Metamorphic rocks of Shetland: Yell, Unst and Fetlar - Earthwise Metamorphic rocks of Shetland: Yell, Unst and Fetlar From Earthwise From: Mykura, W. 1976. British regional geology: Orkney and Shetland . Edinburgh, Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Contents Geological sketch-map of Shetland. P915566. Geological sketch-map of Unst and Fetlar . P915571. Funzie Conglomerate, south-east coast of Fetlar (W. Mykura). P535973. Structural map of Unst and Fetlar. P915572. File:P915601.jpg Nappe Pile, Unst. Major tectonic blocks. P915601. The northern isles of Shetland contain two major geological units. The western unit ( P915566 ) comprises the whole of Yell, the western half of Unst and the most westerly peninsula of Fetlar.

It consists of highly metamorphosed and, to a large extent, intensely migmatised metasedimentary gneisses which have some characteristics in common with the migmatised lower divisions of the East Mainland Succession. The eastern unit comprises the eastern half of Unst and most of Fetlar and is separated from the rocks to the west by a major thrust zone. It consists of a number of shear-bounded blocks of serpentinite, metagabbro and phyllite which are part of two major nappes that were emplaced at a high structural level. The tectonised phyllites between and below the nappes consist of slices or ‘schuppen’ of rock cut from the basement and from the nappes, and of newly-formed sediments derived by erosion from the nappes and the basement. These rocks were converted to their present phyllitic state at the time of nappe emplacement by retrogressive metamorphism of the slices of gneiss, hornblende-schist and metagabbro and by prograde metamorphism of the newly deposited sediments.

The western metasediments of the northern isles are collectively termed the Basement and the eastern nappes are called the Nappe Pile (Flinn 1958) [1] . Basement (and Saxa Vord Block of Unst) Yell The greater part of Yell consists of garnetiferous mica-plagioclase-gneiss which has been tentatively correlated with the Yell Sound Division of Shetland Mainland. Its foliation trends north–north–west in the north of the island, roughly north—south in the centre and north-north-east in the south. The clip of the foliation is generally steep and its overall inclination is to the west, but in the south-east corner of the island it is vertical or steeply inclined to the east.

The north-eastern coastal strip of Yell, the island of Hascosay ( P915571 , P915572 ) and the south-eastern corner of Yell are underlain by striped granulitic oligoclase-gneiss which contains large masses of hornblende-gneiss, some bands of calc-silicate rock and a band of gneiss with augen of microcline. These outcrops form part of a strip of rock which seems to be separated from the main mass of Yell by a major dislocation which could be a branch of the Nesting Fault. It may well form part of the structural unit which includes the western (foreland) blocks of Unst and Fetlar . West of the eastern coastal strip of Yell a sequence of six poorly defined lithological units can be recognised, but none of these form continuous belts throughout the length of the island. The most easterly belt exposed on the east coast between Basta Voe (HU 53 95) and Mid Yell Voe (HU 52 91) consists of mica-schist with small lenticular masses of siliceous granulite.

This is followed westwards by a more massive gneissose rock with many veins of pegmatite, which is in turn succeeded by ﬂaggy siliceous and semipelitic schists which form the Hills of Lussetter (HU 52 90) and Vatsie (HU 52 88) south of Mid Yell Voe. The centre of the island is traversed by silvery garnetiferous mica-schists (semipelites) which contain a thick lenticular quartzite. The latter gives rise to the highest ground in Yell, which includes the Hill of Arisdale (HU 50 85) and the Ward of Reafirth (HU 51 88). West of this horizon there is a wide belt of garnetiferous oligoclase-mica-gneiss (semipelite) which is in places intensely migmatised and contains many coarse red granite and oligoclase-pegmatite veins. This migmatised belt takes in the northern and north-western parts of Yell and contains some areas in which sillimanite and tourmaline are developed.

The western coastal cliffs of Yell consist mainly of evenly foliated muscovite-biotite-gneiss together with some silvery mica-schists, but the stretch between West Sand Wick [44 89] and the Ness of Sound (HU 45 82) contains, in addition, lenses of hornblendic and siliceous gneiss and very abundant dykes of pegmatite. Unst The western part of Unst consists of two principal tectonic units or ‘blocks’ known as the Valla Field and Saxa Vord blocks (Read 1934c) [2] . These are separated from each other and from the Nappe Pile to the east by major shear zones full of lenticular rock-slices. The Saxa Vord Block is not strictly part of the Basement and is included under this heading only for ease of description. The principal lithological units of these blocks are set out below (see also P915571 ).

The Valla Field Block forms the hilly western part of Unst and is bounded on the east by a belt of dislocation, which is now followed by the prominent valley, marked by a string of lochs, that extends southwards from the head of Burra Firth to Belmont. The foliation of the rocks in this block has an overall north-north-easterly trend and is generally inclined at varying angles to the east-south-east. Most of the outcrop is thought to form part of the eastern limb of a major north—south trending antiform, the axial trace of which passes through the outcrop of the Westing Group. The rocks forming the block are mostly of sedimentary origin, but at Lunda Wick (HU 56 04) there are some zoned ultrabasic bodies which grade outwards from a core of antigorite to actinolite, chlorite and biotite. The rocks have been extensively migmatised and intruded by a network of sills and sheets of granite and pegmatite and later by dykes and sills of spessartite.

Valla Field Block Siliceous and quartzo-feldspathic ﬂags with subordinate mica-schists. West 1 Loch of Clift Limestone This table is based on Read’s (1934c) interpretation of the structure. Flinn (1958) [1] suggests that groups 1, 4 and 5 of the Saxa Vord Block are not part of this block, but belong to the Lower Schuppen Zone of the Nappe Pile (see Structural synopsis and P915572). Read (l934c [2] , 1937 [3] ) has shown that the block was aﬂected by three episodes of metamorphism. The first was a period of high-temperature, high-stress prograde regional metamorphism which affected the whole block, and was connected with the main epoch of deformation. At this stage kyanite, staurolite, garnet and biotite were formed in the pelites; and diopside, phlogopite, epidote, idocrase and plagioclase in the calcareous rocks.

The widespread migmatisation and veining by pegmatite and granite may have accompanied or closely followed this phase. The second episode was a retrograde metamorphism which affected only the southern half of the block. At this time the minerals staurolite and garnet were partially or completely converted to chloritoid and chlorite, and in the calcareous rocks diopside was altered to tremolite. The intensity of retrograde metamorphism increased towards the south. The third episode was a dislocation metamorphism which was confined to the immediate vicinity of the shear zone bounding the block in the east. At this stage the minerals formed during the earlier metamorphic episodes were broken down into chlorite and a chlorite-phyllite was produced. The Saxa Vord Block forms the high hills of northern Unst just east of Burra Firth, but thins southward from there to form (according to Read) a narrow irregular belt between two shear zones which converge just south of the Loch of Watlee (HU 60 05).

