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Why I Nearly Said No To Visiting Shetland (Omg!)

I’m not a great traveller which is why I nearly said no to visiting Shetland when I was first offered the chance to take tours there.

It may be a surprise to read that despite being a Tour Manager, and therefore paid to travel I am not a great traveller.

I get travel sick, on boats, on coaches and in cars. I am also an anxious flyer, which was previously so bad that I stopped flying for many years.

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Here’s Why I Nearly Said No To Visiting Shetland

I didn’t think I could cope with the flying, given that Loganair uses smaller propeller planes.

I knew about the weather in Shetland and the wind and felt that I wouldn’t cope with it. Very windy weather can affect my ears leading to vertigo, which if you’ve had it you know how awful it is.

I also knew that when flights are cancelled due to bad weather people sometimes get transferred onto the ferry. Even though I’m not keen on flying I would much rather fly than take a boat, especially in windy or stormy weather.

I took a few days to consider working in Shetland and accepted. I figured that I had managed to fly around the Azores in small planes I could cope with Shetland. The Azores is an archipelago of 9 mid-Atlantic ridge islands, so they also get lots of windy weather.

Over the years I have taken probably around 8 trips to the Azores and loved it. I decided that I would accept the work in Shetland and if I couldn’t cope with it I would hand back the rest of the trips I had been booked to do.

I’ve now flown to Shetland and back 15 times.

nearly said no to visiting shetland post picture

I have to be honest, there have been a few bumps in the flight. On one flight the bump was so big that the air stewardess was lifted off her feet. A couple of passengers screamed and I swore very loudly. I then had to apologise to two members of my group who were sitting in front of me at the time.

There have also been a few landings where I don’t know how the pilot has managed to get the wings level given the amount of crosswind.

Then in November, when I expected the worst weather, there was one of the most beautiful flights and landings I’ve experienced in Shetland. The sun gleamed off the sea, and the plane drifted down gently and landed like a feather. It was so smooth and beautiful that I managed to look out of the window and film the landing too!

Good Job I Didn’t Say No To Visiting Shetland!

I am going back to Shetland for another 4 trips this year.

Shetland is worth the effort even if you are a nervous flier or not a great sea traveller like me.

If you want to go but can’t cope with an overnight ferry then why not try going from Orkney to Shetland? The ferry from Orkney takes 7 hours and 45 minutes. It leaves just before midnight and arrives in Lerwick at 7.30 am.

However, you can also fly from Orkney to Shetland. This is also a much cheaper flight to get to Shetland and the flight is only 35 minutes.

Getting from the Scottish mainland to Orkney involves a short ferry crossing from Scrabster of around 90 minutes, or from St Margarets Hope which is a 70-minute crossing.

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Nearly Said No To Visiting Shetland Conclusion

  • Shetland is worth visiting if you enjoy wildlife, scenery, remote and slightly unusual places.
  • Consider flying from Kirkwall for a shorter (and cheaper) flight.
  • Consider the ferry from Kirkwall for a shorter crossing time although it’s still 7 hours and 45 minutes. Book super early to get a cabin!
I Nearly Said No To Visiting Shetland!
I Nearly Said No To Visiting Shetland!
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I Nearly Said No To Visiting Shetland!
I Nearly Said No To Visiting Shetland!