Shetland

[Gathursty]

I'm planning a getaway to Shetland in the February half-term, inspired by the BBC crime drama series.

I'm probably going to fly from Edinburgh Airport and stay for one or two days. Getting to Aberdeen and then the ferry is too long for me and there seems to be no flights from Liverpool/Manchester Airport either.

1) Anything interesting to look at that's public transport do-able?
2) How much is the bus from the airport?
3) Think the flight leaves 8 in the morning. That's too early to get to from Wigan so I'm thinking would seated passenger on the Lowland from Preston work/be a good night's sleep? Or a really budget hotel close to the airport?

 

[Blindtraveler]

I honestly would reconsider the ferry. It is so comfortable and such a nice way of travelling, and very sociable timings wise. Lowland sleeper does not pick up at Preston so you'd need hotel

 

[Gathursty]

I honestly would reconsider the ferry. It is so comfortable and such a nice way of travelling, and very sociable timings wise. Lowland sleeper does not pick up at Preston so you'd need hotel

Thanks for that about Preston. Annoyed with myself for mixing up the Lowlander and Highlander calling points.

Is the North Sea route calmer than the rather choppy Scilly Ferry I went on last year where half the passengers threw up all around me?

 

[Elwyn]

I think Sumburgh Airport to Lerwick is £2.90 single.

Bus Timetables | Shetland Travel Information

travel.shetland.org

The airport bus goes past Jarlshof which is a fairly famous ancient village. If there’s no-one in the ticket booth, you can still get in anyway. It’s all open.

https://www.historicenvironment.sco...rehistoric-and-norse-settlement/prices-times/

There’s a museum in Lerwick. You can take a bus out from Lerwick Bus station to the Northern Isles. A good cafe/restaurant/wine bar is Fjara on the seafront in Lerwick. (It featured in the closing episode of the most recent series of Shetland where Tosh & the DI go for a glass of wine and decide to have a bottle instead). The food’s very good there and you get a magnificent view across Lerwick harbour to Bressay. Seals and the odd otter are often seen from the cafe window..

https://www.fjaracoffee.com/

The most recent series featured quite a lot in Brae (25 miles north of Lerwick). It has a very highly rated fish & chip shop! Busta House hotel (the former Lord Lieutenant's home) is a good pub/hotel. If the bus is going on from Brae to St Magnus Bay, ask the driver to drop you at the end of the road to Busta.

Be aware that not every tourist spot is open in February. And the birds that many folk come for are generally seabirds that only come ashore to nest April - August. St Ninian’s Isle is famous. It’s a tombolo (a 2 sided beach) and has been in many episodes. It’s probably accessible by public transport. It’s near Bigton. I think there’s a minibus that connects with the airport bus several times a day. Service 7 Bigton & Quendale feeder.

https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/st-ninians-isle-p2571251

You’ll get some scenic views from the service buses that go to places like Walls, Brae and so on. Wrap up well and be prepared for rain. It’s generally wet and windy in February. And daylight is very short.

Be aware that not all of Shetland is filmed on Shetland. A lot of the scenes are done on the mainland, often around Glasgow! Any outside shots showing mature deciduous trees in the background are highly suspect. But the overall scenery is generally genuine enough. D/I Perez’s old home on the waterfront in Lerwick is easy enough to find. There’s a little short beach beside it. Don’t knock on the door as the real residents have had more than enough visitors!

The overnight ferry is very comfortable but it can get lumpy in February. The vessel could get to Lerwick from Aberdeen in about 7 or 8 hours but that would mean arriving at 03.00 which suits no-one, so what they do is switch one engine off for half the journey and cruise at about 10 knots, so they arrive around 0600. It can be good night’s sleep but a longish journey.

 

[paul1609]

When I've flown to Shetland for work there's generally been a Loganair flight from Edinburgh in the 16.00 to 17.00 ish slot, that would be a better bet from Wigan. If you can drive I'd recommend hiring a car the local firm is an agent for Avis and bizarrely it can be much cheaper arranging it through Avis than direct. They meet both the ferries and airport. The Sumburgh Hotel was also an option when I last stayed about 3 years ago. Unless you are a good sailor don't consider the ferry in winter, if you can't get a cabin don't consider the ferry ever!
When pricing the trip also consider Iceland or Torshaven (Faroes) both better holiday destinations IMHO.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Thanks for that about Preston. Annoyed with myself for mixing up the Lowlander and Highlander calling points.