In the northern part of the outcrop the main rock types are dark grey chloritoid-kyanite-schists (the Saxa Vord Schists) and quartzo-feldspathic ﬂags (the Queyhouse Flags). The schists must be of considerable thickness and their foliation clips at a moderate angle to the east-south-east. Further south the various lithological units are close together and each unit may be a separate tectonic lens (see Structural synopsis ). The rocks of the Saxa Vord block are not migmatised and pegmatite veins are confined to the Queyhouse Flags. The metamorphic history of the block, based largely on evidence from the Saxa Vord Schists, falls into three episodes (Key 1972) [4] . The first of these was a phase of prograde metamorphism throughout the block, which produced staurolite, biotite and garnet. The second led to the partial destruction of these earlier minerals and the formation of kyanite, chloritoid, paragonite and chlorite. The third phase was characterised by the production of chlorite and the destruction of minerals produced by both the earlier episodes.

The effects of the first and second metamorphisms are seen throughout most of the block, but those of the third metamorphism are confined to areas adjacent to boundary dislocations. Spessartite sills and dykes were intruded at some time between the second and third metamorphisms. There was also a late localised phase of thermal metamorphism, which produced sillimanite and new chloritoid. Fetlar In Fetlar the Basement forms most of the Lamb Hoga Peninsula and has been termed the Lamb Hoga Block. Like the Valla Field Block of Unst it comprises high-grade staurolite-sillimanite-kyanite-gneisses and garnet-bearing migmatitic gneisses which have been subjected to extensive retrograde metamorphism characterised by the development of chlorite and muscovite and by the localised growth of porphyroblasts of chloritoid. The rocks consist of two belts of pelitic gneiss separated by a broad belt of siliceous and semipelitic gneisses. In the eastern pelitic gneiss there are bands of metamorphic limestone, and both pelites contain lenses, sills and veins of granite, pegmatite and quartz.

At Moo Wick, at the south-east corner of Lamb Hoga, a 100 m-wide band of siliceous gneiss is intensely kaolinitised and there is here a small deposit of pure kaolin derived from this gneiss. The Lamb Hoga Block is separated from the rocks to the east by the Lamb Hoga Fault. Nappe pile Unst East of the zone of movement which limits the Saxa Vord and, further south, the Valla Field Block, there are a number of tectonic blocks of metamorphosed igneous and sedimentary rocks. The major blocks in this area P915571 are as P915601 below: Skaw Granite Block Blocks composed of serpentinite and metagabbro Main Serpentine and Greenstone Block Mu Ness Serpentine and Greenstone Block Muness Phyllitic Block The serpentinites give rise to hills with ochre-brown-weathering rock outcrops which form such a characteristic feature of the landscape of Unst. The Main Serpentine and Greenstone Block has a number of compositional zones which trend parallel to its western and north-western margin.

These consist, from west to east, of the following rock types: (1) peridotite-serpentinite; (2) dunite-serpentinite; (3) pyroxenite, and (4) metagabbro (‘greenstone’). This block appears to be part of a tilted weakly metamorphosed igneous mass whose lower (western) ultrabasic part may have been differentiated in situ, but whose upper, basic, part was possibly intruded slightly later. The serpentinite contains pockets of chromite which were formerly quarried (see Other non-ferrous ores ). The ultrabasic rocks are altered along the thrusts bounding the blocks, and along certain dislocations within them, into antigorite-serpentinite, talc and, locally, chlorite-schist. Talc of commercial quality occurs at Queyhouse just east of Loch of Clift and also along the margin of the Clibberswick Block at Clibberswick (see Talc ). The Skaw Granite Block is bounded on the west by a major shear zone.

It consists of a pink foliated augen-granite, the augen being red potash- feldspars which reach a length of 8 cm and are set in a granulitic base of quartz and mica. Over most of its outcrop the augen-granite contains large and small xenoliths of metasediment, mostly siliceous granulites and ghosts of pelite. According to Read (1934c, p.677) [2] the foliation of the granite, the orientation of the feldspar phenocrysts and the attitude of the stratification of the xenoliths are all coincident, and have an overall north-easterly to easterly strike. Some of the xenoliths contain feldspar porphyroblasts which are similar to the large feldspars in the granite. The Muness Phyllitic Block forms a large outcrop of phyllite with rare bands of schistose conglomerate. The rocks within it are of low metamorphic grade, and they have not been subjected to an earlier high-grade metamorphism.

The phyllites have a typical ‘woody’ fibrous structure which is due to intense microfolding combined with a linear fabric. Later kink-folding of the lineation is common. In addition to the blocks enumerated above there are two small tectonic blocks composed of hornblendic and graphitic schists and phyllites in the Norwick area. The individual blocks of Unst are in places separated by very fine-grained silvery phyllonites, which are parts of the schuppen-zones and are essentially mylonitised pelitic gneisses. Fetlar The greater part of Fetlar consists of a number of shear-bounded thrust blocks of serpentinite, metagabbro and phyllite which bear a complex structural relationship to each other ( P915571 ). There are three serpentinite blocks termed from west to east the Hamars Ness Black (serpentinite and metagabbro), the Vord Hill Block (peridotite-serpentinite) and the Hesta Ness Block. The serpentinites are generally ochreous-weathering but contain varying amounts of bastite which produces a rough-weathering rock.

As in Unst the serpentinite is altered to antigorite-serpentinite and locally to talc close to the bounding shear planes. The small Hesta Ness Block in north-east Fetlar is completely altered to antigorite and steatite and contains bands of pure talc which have been exploited commercially in the past. In addition to the serpentinite blocks there are a number of highly complex shear-bounded zones which consist of varying proportions of phyllite, strongly lineated graphite-schist, phyllitised metagabbro (‘greenstone’-phyllite) and schistose conglomerate with small, highly elongated pebbles. These zones also contain small masses of serpentinite, metagabbro and migmatitic gneiss. Of particular interest are the schistose conglomerates which are best seen along the coast at Uriesetter west of Vord Hill and which contain cigar-shaped pebbles of metagabbro (indistinguishable from that in the Hamars Ness Block), quartz-albite-porphyry, granophyre and material derived from the underlying sediment.

