r/shetland

I'll be in Lerwick for one day (cruise ship) and it's unfortunately on a Sunday when all the rental car companies are closed (but I think the airport ones are open - just not very convenient with limited time). Does anyone know of any local drivers for hire? I would love to see the wildlife around the island, maybe even make it to Noss. I'm not opposed to taxis, just not sure how I could guarantee to get one for each place I'd like to see. Any advice/suggestions/contacts are welcome!

p.s. any suggestions for seeing/interacting with shetland ponies that can avoid the masses would be appreciated!

Hi all! I'm flying up and landing around midday tomorrow, will be leaving midday the next day. It's for work so I've been provided a car and accommodation, and the actual project will take me an hour in Lerwick. So I have most of the afternoon to explore (till dark at least). As a keen outdoorsman, a birder and a guy from Australia this is a dream come true if only for a day! I'm hoping work will send me up a few more times soon enough.

For now though, I'd love a recommendation or two as to your best outdoorsy/birding spot on the mainland or maybe a good ruin or two to visit? I'm planning on maximising my free hire car from work so happy to be doing a big several hours road trip! Even one or two spots would be great. I'm aware I can google it, but getting recs from locals is always undoubtedly better!

Hi all. Going to be visiting marine stations etc for study of industrial marine coatings.

Anything fun I can do for a week ?

Weather forecast 35C or more all week in Zürich - Lerwick a lovely 16C according to BBC. Enjoy !!!

Hello. We'll be in Lerwick and Unst in early-mid September, and I have a question about what coat to bring. Is September generally cool and windy enough for an insulated raincoat? Or is that too much, and can I get by with a waterproof shell with a sweater or fleece layer underneath? We're not going on all-day hikes, but we will do a fair bit of walking.

Appreciate any tips, thanks.

Hello everyone,

I’ve recently been learning more about Shetland and it’s genuinely become one of those places I can’t stop thinking about.

My boyfriend is from there, and ever since we met I’ve been wanting to understand the islands better — not in a surface-level way, but properly, like daily life, culture, and how people actually experience growing up there.

I’m also applying to study in Shetland next year, so I’d really like to learn from locals rather than just relying on travel articles or asking him to explain everything to me.

One thing I’ve realised is that places with strong island identity always have a lot of “small things” outsiders miss completely — the kind of details you only notice if you live there.

So I’m curious: what are some things about Shetland life that you think people outside the islands usually misunderstand or don’t expect at all?