leave once a week from Bergen in Norway.
Things to do in Shetland
Shetland is known for its outdoors, wildlife, world-famous archaeology and culture.
The isles have been awarded UNESCO Global Geopark status with visitors encouraged to explore both land and sea with coastal scenery as the backdrop. It is also a popular spot for rock climbers to 110 of Scotland’s 275 sea stacks.
There are also boats to uninhabited islands such as Papa Stour and Foula. The Swan Trust also offers voyages on the Swan – launched in 1900 and since restored – around the Shetland Islands, and further afield including Orkney, the Western Isles, St Kilda, Mainland Scotland, Faroe, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
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Shetland is also famous for its ponies – a Scottish breed originating in the island – and visitors have the chance to take enjoy a ride with The Shetland Pony Experience in Burra.
Visitors can also keep an eye out for whales and puffins depending on the season.
Places to eat in Shetland
The No 88 Kitchen and Bar is number one on TripAdvisor, followed by Fjara Café Bar and The Dowry.
All three are known for their seafood and found within walking distance of each other in Lerwick.
If visitors fancy an adventure, Frankie’s Fish & Chips located with sea views on the shores of Busta Voe in Brae is famed as the most northerly fish and chip shop in the UK.
Where to stay in Shetland
Sheltand has eight hotels to choose from as well as 16 bed and breakfasts.
The isles also have several hostels, campgrounds and outdoor centres.
Stay Shetland has a useful site here to find all of the accommodation available on the islands.
Best time to visit Shetland
As any Shetlander would tell you, any time of the year is the best time to visit - but there are two events visitors may want to take into account when planning a trip.
Up Helly Aa
The Shetland Up Helly Aa fire festivals are not an ancient Viking festival, but rather a blend of history and reinterpretation which has created a unique Shetland tradition that embodies the unique identity of Shetland.
You can learn more about it here in the Shaetlan language.
Simmer Dim
From mid-May to mid-July, visitors can experience Simmer Dim - when the sun dips below the horizon just long enough to turn a sunset in to a sunrise.
The islands experience 19 hours of daylight and on the weekend closest to the summer solstice, June 21st, a motorbike rally is held.
Weather in Shetland
The sunniest months in Shetland are April to August.
In July and August, temperatures average between 14 and 18 degrees. As in most of Scotland, sometimes visitors will experience four seasons in one day.
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