Most of the eastern peninsula of Fetlar is occupied by a great thickness (at least 1200 m) of conglomerate. This conglomerate, known as the Funzie Conglomerate, consists of strongly deformed pebbles of quartzite with subordinate biotite-albite-granite, granophyre, quartz-albite-porphyry and, locally, basic igneous rock, and rare pebbles of marble. These are set in a phyllitic matrix which is rich in elastic quartz and also contains chlorite, epidote and sericite of metamorphic origin. The pebbles are most strongly deformed in the south-west of the outcrop, close to the faulted western margin of the conglomerate, where they appear as somewhat elongated discs ( P535973 ). Farther east the pebbles are almost cigar-shaped and strongly elongated along the regional lineation. Structural synopsis Flinn (1958) [1] has put forward an interpretation of the complex structure of Unst and Fetlar and the following summary is based on his work.

The ‘Basement’ is formed of the metamorphic rocks of the Valla Field and Lamb Hoga blocks, together with the migmatitic gneisses which underlie the whole of Yell and part of Shetland Mainland. The Valla Field and Lamb Hoga rocks have been tentatively correlated with the Scatsta Division of Mainland (Flinn and others 1972, fig. 1) [5] . The Saxa Vord Block of Unst, which is separated from the Valla Field Block by a major shear zone, could be either an early nappe of the Nappe Pile, or could have been emplaced separately at a much earlier date. The schists forming the greater part of this block bear a strong mineralogical resemblance to the Dunrossness Phyllites of Mainland. The Nappe Pile consists of two major nappes separated from each other and from the basement by schuppen or imbricate zones. The Lower Schuppen Zone extends along the central depression of Unst from Queyhouse southward to Belmont and includes Read’s narrow southward extension of the Saxa Vord Block ( P915571 ).

This belt contains tectonic slices of phyllite, limestone and hornblende-schist which, as far as can be observed, dip at 45° to 90° to the east. The zone is not exposed in Fetlar, where it is apparently cut out by the Lamb Hoga Fault. The Lower Nappe is represented by the Main and Mu Ness serpentine blocks of Unst and by the Hamars Ness and Hesta Ness serpentine blocks in Fetlar. In the greater part of Unst the lower surface of the nappe dips steeply eastwards. In south-east Unst and in Fetlar, however, parts of the nappe reappear to the east of tectonically higher rocks, suggesting that here the nappe is folded into a south-south-west-plunging synform, ( P915572 ). The Middle Schuppen Zone overlies the lower nappe. In Unst it is represented in the north by the small tectonic blocks of phyllitic, graphitic and hornblendic rocks around Norwick, and in the south by the Muness Phyllite.

In Fetlar it forms all but one of the small blocks of phyllite, graphite-schist, metagabbro, migmatite, etc. exposed in the central section of the island. On the west and east sides of Vord Hill these are conspicuously overthrust by the Vord Hill Serpentine. Similarly, the schuppen-zone of Norwick in Unst is overthrust by the Clibberswick Serpentine. The Upper Nappe is best seen in Fetlar, where it is represented by the extensive outcrop of the Vord Hill Serpentine. This appears to occupy the core of a synform and is separated from the underlying rocks of the Middle Schuppen Zone by an inward-dipping thrust plane, exposed both in the east and west. Though the evidence is not conclusive, it is assumed that this thrust has a synclinal shape and is continuous below the entire serpentinite outcrop. On Unst the upper nappe is represented by the Clibberswick Block, which is lithologically identical with the Vord Hill Block. On Fetlar the remains of an Upper Schuppen Zone may be preserved.

They form a small outcrop of hornblende-schist, serpentinite and phyllite which is exposed at Aith Ness on the south side of the island and which overlies the Vord Hill Serpentine. The Funzie Conglomerate appears to be an integral part of the Nappe Pile but its relationship to the latter’s structural units is not clear. The nappes appear to have been cut from an ultrabasic and basic layered intrusion which had suffered low-grade metamorphism prior to the formation of the nappes. The lower nappe is in places several kilometres thick and the upper nappe has a thickness of over 1½ km. As the Middle Schuppen Zone contains low-grade metasediments and hornblende-schists which do not occur in either the basement or the nappes, it is likely that the upper nappe, at least, has moved a considerable distance to its present position. The phyllites of the Middle Schuppen Zone also contain much material which appears to be derived by subaerial erosion and re-deposition from the rocks which now form the nappes.

This suggests that the lower nappe was exposed at the surface and being actively eroded before the upper nappe was emplaced, and that both nappes were formed at a very high tectonic level. After the emplacement of the nappes the whole nappe-pile was folded into a great synform plunging to the south-south-west with limbs dipping at 45° or more. Garson and Plant (1973) [6] have suggested that the ultrabasic rocks of the Nappe Pile are the remnants of an ophiolite complex and that the thrusts bounding the individual nappes have acted as subduction shear planes. They have correlated the Unst—Fetlar subduction zone with that extending along the Highland Boundary Fault of the Scottish Mainland. Plant and others (in press) [7] have carried out a detailed investigation into the distribution of trace quantities of metal ores within the complex. Bibliography Full bibliography list ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 FLINN, D. 1958. On the nappe structure of North-East Shetland. Q. Jnl geol. Soc.

Lond., 114, 107–36. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 READ, H H. 1934c. The Metamorphic Geology of Unst in the Shetland Islands. Q. Jnl geol. Soc. Lond., 90, 637–88. ↑ READ, H H. 1937. Metamorphic Correlation in the Polymetamorphic Rocks of the Valla Field Block, Unst, Shetland Islands. Trans. R. Soc. Edinb., 59, 195–221. ↑ KEY, R M. 1972. A study of the metamorphic histories of the Saxa Vord, Valla Field and Lamb Hoga blocks of north-east Shetland. Ph.D. thesis, University of Liverpool. (unpublished). ↑ FLINN, D, MAY, F, ROBERTS, J L, and TREAGUS, J E. 1972. A revision of the stratigraphic succession of the East Mainland of Shetland. Scott.

Jnl Geol., 8, 335–43. ↑ GARSON, M S, and PLANT, J A. 1973. Alpine type ultramaﬁc rocks and episodic mountain building in the Scottish Highlands. Nature Phys. Sci., 242, 34–38. ↑ PLANT, J, SIMPSON P R, and BOWLES, J F W. The origin and distribution of native metal, alloy, sulphide and arsenide phases in the Unst ophiolite assemblage, Shetland, Trans. Inst. Min. Met., in press. Fetlar | Shetland.org Live Here Fetlar Although there are now fewer than 100 inhabitants in Fetlar, the social life of the island is varied and visitors are always welcome at local gatherings. Since Norse times Fetlar's been known as the 'Garden of Shetland'. Strolling around the varied landscapes of this beautiful island, visitors can trace human settlements from the Stone Age, through the Picts and the Norse, to the 19th century when the laird evicted whole townships of people to make room for sheep.

