Shetland!!!

[Farmer Palmer]

I'm thinking of heading up to Shetland towards the end of October for five or six days for a wee adventure.

I've been there twice before on the way to Iceland but that was in May and I didn't have a lot of time to spend there and have a 'proper' look around except on the mainland.

I'll be taking the Buell Ulysses this time instread of my HP2 and the Uly has fantastic heated grips aswell as a engine that normally 'cooks' your right leg in anything but the coolest of weather so it'll hopefully keep the cold at bay.

I'll probably take my camping gear but with the late time of year and Shetlands unpredicable or predicably bad weather i'll be staying at guesthouses or 'camping bods' if they're still open.

Any other GSers up there or anyone have recommendations for places to stay and eat etc?

Thanks FP.

 

[Klanky]

I'm thinking of heading up to Shetland towards the end of October for five or six days for a wee adventure.

I've been there twice before on the way to Iceland but that was in May and I didn't have a lot of time to spend there and have a 'proper' look around except on the mainland.

I'll be taking the Buell Ulysses this time instread of my HP2 and the Uly has fantastic heated grips aswell as a engine that normally 'cooks' your right leg in anything but the coolest of weather so it'll hopefully keep the cold at bay.

I'll probably take my camping gear but with the late time of year and Shetlands unpredicable or predicably bad weather i'll be staying at guesthouses or 'camping bods' if they're still open.

Any other GSers up there or anyone have recommendations for places to stay and eat etc?

Thanks FP.

I'm up there 14th-16th Oct, visiting parents (on bike).

Digs in Lerwick: Fort Charlotte guest house vg, they also own the Fort chippy just over the road - well worth eating.
Kveldsro (sp?) Hotel if you want something a bit more upmarket. Queens is OK, but getting a bit tired. Stayed in all three and I'd happily go back to any.

There's a very good restaurant just off the main drag, I can't remember the name. I'll dig it out.
Pubs -The Lounge Bar on Mounthooly St is the place for live music, looks feckall from the outside, but go upstairs. Capt Flints for the younger scene, very lively.

The Maritime College at Scalloway runs an excellent seafood resataurant in an evening only. Top notch.

Spiggie Hotel way doon Sooth on Mainland is a lovely little hotel. Usually has guest ales on too. Again, I'd happily go back here.

Apart from that, I don't really know what they're like out in the sticks, we've always gone up to my parents on Unst. BTW The Baltasound Hotel on Unst is known locally as 'Bawlty Towers'...don't know if it's any good for accom but the bar is OK.

On Yell there's a caff/restaurant that gets good reviews at Gutcher, my lots been there a few times, but I've not been myself. I'll try and dig some more info out for you.


(edit)

The Restaurant at the college in Scalloway is 'Da Haaf'

The restaurant in Lerwick is 'Montys', opposite The Lounge Bar on Mounthooly St (you'd have thought I could remember that). The lamb is sublime.

 

[Farmer Palmer]

I'm up there 14th-16th Oct, visiting parents (on bike).

Digs in Lerwick: Fort Charlotte guest house vg, they also own the Fort chippy just over the road - well worth eating.
Kveldsro (sp?) Hotel if you want something a bit more upmarket. Queens is OK, but getting a bit tired. Stayed in all three and I'd happily go back to any.

There's a very good restaurant just off the main drag, I can't remember the name. I'll dig it out.
Pubs -The Lounge Bar on Mounthooly St is the place for live music, looks feckall from the outside, but go upstairs. Capt Flints for the younger scene, very lively.

The Maritime College at Scalloway runs an excellent seafood resataurant in an evening only. Top notch.

Spiggie Hotel way doon Sooth on Mainland is a lovely little hotel. Usually has guest ales on too. Again, I'd happily go back here.

Apart from that, I don't really know what they're like out in the sticks, we've always gone up to my parents on Unst. BTW The Baltasound Hotel on Unst is known locally as 'Bawlty Towers'...don't know if it's any good for accom but the bar is OK.

On Yell there's a caff/restaurant that gets good reviews at Gutcher, my lots been there a few times, but I've not been myself. I'll try and dig some more info out for you.


