Travel Information

Getting to Shetland by Sea

Shetland is located 211 miles north of Aberdeen. It can be accessed by ferry (operated by NorthLink Ferries Ltd) from Aberdeen and Orkney. There are sailings from Aberdeen at either 1730 or 1900 every evening, with the journey to Lerwick taking approximately 12 hours (14 hours if the sailing goes via Kirkwall).  To make a booking, call their reservations line on +44 (0) 845 6000 449.  Timetables and other information can be found on their website: www.northlinkferries.co.uk.

Getting to Shetland by Air

Shetland is also accessible by daily flights (operated by FlyBe). There are direct flights from Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Orkney, and can also be reached by flights leaving Inverness (via Orkney). The main airport in Shetland is Sumburgh in the south mainland, which is 25 miles by road from Lerwick.

Timetables can be accessed via the Flybe website: http://www.flybe.com/timetableService/bookingTimetable.do

Car Hire

Exploring Shetland by car gives you the freedom to explore the Isles at your leisure.  A number of car hire firms operate in Shetland and they can arrange to meet you at your point of arrival.  Click here for a list of car hire firms.

Internal Public Transport

Inter-Island Ferry Services - Shetland Islands Council operates a fleet of 12 ferries providing lifeline services from mainland Shetland to the islands of Bressay, Yell, Unst, Fetlar, Whalsay, Skerries, Papa Stour and Fair Isle.  In addition Atlantic Ferries operate a service to Foula under contract to SIC.  Ferry timetables can be accessed via the Shetland Islands Council website:

Bus Services - Local bus service operators provide an essential service to many rural communities throughout Shetland.  Bus timetables can be accessed via the ZetTrans website: http://www.zettrans.org.uk/bus/BusTimetables.asp

Inter-Island Air Service - The inter-island air service offers a quick mode of travel to Fair Isle, Foula, Skerries and Papa Stour. The service is provided by Directflight under contract to the Shetland Island Council and is based at Tingwall Airport.  Inter-island air service timetables can be accessed via the Shetland Islands Council website: http://www.shetland.gov.uk/transport/air/

Further Information

Local travel agent John Leask and Son, will be happy to arrange any aspect of your holiday to Shetland including travel, accommodation and car hire.  Their specialised team can tailor your holiday to suit your individual needs.  Further information on John Leask and Son and their services can be found on their website: www.leaskstravel.co.uk