Shetland Isles Ferries

Travel to Shetland Islands via Ferry

Travelling by ferry gives you frequent sailings to and from the Shetlands throughout the year and is cheaper than flying. You can even gain some time by travelling overnight arriving early in the morning to take full advantage of daylight hours. You're making excellent use of your time and you might even catch a glimpse of whales, dolphins and seabirds on the way.

From the Scottish mainland Northlink Ferries run the most frequent ferry service from Aberdeen to Lerwick. Some sailings also stop off at Kirkwall on Orkney. This is a twelve hour journey that you can take overnight on a cruise-style ferry. You can take vehicles or just travel as a foot passenger. Cabins are also available. NorthLink also offer cruise package to and from Shetland and Orkney. Check the NorthLink Ferries website for up-to-date information on timetables and fares.

Smyril Line also runs weekly ferries and cruises to and from Shetland via Norway, Denmark, Faroe and Iceland. You can plan your own Viking themed tour of the North Atlantic countries and islands. Check their website for up-to-date timetables and prices.

Bressay Ferry - Inter-Island Shetland Ferries

Bressay is accessible by car and passenger ferry from Albert Buildings in the centre of Lerwick, Mainland Shetland, near Fort Charlotte. These run roughly hourly over to Bressay for six days of the week with slightly fewer sailings on Sundays. Journeys run from early in the morning to late in the evening up to around 11 pm. You can't book journeys in advance - just turn up and get on! The journey takes about seven minutes.

Bressay Ferries Information: Voicebank: 01595 743974. Ferry services general information: 01595 743970.

Check the Inter-Island Ferry Service website, weblink right, for the up-to-date timetables and fares (there are downloadable files and a map showing the ferry routes). Different timetables run in summer than winter. Fares are very reasonable or you can buy multi-journey tickets if you're planning to do a bit of Scottish island hopping.

Bike hire is available from Lerwick from Grantfield Garage Ltd, North Road, Lerwick, Shetland Islands ZE1 0NT. Tel: 01595 692709. Fax 01595 695017. Email: admin@grantfieldgarage.co.uk

Noss Ferry & Wildlife Birdwatching Boat Trips - Scottish Island Hopping

Noss is accessible by ferry from Lerwick or by boat excursions. During the summer the ferry operates five days-a-week (not on Mondays and Thursdays). You first have to take the Bressay ferry from Lerwick then walk thee miles across Bressay island to the Noss Ferry car park. A small inflatable boat is operated by Scottish Natural Heritage for a small charge which will take you to the Isle of Noss. Check the Noss freephone number 0800 1077818 before setting out as the weather can affect the running of the boat.

Alternatively there are regular boat trips from Lerwick which take you around Bressay and Noss which gives you the best close-up views of the seabirds on the cliffs. Seals and Seabirds Cuises have a colour television on deck which shows pictures taken from underwater so you can also experience marine wildlife as you sail around the island.

It is best to book in advance via the Tourist Centre, Market Cross, Lerwick Tel: 01595 693434, (out of hours mobile-07831 217 042), Email: dunter@seabirds-and-seals.com.

Check the links right for more information on the boat trips.

Mousa Boat Trips - Scottish Island Hopping

The Mousa ferry across leaves from the village of Sandwick (the Tourist Office in Lerwick has details of sailings) and the trip is one of the best ways to see Harbour Porpoises (Neesiks) at close range, as they feed on shoals of fish in Mousa Sound.

Tom and Cynthia Jamieson, Leebitton, Sandwick, Shetland ZE2 9HP. Tel/Fax: 01950 431367. Email: info@mousaboattrips.co.uk

Fair Isle Ferries - Inter-Island Shetland Ferries

A ferry service, operated by Mr J Stout of Fair Isle for Shetland Islands Council, sails between Grutness Pier (near Sumburgh at the southern tip of Mainland Shetland) and Fair Isle. The ferry is called the Good Shepherd IV.