The Clearances left gloomy ruins and empty lands where hundreds of people once scraped a living. But this man-made wilderness contains a rich variety of ancient sites, exquisite flowers and perfect habitat for ground nesting birds. The name Fetlar means 'the island of the fat land' in Old Norse and its rich grazings and fertile soils were a prime attraction even before the Vikings colonised it 1,200 years ago. Local tradition says Gruting in Fetlar was the site of the first Norse landing in Shetland - although Haroldswick in Unst may dispute this! What is certain is that Fetlar has been inhabited for at least 5,000 years. The Fetlar Interpretive Centre and museum at the Beach of Houbie is an essential part of a visit to the island, open daily from May to the end of September. Here visitors can enjoy: Informative displays and multi-media presentations on the birds and other wildlife, wild flowers and the island's geology , archaeology and history . Visitors can browse albums of old photographs, listen to recordings of local history, folklore and music, and see film of the island dating back to the 1930s. Information is also available in French, German and Italian.

The centre includes displays on Brough Lodge and Leagarth House. There is also a cafe in Fetlar (based in the hall) which is open daily (11am - 4pm Mon-Sat & 12noon - 4pm Sun) and serves soups and light meals as well as a range of snacks and tasty homebakes, with vegetarian options available. Funzie's Fabulous Phalaropes Fetlar is the summer home of one of Britain's rarest breeding birds, the Red Necked Phalarope, a remarkably tame, brightly-coloured bird which in June and July can be seen at very close quarters from the RSPB hide at the Mires of Funzie (pronounced 'Finnie') and as they feed along the shores of the Loch of Funzie. For almost 20 years the RSPB , local crofters, landowners and Scottish Natural Heritage have co-operated in a successful programme to maintain and improve the breeding grounds of this delightful little bird. As a result, although Red Necked Phalaropes have drastically declined throughout Britain and Ireland, the Fetlar population is recovering, with 30-40 pairs (90% of the UK population) breeding on the island.

Fetlar is extremely rich in wildlife: One of Britain's rarest birds, the delightfully tame Red-necked Phalarope, nests here. ...And Other Rarities About 80 pairs of Whimbrel (15% of the UK breeding population) also nest in Fetlar. Whimbrels are very similar to their larger cousins, the Curlews, but have a pale stripe through the centre of the crown and a characteristic and evocative call. A good place to see them is along the road to the airstrip. Fetlar was once home to Britain's only pair of breeding Snowy Owls. Recorded in 1967 by the late Bobby Tulloch, they bred successfully each year until 1975. Other Fetlar bird life includes Red-Throated Diver, Golden Plover, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Eider Duck, Arctic Skua, Great Skua, Arctic Tern and Oystercatchers.

Storm Petrels and Manx Shearwaters are usually around the Wick of Tresta in the late summer evenings and early mornings, while Fulmars, Black Guillemots, Kittiwakes, Shags and Puffins can be seen all around the coast. Nowhere in Shetland are the summer wildflowers more luxuriant than in the rich soils of Fetlar. From April to August a succession of blooms brightens the landscape. The rarer varieties include the Frog Orchid, Creeping Willow, Water Aven, Knotted Pearlwort and Lesser Twayblade. In the summertime a continuous stream of seabirds passes Fetlar through Colgrave Sound, on the way to and from the feeding grounds. The ferry ride from Gutcher or Belmont is a wonderful experience in itself. As well as the seabirds en route you'll pass close to the uninhabited islands of Linga and Sound Gruney. Getting to Fetlar Two ferry crossings are involved in travelling from the Shetland Mainland to Fetlar. Although ferries to Fetlar are less frequent than those serving Yell and Unst, it’s easy to get to the island.

On the Shetland Mainland, follow the A968 road to Toft; Take the car ferry across Yell Sound from Toft to Ulsta on the island of Yell; the crossing takes 20 minutes. Drive north across Yell to Gutcher; allow 25 minutes without stops. Take the car ferry from Gutcher to Hamar’s Ness on Fetlar; this crossing takes 30 minutes. If you are already on Unst, you can travel to Fetlar from there, too. Whether travelling from Yell or Unst, you need to find departures in the timetable that are marked H (for Hamars Ness). The ferries between the Mainland and Yell run every hour or half hour during the day and evening. Those between Yell and Fetlar are less frequent. You can view timetables for both ferries here . It’s important to note that all the times shown are departure times. It’s not always essential to book these ferries in advance but we recommend that you do. The telephone number for the booking office is shown in a panel on the timetable; you’ll be asked where you’re going, the sailing you want to use, your name and your car registration number.

You pay on the ferry on the outward journey only. If you have more time, there are accommodation options on Fetlar and it would be worth spending more time here to walk around the island and explore the fascinating flora and fauna. What next? Shetland Islands | islands, Scotland, United Kingdom | Britannica.com Shetland Islands Scotland 1980s overview Shetland Islands, also called Zetland or Shetland, group of about 100 islands, fewer than 20 of them inhabited, in Scotland , 130 miles (210 km) north of the Scottish mainland , at the northern extremity of the United Kingdom . They constitute the Shetland Islands council area and the historic county of Shetland. Among the settlements on Mainland , the largest island , is Scalloway, a fishing port. Lerwick , also on Mainland, is the islands’ largest town and commercial and administrative centre. Clickimin Broch, Lerwick, on Mainland in the Shetland Islands, Scotland. Chaikney Scotland’s Shetland Islands are home to a large otter population.

Contunico © ZDF Enterprises GmbH, Mainz East of Mainland are the islands of Whalsay and Bressay. North of Mainland lie the islands of Yell, Fetlar, and Unst, the most northerly island. One mile off the coast of Unst is the most northerly point in the United Kingdom, Muckle Flugga—a lighthouse and group of rocks. Fair Isle, 24 miles (39 km) south of Mainland, belongs to the National Trust for Scotland and has an important ornithological observatory. The scenery of the Shetland Islands is wild and beautiful, with deeply indented coasts (the sea lochs, or fjords, are locally called voes) enclosed by steep hills. The winds are nearly continuous and strong, and trees are therefore sparse, but the climate is very mild for such a high latitude—only 400 miles (640 km) south of the Arctic Circle—because of the warming influence of the North Atlantic Current , an extension of the Gulf Stream system. Killer whales in the waters off Scotland’s Shetland Islands.

