# How does one get to the Shetland islands? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 1, 2013, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-to-the-shetland-islands/675220 "2013-12-01T18:41:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-to-the-shetland-islands/675220/1 "2013-12-01T18:41:39Z")
Is there commercial air traffic? Chartered air traffic only? Ferry? Could there possibly be a very, very long bridge? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-to-the-shetland-islands/675220/2 "2013-12-01T18:49:45Z")
I googled “transportation to Shetland Islands”. [http://www.lonelyplanet.com/scotland/highlands-and-northern-islands/shetland-islands/transport/getting-there-away](http://www.lonelyplanet.com/scotland/highlands-and-northern-islands/shetland-islands/transport/getting-there-away) ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-to-the-shetland-islands/675220/3 "2013-12-01T18:50:26Z")
By pony? Or go here to book a flight: [Flights to Shetland | Shetland.org](http://visit.shetland.org/by-air) ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-to-the-shetland-islands/675220/4 "2013-12-01T18:56:59Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > By pony? Or sheepdog. (Proud owner of a Shetland Sheepdog). ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-to-the-shetland-islands/675220/5 "2013-12-01T19:33:40Z")
I flew there on a scheduled flight from Aberdeen. It is a very scenic flight, overflying the Orkneys and Fair Isle at relatively low level. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-to-the-shetland-islands/675220/6 "2013-12-01T21:12:59Z")
There are regular [ferry services](http://www.shetland.gov.uk/ferries/mapofservices.asp#Route) from the mainland to the Shetland Islands, which have the additional advantage of allowing you to take your car there. ---
**Author:** ![Dahu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahu/32/3416_2.png) [@Dahu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahu)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-to-the-shetland-islands/675220/7 "2013-12-01T22:00:50Z")
There’s no bridge. ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-to-the-shetland-islands/675220/8 "2013-12-01T22:33:55Z")
Tardis. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-to-the-shetland-islands/675220/9 "2013-12-01T22:55:25Z")
> [@Schnitte](#): > > There are regular [ferry services](http://www.shetland.gov.uk/ferries/mapofservices.asp#Route) from the mainland to the Shetland Islands, which have the additional advantage of allowing you to take your car there. I see that the ferry from Aberdeen takes approximately 13 hours. Yikes. ---
**Author:** ![JessMagic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c0e974/32.png) [@JessMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JessMagic)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-to-the-shetland-islands/675220/10 "2013-12-02T03:06:33Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > I see that the ferry from Aberdeen takes approximately 13 hours. Yikes. It does, and there’s a fair chance you might experience some of this: > **[YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/index?app=desktop&&desktop_uri=%2F)** > > Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. Think I’ll take the plane… ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-to-the-shetland-islands/675220/11 "2013-12-02T03:32:52Z")
> [@JessMagic](#): > > It does, and there’s a fair chance you might experience some of this: > > [YouTube](http://m.youtube.com/index?&desktop_uri=%2F#/watch?v=e-VWeu-pKu8) > > Think I’ll take the plane… Link doesn’t take me to a video, but I imagine it’s of rough water. Nooooooo thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-to-the-shetland-islands/675220/12 "2013-12-02T03:51:06Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > Link doesn’t take me to a video, but I imagine it’s of rough water. Nooooooo thank you! Based on the URL that was given, I think this is the actual [link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-VWeu-pKu8). It’s titled “Actual footage ferry to shetland” And yeah. I’d be SO seasick. Shame…it could almost be fun 🙂 ETA: The parts I watched were from the inside of the ferry. Impressive movement. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-to-the-shetland-islands/675220/13 "2013-12-02T10:16:19Z")
I should add that they are a popular port of call for cruise ships. Probably the most likely way for Americans to go there. [http://www.princess.com/excursion/exlistfordestination.do?portid=LWK|&exType=S&t=F](http://www.princess.com/excursion/exlistfordestination.do?portid=LWK%7C&exType=S&t=F) ---
**Author:** ![JessMagic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c0e974/32.png) [@JessMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JessMagic)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-to-the-shetland-islands/675220/14 "2013-12-02T16:10:42Z")
> [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](#): > > Based on the URL that was given, I think this is the actual [link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-VWeu-pKu8). > It’s titled “Actual footage ferry to shetland” > > And yeah. I’d be SO seasick. Shame…it could almost be fun 🙂 > ETA: The parts I watched were from the inside of the ferry. Impressive movement. Yup that was what I was trying to link to, don’t know what happened there! ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-to-the-shetland-islands/675220/15 "2013-12-02T16:39:33Z")
Would be one hell of a bridge - the distance from Thurso to Lerwick is about 170 miles. There’s regular air service from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness. Plus the aforementioned ferry from Aberdeen, if you enjoy vomiting. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-to-the-shetland-islands/675220/16 "2013-12-02T17:31:58Z")
Why isn’t that furniture in the ferry bolted down to the floor? I can’t imagine them putting up with it sliding all over the deck every trip. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-to-the-shetland-islands/675220/17 "2013-12-02T18:19:54Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Why isn’t that furniture in the ferry bolted down to the floor? I can’t imagine them putting up with it sliding all over the deck every trip. That’s what I thought. The ferries from the mainland to Orkney have the furniture (the tables anyway) securely fastened, and I find it hard to believe the Shetland ferry doesn’t too. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-to-the-shetland-islands/675220/18 "2013-12-02T18:34:23Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > By pony? Wouldn’t a pony (or a sheepdog) drown? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-to-the-shetland-islands/675220/19 "2013-12-02T18:50:00Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Why isn’t that furniture in the ferry bolted down to the floor? I can’t imagine them putting up with it sliding all over the deck every trip. Because the footage is actually from a big ass cruise ship where size and stabilization make people complacent enough to leave furniture loose: [P&O Pacific Sun cruise ship caught in storm off New Zealand coast | Daily Mail Online](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1310056/P-O-Pacific-Sun-cruise-ship-caught-storm-New-Zealand-coast.html) ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-to-the-shetland-islands/675220/20 "2013-12-02T19:53:06Z")
My sister and I took the ferry from Aberdeen, had a short stay (2 nights?) in Lerwick, then on to Stavanger in Norway. Great trip! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-to-the-shetland-islands/675220.md?page=2)