During the summer this service operates once a day on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Departure from Fair Isle to Grutness is around 7.30 am and the return from Grutness is usually at 11.40am, arriving at Fair Isle around 2.10pm. On alternate Thursdays the ferry departs from Fair Isle at 6am arriving at Lerwick at 10.30am, and departs from Lerwick at 3.30pm arriving Fair Isle at 8pm.

This service is wholly dependent on the weather and the crossing can be rough at the best of times! Phone to confirm sailing. If a sailing is cancelled it will take place on the next suitable day. Booking is essential.

For more information and bookings contact Mr or Mrs Stout on 01595 760222.

Whalsay - Inter-Island Shetland Ferries

Ferries to Symbister on Whalsay run from Vidlin on North Mainland, particularly in bad weather, but more frequently from Laxo where they run six days a week.

The journey across Drury Voe takes just 30 minutes and the fares are reasonable.

Whalsay Ferries Booking Information: Voicebank: 01595 743973 Bookings: 01806 566259. Ferry services general information: 01595 743970. Booking office opening hours: 8.30am-4.45 pm.

Northern Isles - Yell, Fetlar & Unst - Inter-Island Shetland Ferries

From Toft on the north east coast of Mainland the modern car and passenger ferry crosses over to Yell. There are frequent services over to Ullsta at the south west corner of Yell. The journey takes about twenty minutes and advance booking isn't always necessary.

Fetlar is accessible by modern car and passenger ferries from Gutcher on Yell to Hamars Ness on Fetlar. The journey across takes around twenty minutes and it's recommended to allow twenty five minutes to travel across Yell from the ferry at Ullsta to the ferry for Fetlar in Gutcher if you're purely driving straight there. There are no petrol stations on Fetlar so fill up before you go.

Unst is accessible by modern car and passenger ferries from Gutcher on Yell to Belmont on Unst. The journey across Bluemull Sound only takes five to ten minutes. It's recommended to allow twenty five minutes to travel across Yell from that ferry at Ullsta to the ferry for Unst in Gutcher if you're purely driving straight there. There is generally a ferry every half hour. Booking is advisable in peak season and fares are reasonable.

A triangular service runs between Yell, Unst and Fetlar which runs on a "several times a day" basis. These can be a little irregular, but there are usually a few services each day. If you want to get to Mainland from Fetlar you have to go via Yell catching the ferries from Ullsta at the south west corner of Yell. Booking is advisable. Ferries Booking Information: Voicebank: 01595 743972 Bookings: 01957 722259. Ferry services general information: 01595 743970. Booking office opening hours: 8.30am-4.45 pm. There is also an "Overland bus" service that runs from Viking bus station in Lerwick on Mainland to Yell, Unst and Fetlar which picks up the above ferries to reach the islands. There is no public transport in Fetlar itself and no petrol or diesel fuel for sale. Once you get onto Fetlar there is no other public transport.

Inter-Island Shetland Ferries - Out Skerries

The roll on/roll off ferries to Out Skerries, leave Vidlin in North Mainland, a pretty village overlooking Vidlin Voe fjord.

The trip over to Out Skerries takes 90 minutes and can be a bit rough once you're out of the shelter of the Mainland. Cars are strapped down for the journey! Ferries also run from Lerwick to Out Skerries taking 150 minutes. Check the timetables for ferry crossings as journeys from Vidlin and Lerwick tend to be on different days of the week. With a bit of planning a day trip is possible from Vidlin. It is advisable to book.

Skerries Ferries Booking Information: Voicebank: 01595 743975 Bookings: 01806 566259. Ferry services general information: 01595 743970. Booking office opening hours: 8.30am-4.45 pm.

Ferries to Foula Shetland

Atlantic Ferries do currently run a ferry service on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Saturdays in summer from Mainland Shetland to Foula. These leave from Walls and Scalloway on the western of Mainland.

Check their website for up-to-date information on ferry crossings or contact: Ferry Bookings tel: 01595 753248.

Ferry Bookings: Tel: 07881 823732. Fax: 01595 840880. Email: bookings@atlanticferries.co.uk

Ferry Sailing Information Voicebank: tel: 01595 743976.