Contunico © ZDF Enterprises GmbH, Mainz The main form of agriculture is crofting , each croft having a few acres of arable land and the right to graze sheep on the “scattald,” or common grazings. The Shetland breed of sheep produces fine wool that is spun and knitted by the island workers in the distinctive patterns known as Shetland and Fair Isle. Many of the crofts cannot adequately support a family, so islanders seek work in the North Sea oil industry, abroad, or in the Royal Navy. Fishing has always been important, and crofters fish to supplement their diet or their income. The herring fishery centred on Lerwick has declined since the mid-20th century, and fishing for other species is now more important. Only after the discovery of oil in the North Sea northeast of Shetland was the long-persisting depopulation slowed. The most-advanced technology entered into Shetland’s traditional way of life when a major oil terminal was built in the 1970s at Sullom Voe in the north of Mainland.

Pipelines extend from the North Sea fields to that depot, which is approached by tankers using the sheltered deep water provided by Yell Sound. The oil developments increased the importance of Sumburgh Airport in the southern tip of Mainland, and the economy of the Shetlands has gained by supplying goods and services to the oil industry. Similar Topics Shetland (inc. Yell, Unst & Fetlar) map - OS Landranger 1 | Ordnance Survey Shop Shetland (inc. Yell, Unst & Fetlar) map - OS Landranger 1 Standard version ‘Active’ maps are plastic coated weatherproof versions of paper maps, they are more durable and can still be folded. Weatherproof Active version ‘Active’ maps are plastic coated weatherproof versions of paper maps, they are more durable and can still be folded. Quantity Delivery & Returns OS Landranger map 1 covers the northernmost tip of the UK - the islands of Yell, Unst and Fetlar in the Shetlands.

It also covers part of the Shetland Mainland, the Yell Sound and the Colgrave Sound and includes the towns of North Roe, Housetter, West Sandwick, Otterswick, Hamnavoe Haroldswick and Lund. Seabirds, otters and other wildlife is found in abundance on the islands - with nature reserves such as Hermaness popular with adventurous birdwatchers. If you are a cyclist you can also follow the cycle route on the main road through the islands, including two ferry crossings. With this map you will receive a code for use on your iOS or Android smartphone or tablet. Find our more at Mobile Download FAQ . The OS Landranger map for Shetland is available in both the standard paper version and weatherproof "Active" version. Map area overview See the area covered by this map and those nearby. Zoom in to see details or click to select another map. Change map type with the selector in the top left. Adjacent maps Getting to Fetlar | Fetlar.org Getting to Fetlar Getting to Shetland from the U.K.

Mainland Ferries To Shetland NorthLink Ferries provide a daily ro-ro service to Shetland from Aberdeen which, leaving Aberdeen in the late afternoon and arriving in Lerwick around 0730. The ferry journey takes either 12 or 14 hours depending on whether the service calls at Kirkwall (Orkney). Cabins are available on all services to Lerwick. Kennels are also available for pets. Contact for more information. You can now subscribe to a free SMS and Email service run by the local council to receive free service status alerts. Flights To Shetland FlyBe , in partnership with Loganair, operate daily flights from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, Aberdeen & Kirkwall to Sumburgh Airport, at the South end of the Shetland mainland. These flights are available as part of a code share scheme with British Airways. After arriving, at Sumburgh you should head north towards Lerwick on the A970 before following the directions listed below. The information desk at Sumburgh can advise about car hire, busses and taxis.

The approximately driving time from Sumburgh to the Toft ferry, via Lerwick is 1hour, 15 minutes. Star rent a car have a hire desk in Sumburgh arrivals area. Bolts car hire can also supply cars for pick up at the airport. Getting to Fetlar from Lerwick (Mainland Shetland) Lerwick To Toft: Zoom imageFerry to Fetlar from Yell. Fetlar is North of Lerwick, approximately 45 miles by road, and involves two inter-island ferry crossings. You should allow at least 45 minutes for the drive north along the A970 from Lerwick to Toft, where the ferry departs on the 20-minute journey across Yell Sound to Ulsta at the south end of Yell. The modern ro-ro ferries are operated by Shetland Islands Council. They sail at regular intervals, but pre-booking is advised especially when travelling to Fetlar. When you arrive at Toft ferry terminal enetr lane 1 if booked or lane 2 if not booked.

The booking office is open 6 days a week, Monday to Saturday, from 8:30 – to 4:45pm. Telephone 01595 745804 (Note new number) For details of the ferry timetables please see: . (Please note that ferry timetables are changed in the Spring and Autumn). If you find this timetable confusing (most people do !) you can use the Fetlar Primary Schools easy to understand timetable which covers ferries and buses within Shetland, to and from Fetlar. Note: SIC ferries ask that vehicles are ready to board at least five minutes before departure time. When on board you must stay in your vehicle until the appropriate fare has been paid on this service. Ulsta to Gutcher: On arrival at Ulsta in Yell you should to follow the A968 to Gutcher. This is at least a 25 minute drive, and you should be aware that the sheep will occasionally wander across the road in front of you. If you have time, consider taking the more scenic route, turning right just after driving away from the Ulsta terminal towards Burravoe instead of driving directly north to Mid Yell.

As you travel up the East side of the island you will get your first views of Fetlar. On arrival at Gutcher you must select your lane carefully as ferries go to both Unst & Fetlar from this pier. For travel to Fetlar enter lane 3 if booked or lane 4 if not booked. This lane allocation applies even if you are travelling through to Fetlar via Unst. Please note lanes 1 & 2 are for Unst traffic only. When boarding the Bluemull Sound ferry always check with the ferry crew that the ferry is going to the destination you require. If the timetable refers to a connection then you may have to go on a ferry to Unst and then stay on the same boat until it arrives at Hamars Ness in Fetlar. Occasionally you may need to reverse off the ferry. Please be aware that there is no fuel available on Fetlar so top up if necessary before you get to the island.

SMART PHONE APP - for Apple or Android devices Search on the relevant app store for "Shetland Travel infomation" The app covers local ferries, buses and internal flights Resources: Fetlar's Location | Fetlar.org View Larger Map Fetlar is one of the 100 Shetland Islands which lie at the "cross roads of the North Sea", roughly equidistant between Scotland, Norway and the Faroe islands. Within Shetland, Fetlar lies to the South of Unst and to the East of Yell, its two larger neighbouring islands. Together they make up the three "North Isles" of Shetland. Although Fetlar is the fourth largest island in the group, it has one of the lowest populations. While initially seeming to be very isolated it is not as difficult to reach as you might think. Getting To Shetland Flybe operates several daily flights to Shetland from Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness, and Northlink Ferries operate daily ferry sailings from Aberdeen. Travelling Within Shetland To Fetlar Once in Shetland, an excellent road network and frequent inter-island ro-ro ferry sailings mean that your journey to Fetlar does not take too long.

