The Shetland islands are located in the northeast of Scotland and the Orkney Islands and are the point of separation of the Norwegian and North Seas. Of the more than a hundred islands of the archipelago, only 15 are inhabited.
Although the Shetland Islands are officially part of Scotland and therefore of the United Kingdom, they are still a separate world. It is interesting that the islands are territorially closer to the Norwegian Bergen, rather than to the Scottish Edinburgh, and began to belong to Scotland only in 1472, when the Danish King Christian I laid the Shetland and Orkney Islands to the Scots to secure his daughter with a dowry, and all subsequent attempts to return the lands proved to be inconclusive
The main island is Mainland with its capital in Lerwick. Other large inhabited islands are Barra, Trondra, Bressay, Vaila, Ell, Makl-Ro, Papa Stur, Walesi, Fetlar and Fula.
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Tourist centers
Lerwick Tourist Information Center is located in Lerwick on Market Cross Street. Opening hours: from April to October from 08:00 to 18:00, on weekends from 08:00 to 16:00; from November to March from 09:00 to 17:00 except the weekend.
Sumburgh Airport Tourist Information operates at the airport in Samburg. Opening hours: daily from 07:45 to 19:45, on Saturdays from 09:00 to 17:00, on Sunday from 10: 0 to 19:30.
How to get to Shetland Islands
Northlink Ferries carries out a ferry transportation between Lerwick and Kirkwall, as well as between Lerwick and Aberdeen (the fare for the passenger is 42 to 64 pounds, transport - 170 to 230 pounds, travel time 12-14 hours).
Shetland Islands Airport is 38 km away south of Lerwick, in a place called Sumburgh. On the day to the airport, there are 3-5 flights from Aberdeen, as well as flights from Orkney Islands, from London, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness.
Airline Ticketing to Edinburgh (the nearest Shetland Islands Airport)
Transportation
Rent a car will be much cheaper in Lerwick itself than at the airport. At the rental location of Bolts Car Hire on 26 North Rd, car rental will cost you 23 pounds per day if you rent a car for a week or 25 pounds for a 2-3 day rental.
Another rental location for Star Rent- a-Car, is located on 22 Commercial Rd and offers a car delivery service to and from the airport and to ferry pier all the Shetland Islands.
The bicycle can be rented at Grantfield Garage, located on North Rd Street, 7, 5 pounds per day or 45 pounds per week. However, it should be borne in mind that there is always very windy weather in Lerwick and there are only a few places where you can stop.
The climate of the Shetland Islands
The climate in the islands the subarctic marine, temperate, is influenced by the warm waters of the Atlantic. The summer is usually cool, the temperature rarely exceeds + 21 ° C. The weather is cloudy, humid and with precipitation for 200 days a year. Snowfall is possible at any time, although the snow does not lie for long. Often the formation of fog due to cooling by the sea of the southern winds
| The village on the island of Trondra |
| St Ninians Beach in Shetland Islands |
Shopping
A major shopping center is only in Lerwick - it's the Toll Clock Shopping Center, located on 26 North Road. Original souvenirs, Shetland sweaters, national music, books and much more can be purchased at Just Shetland on 113B Commercial Street
Cuisine
Shetland Islands are famous for their cuisine, and local products, ranging from lamb and ending with seafood, according to many, are considered the standard of quality. The most famous national dish is Reestit mutton - salted dried meat that is often served with Bannock bread or as part of potato soup
It is worth to try the local beer that is produced at the Valhalla brewery plant on the island of Anst and is distributed throughout the Shetland Islands.
Entertainment, excursions and attractions of the Shetland Islands
There are two ancient Norwegian settlements in the Shetland Islands , dating from the Bronze Age - Jarlshof Prehistoric & Norse Settlement in Sumburgh, and Tafts of Bayanne. Noteworthy is Fort Charlotte in Lerwick, built in 1665 and rebuilt in 1781.
On the island of Maynland, lovers of painting will find themselves in art galleries. One of them, the Bonhoga Gallery, is in Weisdale Bay in central Mainland and the second is Hoohevd Studio Gallery in Eshaness in northern Mainland. Another museum - Shetland Museum (Shetland Museum & Archives) - is located in Lerwick and stores archives and collections that reflect all aspects of the island's life. Open to visitors from 10:00 to 17:00, on Thursdays to 19:00
In the center of Lerwick, there is also the Clickimin Broch broth, which is a dry-laid fortress, typical only for Scotland. The very word translated from Old Norse means "fortress."
Fair Isle Island, located halfway between Shetland and Orkney Islands, is known for its knitwear. In addition, it is an ideal place for bird watching and exploring wild flowers. The birdwatching observatory is open from May 1 to October 30. The island is open to visitors all year round
The Hermaness Visitor Center National Nature Reserve is a fascinating reserve for more than 100,000 species of birds. About 16 thousand pairs of gannets and 10 thousand dead ends nest on the stunning sea cliffs. And the local marshes are home to the world's third largest colony of skuas. The reserve is located on the island of Anst.
In addition, Muness Castle is located on the island, built in 1598, and in the Haroldsvik settlement there is a museum dedicated to boats. And Anst is known for being the most northern point of Great Britain - the Muckle Flugga rock.
- Buy a warm knitted blouse on the Isle of Isle and do not leave it until the end of the trip. Suddenly freeze!
- Catch the lens of the camera nesting on the gullies of the gannets or cul-de-sacs, after first chasing them around the reserve
- It is obligatory to look at the gerbil, because this plant does not occur anywhere else in the world! The main thing is not to trample the most valuable copy!
- Get some fancy dress and take part in the traditional procession in honor of the winter solstice. The main thing is that the costume falls in the topic!
The naked rocky talus of the Keen of Hamar preserve the life of a unique collection of plants. And the star of the reserve is the gerbil "Edmondston's chickweed", which is not found anywhere else in the world. There is a nature reserve in the settlement of Boltasound, all on the same line An
Noss National Nature Reserve is located on Noss Island, where thousands of seabirds live and magnificent landscapes are guaranteed. Noss Island is separated from the island by Bressei by a narrow canal
Events
In the middle of winter in Lerwick, the annual Up Helly Aa festival is held - a medieval festival of the winter solstice, which has its roots in the Germanic peoples. The festival is accompanied by a folk procession in the city in national thematic suits
In Shetland Folk Festival in May in the Shetland Islands
Photo of the Shetland Islands (5)