About the Shetland Islands: An Introduction
The Shetland Islands, more simply known as Shetland, are a small collection of islands, or an archipelago, belonging to Scotland and representing the most northerly point of the United Kingdom.
Located around 100 miles off the eastern coast of the Scottish mainland, the Shetland Islands lie between Scotland, Norway, and the Faroe Islands. They divide the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the North Sea to the east.
Shetland Population
Although the archipelago is small, within the Shetland Islands there are around 100 recognised individual islands. However, only 16 of the islands are actually inhabited. Lerwick, the capital of the Shetland Islands, is the biggest town in the archipelago, located on Mainland. Other notable islands include Foula, Fair Isle, Yell, Fetlar and Unst. The combined population of the inhabited Islands is estimated to be 23,200 according to Scotland.org.
Weather & Landscape
Due to being so far north, you may expect the Shetland Islands to be freezing cold. However, the islands benefit from the warmth provided by the Gulf Stream, with reasonably dry summers and impressive winter storms. In the middle of summer, it is light 24hrs a day, during a period known locally as ‘Simmer Dim’, and the spectacular northern lights can be seen on winter nights.
There is much to see and explore on the islands, with an extremely varied landscape, from rocky cliffs to heather-clad moors, and beautiful bays to plunging valleys, resulting in a stunning natural environment.
Life on Shetland
Despite its small size and relative remoteness, you don’t need to worry whether or not the Shetland Islands is up to speed with the rest of the world. With high-quality roads, broadband connection, shops, leisure centres, and a host of other amenities, the islands are home to most modern luxuries just like the rest of the UK.
The Shetland Islands’ economy is largely fuelled by the fishing industry, which is more fruitful than that of England, Wales and Northern Ireland combined, with a focus on salmon and mussel farming. While the oil industry has contributed heavily to the economy over the past decades, the Shetland Islands are more recently working towards a more sustainable future, by becoming a global leader in the use of renewable energy and harnessing the limitless potential of the wind and tide.
How do you get to the Shetland Islands?
The most common ways to travel to the islands are either arriving by ferry or by getting flights to Shetland. At Airtask, we offer Shetland inter-island flights, operating passenger services between Lerwick, departing from Tingwall Airport, to both Foula and Fair Isle. For more information and flight scheduling, please click here.
Looking for something adventurous?
Whilst on your camping trip, why not view all of the magnificent sights of the Shetland Islands from above? Among the most awe-inspiring things to do in Shetland, is to take in the magnificent lochs, stunning beaches, historical sites and more from an aerial perspective. Call 01595 840246 or email lwk.ops@airtask.com to secure your place on the only scenic flights available in Shetland.