(edit)

The Restaurant at the college in Scalloway is 'Da Haaf'

The restaurant in Lerwick is 'Montys', opposite The Lounge Bar on Mounthooly St (you'd have thought I could remember that). The lamb is sublime.

Thanks Klanky

There's a veggie place(i'm not a veggie) with a wildlife sanctuary attached to it called Da Bod at Hilllswick and it's featured in Helge Pedersens 2001 Iceland DVD but it may be closed now! Have you heard of that one?

thanks FP.

 

[Schtum]

Apart from that, I don't really know what they're like out in the sticks, we've always gone up to my parents on Unst. BTW The Baltasound Hotel on Unst is known locally as 'Bawlty Towers'...don't know if it's any good for accom but the bar is OK.

Is the Youth Hostel in Baltasound still open? An' does du keen my auld freends the Clunesses fae der....?

 

[Raggitash]

The Lounge Bar on Mounthooly St is the place for live music, looks feckall from the outside, but go upstairs. Capt Flints for the younger scene, very lively.

Got mates that live down the road from Veensgarth and I lived in Brae for a year when working at the Voe.

The lounge is a definite as Kanky says, when they stopped playing on a Saturday afternoon no one clapped so I asked a local why, he said "You'd have to put your drink down to clap" and looked at me as if I was an idiot (Which I was by that time).

For adventure try the Thule down at the docks but watch yersel Its like any other harbour pub. A claim to fame for me was getting banned for calling the owner big nose (amoungst other things).

The Northern lights in Brae can be just as mental.

They dont have car theft, they have car borrowing, cause where are you going to take it? I loved the whole Shetland thing.

Hope you have a great time.

 

[Klanky]

Thanks Klanky

There's a veggie place(i'm not a veggie) with a wildlife sanctuary attached to it called Da Bod at Hilllswick and it's featured in Helge Pedersens 2001 Iceland DVD but it may be closed now! Have you heard of that one?

thanks FP.

This Da Bod? heard of it, but never been there. Looks good.

Is the Youth Hostel in Baltasound still open? An' does du keen my auld freends the Clunesses fae der....?

As far as I'm aware it's still running, Schtum.

My brother attended a shout there about 5 years ago during a rare very hot day. They burst in to find some toast merrily burning in the kitchen and half a dozen topless young Norwegian girls sunning themselves round the back oblivious to the fire engine/smoke/siren/half a dozen fireman crashing through the Hostel.....it's a tough job......

My lot will probably know your friends, I don't really know any of the natives.

 

[Schtum]

As far as I'm aware it's still running, Schtum.

My brother attended a shout there about 5 years ago during a rare very hot day. They burst in to find some toast merrily burning in the kitchen and half a dozen topless young Norwegian girls sunning themselves round the back oblivious to the fire engine/smoke/siren/half a dozen fireman crashing through the Hostel.....it's a tough job......

A quick Google and a trawl back some 33 years into the memory banks reminds me that the hostel is actually in Uyeasound.

 

[cheb]

The big white hotel in Hillswick has reopened and I'm reliably informed by friends its good.

I can't remember the places I stayed in nor ate in when I visited a few years ago, sorry.

Lovely place and if you want to blend in just wear a padded boilersuit. Worked for me. It was like a home from home.

http://www.stmagnusbayhotel.co.uk/

 

[Posh Pete]

High Tea?

Heard a prog on Radio 4 last week: apparently Shetland is the epicentre of the traditional "High Tea", held all over the islands on Sundays to raise money for community halls and charities. I was headed home by car after work and by the time I got there, my belly thought my throat was cut!

If you're there on a Sunday enjoy one for me!

 

[Farmer Palmer]

Camping Bod!

Got the ferry booked from Aberdeen to Lerwick and i'm staying in a 'Camping Bod' called 'The Sail Loft' in Voe from 20th-26th Oct for £6 per night which should be different.

I was going to stay in the 'Johnny Notions Bod' in Eshaness also £6 per night but it doesn't have any electricity or a stove and only cold running water at a standpipe outside which in late October could be pretty cold. I did ask if I could heat the place when i'm using my camping stove to cook but that was not allowed as there was no ventilation......!

