Self Catering on Shetland

[sgflynn]

Hi

Anybody got any recommendations for self-catering on Shetland? I've persuaded my better half that we should go for a week this May. We don't need anywhere big as it will just be my wife, daughter and me. I've got the usual info from the Visit Scotland site and other websites, but I was hoping for some personal recommendations.

Thanks

Steve

[delia todd]

Hi Steve I see this is your first post so may I welcome you from all the Staff and Moderators.

I had a great time on Shetland a few years ago but B&B'd

Do you have any 'target' birds - that may help with a location.

I'm sure there'll be others along soon with some ideas for you.

D

[Penny Clarke]

Hi Steve

Welcome to BF.

Mike Pennington on here is from Shetland, he might be able to help you. If you put his name in 'Search Forums' his personal profile will come up along with his email and website or PM on here.

Best Wishes Penny :girl:

[Andrew Whitehouse]

There's always Bods, if you fancy something a bit closer to camping:

http://www.camping-bods.co.uk/

[John Eaton]

Hi Steve,

I've been a couple of times in May. First time in B&Bs, second in a cottage. Problem is that if you want to bird most of the main islands then logistics is not easy being based in one place. Certainly better taking the B&B option in my view. In fact when we had the cottage we spent two nights away on Unst and Fetlar.

You'll certainly have a great time which ever option you take.

[Frenchy]

The camping bods are a great idea, and are spread throughout the islands with one on Fetlar and one at Sumburgh being particularly well placed for birding. Other cheap options are the hostels, with one at Uyeasound on Unst being nice. Don't bother with the hostel in Lerwick though. Its not much cheaper than a B&B, and you have the possiblity of lots of drunk Norwegians coming in in the small hours when the ferry gets in.

[wendelio]

We spent a week based near Lerwick in June last year at the Decca, run by Self catering Shetland. The link is:
http://www.selfcateringshetland.com/properties/
We had the Raingoose apartment.
I cannot recommend this place highly enough.
It is well kitted out with all mod cons and very reasonably priced. Situation is just out of Lerwick, up on the moor, so it is handy for getting supplies from town and driving off to other parts of the islands. (Assuming you bring or rent a car.)

If you would rather be somewhere wilder, away from Lerwick I would suggest your first point of reference should be the official tourist brochure, which has a very wide selection of all types of accommodation on the Islands

I found that it is not as much of a problem getting about in Shetland as I thought it would be. The roads are generally fantastic and the inter island ferry system is incredibly efficient and cheap. We managed visits to Fetlar, Mousa, Yell and Unst without problems. Of course, if you want to be walking around Loch of Fuzie at dawn, your only choice is to stay on the island overnight!

I hope this is of help.
regards,
Wendelio

[Highway Man]

I can recommend this one http://www.shetland-accommodation.com/

Mark

[sgflynn]

Thanks for all the replies. Hostels/camping would not be well received by the female members of the family and I am outnumbered 2 to 1 in that regard! Also self-catering suits our holidaying preferences.

I was considering basing ourselves not to far from Lerwick as we are planning to take the car and the inter island ferries seem to run fairly frequently, hopefully putting Fetlar and Unst withing day-trip range.

I also need to combine birding with some non-birding activities (e.g. walking/scenery/culture) to keep my wife and daughter happy.

Some very useful info provided, thanks again.

Regards

Steve

[John Eaton]

Thanks for all the replies. Hostels/camping would not be well received by the female members of the family and I am outnumbered 2 to 1 in that regard! Also self-catering suits our holidaying preferences.

I was considering basing ourselves not to far from Lerwick as we are planning to take the car and the inter island ferries seem to run fairly frequently, hopefully putting Fetlar and Unst withing day-trip range.

I also need to combine birding with some non-birding activities (e.g. walking/scenery/culture) to keep my wife and daughter happy.

Some very useful info provided, thanks again.

Regards

Steve

Steve,

One final important thing. Make sure you have the most up to date ferry schedule. We were given the wrong one and that is why we stayed a night on Fetlar, though Unst was planned.

John