With careful planning you can all but eliminate having to wait at the inter-island ferry terminals. Yell | Shetland Visitor Shetland Visitor Yell Yell Burravoe Yell is the largest of the north isles and a haven for wildlife and wild flowers. The 83 square miles of heather and moorland, cut by the deep voes of Whalfirth, Mid Yell and Basta Voe, also boasts a coastline with some of the best sandy beaches in Shetland. The islanders, numbering over 900, enjoy a varied and active lifestyle and there’s always one event or another – be it tar barrel, duck race, agricultural show, sailing regatta or whist drive – happening in the various community halls at which visitors are welcome. The ferry sails to Ulsta from Toft on the mainland and passes the islands of Samphrey and Bigga. Whales and dolphins sometimes make an appearance in Yell Sound, so keep an eye going on your trip over… and check the area around the Ulsta ferry terminal and shop which is a great place to spot otters.

Much of Hugh Miles’ filming for BBC’s The Track of the Wild Otter was done on Yell’s east coast, near Burra Ness where there is cairn, ancient boat ‘noosts’ and the remains of a broch on the north-east promontory. Gloup Holm has a large seabird colony and Ladies Hol is a good place to observe seals and sea birds and is a well-known cliff for puffin burrows. The beaches at Westsandwick and Breckon hold the Keep Scotland Beautiful Rural Seaside Award. The dunes and machair at the Sands of Breckon formed, and continue to change, due to rising sea levels. Sometimes crumbly garnets from the bedrock are found in the sand. The pristine white sands at Westsandwick eroded from Yell’s Moine rocks. Flakes of shiny mica are scattered throughout the sand. Gossabrough and Hamnavoe beaches are also worthy of a visit. West Sandwick beach Birrier is one of Shetland’s bonniest bays and has the remains of an Iron Age fort.

The islet stack at Birrier Bay is connected by a spit of land topped by a natural arch (note: crossing can be dangerous for inexperienced walkers). At Burgi Geos is an Iron Age fort with blockhouse and defences. The Herra (ON herað) peninsula is 4,250 acres of moorland and superb for walking. The Eigg and nearby Ern Stack are said to be nest sites for the last of Shetland’s sea eagles (ern) around 1910. A memorial to Shetland’s legendary musician, ‘Peerie’ Willie Johnson, overlooks the now deserted valley of Bouster, Herra; the ruins of his birthplace can be seen on the hill opposite. Peerie Willie, as he was known to all, was an exceptionally talented and unique musician who influenced many and earned his place in the annals of Shetland music. A short detour from the main road leads to this lovely spot. The long walk to the Lumbister coast is rewarded with views of the striking huge white veins of granite-pegmatite criss-crossing the Moine rocks.

Most of Yell’s rocks are part of the Moine sequence of metamorphic rocks The imposing ruin of Windhouse is supposedly the haunt of many ghosts. The house was built in 1707 and reconstructed in 1880. It is now privately owned. Windhouse Lodge has been redeveloped as a camping böd. Mid Yell is the biggest settlement in Yell and has a good range of amenities, including an excellent natural harbour sheltered from all directions of wind. The shellfish processing and canning factory is the island’s largest employer. The business park at Sellafirth is home to a wonderful art gallery plus textile and music education facilities, while craft and genealogy services are also provided nearby. Cullivoe, the main village in north Yell, hosts Yell’s only Up-Helly-A’ celebration on the last Friday of February each year while the annual Yell Show takes place in late summer at Aywick.

At the Ness of Cullivoe, rocks have been intensely folded and deformed due to a continental collision hundreds of millions of years ago while around Burravoe you can find some of the oldest rocks in Shetland, equivalent in age to the Lewisian gneisses of Scotland which are almost three billion years old. The Gloup Memorial (1991) commemorates the 58 men and six boats lost in a storm on 21st July, 1881, leaving 34 widows and 85 children. Gloup was one of the most important haaf (fishing) stations in Shetland. Open boats known as ‘sixareens’, each crewed by seven men, rowed from here to the offshore fishing grounds, 30 to 40 miles away. The White Wife (or Widden Wife) at Otterswick (ON Óttarsvík – from the man’s name Óttar) is the figurehead from the German training ship Bohus, wrecked on 26th April, 1924. Four lives were lost from a crew of 38 plus a stowaway.

A black marble commemoration slab, set in stone from nearby Hascosay, is in Mid Yell kirkyard. The ‘White Wife’. A memorial at Otterswick, Yell The Old Haa at Burravoe is one of Yell’s oldest buildings (1672). Restored in 1984, it is open each summer as a heritage centre with displays of local interest. The haa is a tourist information point and also has a tearoom and lovely garden. Above Erisdale is the memorial site of a World War Two Catalina aircraft that crashed on 19th January, 1941, with only three of the crew of ten surviving. (Follow directions at the foot of the road and wooden markers alongside the burn.) A commemorative tapestry hangs in the Hamnavoe Church of Scotland. Yell is well-served with local amenities including shops, a leisure centre, bar/restaurant, churches, playparks and various craft and small business enterprises. Marinas/piers are available at Ulsta, Burravoe, Cullivoe and Mid Yell (see ).

If you’re travelling directly on to Fetlar, top up with fuel at Ulsta as it’s the last pump on the way. The ferries to Unst and Fetlar leave from Gutcher, where there’s a café, ferry waiting room and public toilets. It’s best to allow around 30 minutes to drive between the Ulsta and Gutcher terminals. Frequent daily sailings operate to Ulsta by inter-island ro-ro ferry from Toft in the North Mainland and take around 20 minutes. Book on 01595 745804; ferry information 01595 743972. Check for current timetables. A good range of accommodation is available. See and check with Visit Scotland for details. Useful websites: Shetland Islands travel guide - Wikitravel Understand[ edit ] Although Shetland is part of Scotland and therefore the United Kingdom , it is very much a world apart. It almost always appears on maps of United Kingdom in an insert box, and is in fact closer to Bergen in Norway than to Edinburgh .

Even the flag of Shetland (a white Nordic cross on a blue background) shows the close links between this part of Scotland and Scandinavia. The fact that this flag, rather than the Saltire or Union Flag can be seen flying from many houses shows the pride and sense of identity of the Shetland people; when Shetlanders refer to 'The Mainland' they almost always mean 'Mainland Shetland' rather than 'Mainland Scotland'. Although Shetland has been inhabited since prehistoric times, it has only been part of Scotland since 1472 when it was mortgaged by King Christian I of Norway in lieu of the dowry for his daughter Margaret and later annexed by James III of Scotland. Wildlife[ edit ] Puffin at Sumburgh Head Shetland is of great interest to the naturalist and anyone who is keen to see wild animals and birds in their native habitat [2] . Otters 'Draatsi' are relatively common here, and you are far more likely to see this elusive animal in the wild here than anywhere else in United Kingdom .

