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Archipelago in Scotland
Photo: Tuluqaruk, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Shetland Islands are the most northerly part of the United Kingdom, a group of islands 100 mi north of mainland Scotland. The largest town, Lerwick, is closer to Norway than to Edinburgh, and culturally and geographically they feel more Norse than Scottish. They're low-lying and treeless, divided by long fjords ("voes") and sparsely populated, but prosperous thanks to the oil industry.
By plane
Sumburgh Airport (LSI) is at the southern tip of mainland Shetland in the village of the same name, 25 miles south of Lerwick.
By boat
Northlink Ferries sail every night between Aberdeen and Lerwick. On four nights the journey is non-stop, leaving at 7PM to arrive for 7:30AM in both directions.
By plane
Inter-island flights are operated by Airtask (+44 1595 840246 for booking) on behalf of Shetland Islands Council, and fly from Tingwall Airport (LWK) 7 miles north of Lerwick, to Fair Isle (FIE) and…
By boat
The inhabited islands are served by ferries run by Shetland Islands Council — Calmac don't operate up here.
By car
With a motor vehicle you can access the vast majority of Shetland. The roads are in excellent condition to boot.
By bus
Lerwick Viking bus station is Shetland's transport hub. Buses run hourly to Scalloway and every 90 min to two hours to Sumburgh village and airport.
By bike
It's a big place, with gradients and stiff breezes, so allow plenty of time. Shetland isn't on the National Cycle Network and has no off-road trails, but the roads have only light traffic.
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Lerwick, Shetland · Regional · LSI
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