Hopefully the weather won't be too bad especially on the ferry but i'll have to wait and see. The Buell Ulysses is in for warranty work so I may be taking the HP2 after all which will suit the roads fine but no heated grips......!

FP.

 

[Klanky]

If you're taking the HP2 it might be worth taking a couple of OS 1:25000 maps - there appears to be some interesting tracks when you get out into the sticks. Especially on Unst and Yell.

 

[Tartan Terror]

Get yourself up the track to Fitful Head at the south western tip of the mainland. Stunning views out to Foula and south to Fair Isle. I'll tel my gran to get the kettle on when you are down that end

 

[Farmer Palmer]

Thanks for that, i'll pick up a couple of extra maps and i'll be going up to Unst and Yell.

I'm running Metzeler Karoos on the HP2 so the tracks should be good. I can leave the panniers at the Bod and then travel 'light' with a spare fuel can and a flask and sarnies etc which should hopefully get me well off the beaten track. I don't suppose the fuel range will be so much of a problem though with the distances involved on a small island.......!

I'm really looking forward to this visit to Shetland and if the weathers good it'll be fantastic. If it's not so good then i'll put on the waterproofs and enjoy it just the same.

FP.

 

[Klanky]

Thanks for that, i'll pick up a couple of extra maps and i'll be going up to Unst and Yell.

I'm running Metzeler Karoos on the HP2 so the tracks should be good. I can leave the panniers at the Bod and then travel 'light' with a spare fuel can and a flask and sarnies etc which should hopefully get me well off the beaten track. I don't suppose the fuel range will be so much of a problem though with the distances involved on a small island.......!

I'm really looking forward to this visit to Shetland and if the weathers good it'll be fantastic. If it's not so good then i'll put on the waterproofs and enjoy it just the same.

FP.

Just so you know, the ferry from Mainland to Yell is £6.00 return (including rider, payable on outward leg) and the ferries from Yell to Unst and Yell/Unst to Fetlar are free.

 

[capt geeze a five]

Hi Klanky,
can you get a ferry from scrabster to shetland?
cheers
capt.

 

[ChubbyThumper]

Shetland

Any pics or a ride report appreciated. I managed Orkney this year and loved it.

Chubby

 

[Klanky]

Hi Klanky,
can you get a ferry from scrabster to shetland?
cheers
capt.

Aye, you can.

http://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/

Scrabster to Stromness then leg it over to Kirkwall to pick up the Aberdeen - Lerwick ferry.

The only pain is that the Lerwick to Kirkwall return leg doesn't get into Kirkwall until about 23:00 - and theres no connecting Scrabster ferry until the morning.....so it may be better to go straight back down to Aberdeen - which is what I did.

Me and bike was £113 for the full return fare (no cabin) kipped on bar seats with sleeping bag, get into the for'ard bar early to grab the best kipping places before the riff-raff board.

 

[capt geeze a five]

Thanks for the info,
cheers.

 

[Klanky]

Any pics or a ride report appreciated. I managed Orkney this year and loved it.

Chubby

Well, the weather was true Shiteland weather. Pishing down rain and zero viz for most of the time, so i only got a couple of photies - and they're a bit bland.

I got off the ferry in Lerwick with the original intention of having a steady trundle North to the islands of Yell and Unst, but the weather was horrendous and I couldn't see bugger all. So it was a run up to Eshaness on the Northwest corner and then onto the ferry for Yell. My plans for exploring some tracks i'd picked off the OS maps went out of the window.

However, the coastal scenery is stunning, this is a rare moment when the seamist lifted enough for me to get a couple of shots at Eshaness.

<a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss246/klankygs/?action=view&current=IMAG0075.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss246/klankygs/IMAG0075.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Bloody lovely place for a clifftop walk...in better weather - there's a place about 2k's north of this car park where the sea regurlarly throws 100kg boulders up to the top of the cliff face!

 

[Schtum]

Well, the weather was true Shiteland weather. Pishing down rain and zero viz for most of the time, so i only got a couple of photies - and they're a bit bland.

Shame - they seem to have had quite a reasonable summer, by Shetland standards, according to a couple of friends who recently moved from Fife to Scalloway.