Yell is supposed to be the best location, but any isolated piece of coastland (particularly with a source of fresh water running into the sea) is a possibility, and the best times are early morning or evening and/or at low tide. They have even been seen (and filmed) investigating boats in the working port of Lerwick . Other mammals to be found in Shetland are rabbits, mountain hare, hedgehogs and stoats; all of these are believed to have been introduced by mankind. Birds are particularly prolific here, with Shetland being one of the main breeding grounds for a number of common and rare species. Particular centres for nesting seabirds are Sumburgh Head, Hermaness, Noss and Foula (with the second highest cliffs in United Kingdom after St Kilda ). Easily observed species are puffins, gannets, guillemots, kitiwakes, fulmars, shags, great and artic skuas, storm petrels, oystercatchers, eider ducks, cormorants and razorbills.

Inland, curlews, whimbrels, golden and ringed plovers, lapwings and redshanks can be spotted, with Fetlar being the breeding ground of 90% of the UK's population of the rare red-legged phalarope (though sadly Snowy Owls are no longer seen here). Shetland also sees a fair number of rarities which makes it a favourite location for twitchers. Probably the best known of these was the lost albatross which visited Hermaness for a number of years and appeared to be attempting to find a mate amongst the gannets. The best times to birdwatch are between April and July when the birds return to land to rear their chicks. Marine Mammals are also to be seen. Most prolific are Grey and Common Seals (constantly in evidence around the fish processing plants in Lerwick looking out for a free feed) which can be seen all over the islands. They are curious of humans and will often follow a party walking along a shore at a safe distance. Whales and other cetaceans can also be spotted, although this tends to come down to a question of how lucky you are.

Minke whales are the most common, but other species of whale, together with porpoises and dolphins can also be seen. Orcas (killer whales) are becoming more prolific around Shetland. One of the best places to see whales can be from the ferries. Climate[ edit ] The weather is very much a 'feature' of the area. Although Shetland is typically only a couple of degrees cooler than mainland Scotland , and the martime climate does not lead to large falls of snow, high winds are very frequent. Whilst these make Shetland largely midge free (unlike most of Scotland), they add a considerable wind-chill factor, and when combined with horizontal rain you can be both wet and cold within minutes. Even more so than in mainland Scotland, the weather can change in moments and the entire landscape transformed from bleakness to loveliness by the presence of the sun. Locals refer to a calm day as 'a day between weathers'. Top temperatures in the summer are unlikely to go over 18C (64F), and while the wind can make this feel cooler, note that it is still perfectly possible to get sunburn.

At this northerly latitude there is a marked difference in daylight hours between summer and winter, even more so than in the rest of Scotland . During December there is little more than six hours of daylight (and on a dreary day it can seem as though it never truly gets light), during June on the other hand it hardly gets dark, and the brief twilight between sunset and sunrise is locally known as the 'Simmer Dim'. Midnight games of golf are possible. Culture[ edit ] Shetland has a diverse and thriving culture all of its own, which has been enhanced by isolation from the rest of Scotland . Traditional crafts and passtimes include:- Music - The traditional music, especially fiddle music of Shetland is justifiably famous Shetland Music ]. The fiddle dates back to around 1700 and has been played in the islands ever since, with influences from Scandanavia and Scotland. In spite of the risk that it would be overwhelmed by modern music, it has more than stood its ground and all young people have the opportunity to learn to play at school. Traditional music can be heard live in venues all over the islands, and there is a fiddle festival held every year in early October Fiddle Festival .

Knitting - The local 'Shetland Sheep' provide fine, multi-coloured wool which is knitted locally into a variety of garments. The 'Fair Isle' pattern is particularly famous, and there is a legend (apparently just that), that knitting this was taught to the Fair Islanders by Spanish sailors shipwrecked from the Armada. Fair Isle pattern has been exploited all over the world (there is an amusing exhibit in the Shetland museum; a page from an American magazine advertising 'Real English Shetland knitware'), but a visit to Shetland is the opportunity to buy some of the real thing. There are many places selling knitware in the islands, with an obvious concentration in Lerwick. Particularly fine (though extremely expensive), is patterned knitwear created straight from the undyed natural colours of the sheep. Beautiful knitted lace is also created and Unst is particularly renowned for this. Boat Building - Traditional Shetland sixareens and yoals are still occasionally made in the islands Storytelling - Shetland stories often involve traditional folklore with Nordic influence.

Prominent are 'trow' or nocturnal faerie folk who live in mounds and often steal human musicians away to play for them, and nuggles (malign water horses who seek to drown the unwary). In the Shetland Museum in Lerwick you can enter a 'reproduction' of a trow mound. Up Helly Aa - This is Europe's largest and most famous fire festival. It always takes place on the last Tuesday in January, and the next day is a public holiday (reputedly known as 'Sick-Bag Wednesday') to allow for recovery. Over the year the 'Guizer Jarl' or Viking Chief and his squad meticulously prepare costumes, weapons and a Viking Galley. The Jarl may have been with the squad as long as 20 years before he gets the opporutnity to take the lead part. The Jarl Squad, together with around 45 other squads tour around local halls, performing acts, dancing and (of course) drinking. There is a torchlight procession of nearly 1000 participants and then the Galley is ceremoniously burned.

Tickets to the halls are by invitation only, but public tickets are available for the Town Hall Up Helly Aa . Note that although the Lerwick festival is the largest and most famous, many other fire festivals are held across the islands, and in most of these, unlike Lerwick, women may appear as Guizers. Industry[ edit ] Shetland's fortunes were to some extent transformed by the discovery of North Sea oil in the 1970s. A huge oil terminal was constructed in Sullom Voe near Brae in the north of the Mainland, though fortunately this has been well-managed and has not had a great effect on local wildlife. Oil revenues both halted population decline and have caused Shetland to be a prosperous community considering its size and location. Infrastructure (roads, leisure centres, communications) are very good, and unemployment is generally very low at about 2%. As oil stocks decline, Shetlanders are falling back on traditional occupations such as fishing (there are many fish farms in the more sheltered voes) and crofting.

Tourism is also becoming increasingly important; Lerwick is transformed (not necessarily for the better) when one of the regular cruise ships come in to port and the local shops are packed with the visitors. Media[ edit ] There is a weekly newspaper (published on Fridays) "The Shetland Times" (also available online [3] . There is also a good Shetland Times bookshop in Lerwick which has books of local interest as well as mainstream titles. There are two monthly magazines "Shetland Life" and "i,i Shetland". UK National newspapers are available on the day of publication. Local Radio stations are BBC Radio Shetland and SIBC [4] . The latter is rather eclectic and well worth a listen, as the local news tends to sum up what makes Shetland different (and endearing) as a location. Terrestial television has the usual UK channels and satellite is available. Talk[ edit ] As elsewhere in United Kingdom , English is the official language and is universally spoken. Native Shetlanders have a unique accent and dialect which reflects the mixed Scottish and Norwegian influences on the islands.