Is the North Sea route calmer than the rather choppy Scilly Ferry I went on last year where half the passengers threw up all around me?

It can get a bit adventurous in winter on that route but equally I've had crossings in January that have been completely flat milk on calm. I wouldn't consider going any other way to Shetland myself, if you want to make use of the sleeper. I would join at Preston on the Highland service and have a day in Aberdeen before checking in for the ferry and if you think you're likely to feel unwell, then you simply just go to bed as soon as you board and stay there.

 

[childwallblues]

When I've flown to Shetland for work there's generally been a Loganair flight from Edinburgh in the 16.00 to 17.00 ish slot, that would be a better bet from Wigan. If you can drive I'd recommend hiring a car the local firm is an agent for Avis and bizarrely it can be much cheaper arranging it through Avis than direct. They meet both the ferries and airport. The Sumburgh Hotel was also an option when I last stayed about 3 years ago. Unless you are a good sailor don't consider the ferry in winter, if you can't get a cabin don't consider the ferry ever!
When pricing the trip also consider Iceland or Torshaven (Faroes) both better holiday destinations IMHO.

The Sumburgh Hotel is still going? I stayed there in May 1970 when working for the Board of Trade. In those days the Airport was closed in the evening and the runway and taxiway got lots of learner drivers.

 

[Elwyn]

The Sumburgh Hotel is still going? I stayed there in May 1970 when working for the Board of Trade. In those days the Airport was closed in the evening and the runway and taxiway got lots of learner drivers.

Sumburgh Hotel is still going. The hotel website doesn’t fully highlight the portakabin type extensions round the back of the original building. But it is still very popular.

Homepage |

www.sumburghhotel.com

It has done fairly well over the years since 1970 from fog and wind delays. For many years, it was often fully booked with lots of folk in sleeping bags in the lounge at night, most of whom dined and drank well. Covid also helped with folk having to isolate there in their rooms for a certain number of days before coming and going to the rigs.

Airport is normally shut at night and it is still theoretically possible to get on the runway as you describe, though I am sure these days there are security staff there to challenge you. But it’s still a fairly relaxed regime. The road from the terminal building up to Lerwick crosses the western end of one of the runways. There’s a set of traffic lights that go red when something is landing or taking off. When they were installed (in the 1980s I think) they were the only traffic lights on Shetland. Local folk used to come and look at them. What can I say?

 

[Gathursty]

Having had a good look at Loganair and Northlink Timetables for Easter instead of February, my plan is to stay at a hotel somewhere in between Aberdeen Harbour and Aberdeen (Dyce) Airport and fly one way and sail the other or vice versa.

 

[Elwyn]

The Viking Bus station in Lerwick is on Commercial Rd and is about a 10 minute walk from the Northlink Ferry terminal.

There’s a quite reasonable cafe in the bus station. Also Dowry cafe/wine bar is not too far away in Commercial St and is also good quality.

 

[matchmaker]

It's not the best place to use public transport. To get to many of the locations in "Shetland" you need a car. We are going up in June as it's our Ruby anniversary - we were married there, and are taking our car on the ferry.

 

[Gathursty]

It's not the best place to use public transport. To get to many of the locations in "Shetland" you need a hire car.

On Shetland, I'd like to see St Ninians Beach, Lerwick, Scalloway and ****t.

I presume the Airport to Lerwick has a bus timed with the plane or hopefully a regular service that may call at Bigton for St Ninians beach along the way. If not, I don't mind paying a bit for a taxi.

Orkney seems to have a better bus network based on a couple of Google searches.

 

[Cheshire Scot]

Having had a good look at Loganair and Northlink Timetables for Easter instead of February, my plan is to stay at a hotel somewhere in between Aberdeen Harbour and Aberdeen (Dyce) Airport and fly one way and sail the other or vice versa.

The ferry terminal in Aberdeen is very close to the station and several hotels in close proximity - I have stayed in the Leonardo several time but of course other hotels are available.
Manchester does have flights to/from Aberdeen.