It is common for locals to speak 'standard English' (with a Shetland Scots accent) to visitors, and a more deeply dialected version of the language between themselves. The official website of the Shetland Dialect group gives some audio examples of Shetland speech from different areas Shetland ForWirds . Note that the former language of Shetland was Old Norn (spoken in some areas into 19th Century) and that Scots Gaelic has never been part of the local linguistic tradition. Many dialect words heard in common use reflect local wildlife and conditions, and some, such as 'bonxie' for the great skua have slipped into mainstream English. Many other dialect words are similar or identical to mainland Scots. Here is a short list of expressions peculiar to local dialect. Tamie — Puffin Boat off Shetland Ferry Leaving Aberdeen Northlink Ferries [5] provide a daily passenger and vehicle transport service between Lerwick and Aberdeen which also calls in at Kirkwall in Orkney up to twice a week depending on the time of year (when calling at Kirkwall, the ferry leaves Aberdeen two hours earlier than usual to accommodate this).

The ferry service is an overnight crossing, leaving Aberdeen at 7pm (or 5pm) and arriving in Lerwick at 7:30am. Although the boat is large and stable, this is an ocean crossing and at times it can be rough; do not be too alarmed if you are handed a disclaimer on boarding stating that you are travelling at your own risk! If travelling by car, follow the signs to 'Aberdeen Harbour'. The ferry terminal itself is not clearly signposted, but you should see a large blue and white ship on your right as you enter the harbour area. If cars are queueing (as they probably will be unless you are very early), join the end of the queue to your left. Do not drive right up to the terminal gate or you will have to turn round which is not particularly easy. Photo id has been required for the last couple of years. If the ferry is full and you are travelling to Lerwick, you will be boarded on the lower car deck if you arrive at the terminal early.

It goes without saying that if you are boarded on the lower deck and you are are intending to disembark at Kirkwall, you should inform staff immediately, otherwise you are likely to visit the scenic Shetland Isles sooner than you were intending. On board the ship, you can either sleep in the reclining 'aircraft style' seats in the lounge, stretch out on the couches in the bar (once it has closed), or book a cabin. The latter is by far the most comfortable option as even standard cabins, whilst small, have comfortable bunks and a private toilet and shower. If you choose to dispense with a cabin, note that although comfort would dictate taking a sleeping bag and pillow, staff are fairly strict about not leaving them unattended in the lounge and you will have to carry them around with you. The ferry is fairly plush and well equipped. There are two bars, a self-service restaurant, a cinema and a silver-service restaurant which serves a rather good take on Shetland and Orkney specialities. There is also a cinema, though if it is rough, be warned that watching a film in a darkened room is a good recipe for sea-sickness.

The internal areas of the ship are non-smoking, but there is an outside area on deck which stays open all night where you can smoke. Dependent on the weather, there may be access to the upper deck until late at night, and it is generally opened again in time to view the entrance to Lerwick in the morning. On the return journey there are particularly good views of Fair Isle from the outside decks. Arrival into Shetland is normally announced at 6:30am and breakfast is then available in the self-service restaurant. The ferry is normally exactly on time at 7:30am, and drivers have to leave promptly to move their cars, but (with their boarding pass) can then return on board for breakfast if they wish. They, along with non-drivers and foot passengers, can remain on the ship until 9:00am. The ferry terminal is near the centre of Lerwick and pre-booked hire cars can be picked up from within the terminal building. Arriving in Shetland by ferry makes the journey part of the travel experience, and helps you to appreciate how remote the islands really are.

Fares in the winter are considerably cheaper than at peak season, and as car fares are far more expensive than foot-passenger fares, it may make sense to rent a car rather than taking your own. Some travellers have reported having difficulty in changing their ferry bookings as their plans change, so be aware that Northlink hold a monopoly on scheduled sea travel to the islands and may not be particularly flexible about changes, especially during busy periods. By air[ edit ] Loganair [6] provide the only scheduled passenger air service to the Scottish Mainland as a franchise of Flybe [7] . They operate to Sumburgh Airport [8] located 30 miles south of Lerwick. Flights operate to Aberdeen , Edinburgh , Glasgow , Inverness and Kirkwall . Unfortunately, due to lack of competition on the routes, fares are relatively expensive, even when booked well in advance. Whether it is cheaper to travel by ferry with your own car, or fly and hire one very much depends on the time of year and other factors such as how close you live to Aberdeen.

The Faroese airline Atlantic Airways [9] used to provide a twice weekly seasonal (June to October) service from London (Stansted), but this route has not operated since 2009 due to the difficulties experienced by passengers traveling without passports when fog at Sumburgh caused the flight to be diverted to Atlantic Airways' home airport in the Faroe Islands. Depending on which runway you land on, you should not expect to see much of Shetland as you land, because the airport is on the extreme southern tip of the Mainland, and the best you will get is a brief view of the lighthouse on the head. One runway at Sumburgh is somewhat unusual, in that the main road goes right across it, and when a plane is due, level-crossing gates are closed across the road. The terminal itself is small, but has a cafe/bar, shop, wi-fi internet and ATM. Security here is also not as oppressive as in large mainland airports. Car hire is available within the terminal from Star Rent a Car [10] or Bolts Car Hire [11] will pick you up and take you to your car at their near-by depot. In both cases advance reservation is advisable.

The airport information page has details of local taxi companies who can meet you at the airport and again, it is advisable to book in advance. The Service 6 bus calls at the airport at fairly regular intervals [12] , and takes you to Lerwick in around 40 minutes. By sea[ edit ] The inhabited islands are served by regular ferries operated by Shetland Islands Council [13] . Routes to Bressay, Yell, Unst, Fetlar and Walsay operate at least eighteen hours per day, although some early and late sailings will only run if there are pre-booked reservations. Places may be reserved for vehicles on all these routes (except Bressay), and pre-booked vehicles take presidence over unbooked ones. Sailings to Out Skerries and Papa Stour are less frequent and require reservations for all vehicles. The ferry to Fair Isle is by reservation only and is not ro/ro (it can carry vehicles but they must be craned on and off and there would be no real reason for a visitor to take a car). The ferry to Foula runs twice weekly and is operated by BK Marine [14] . Crossings by Route

Question: Unst, Yell and Fetlar are part of which island group?
Answer: Shetland