Shetland

Shetland, also called the Shetland Islands, is a group of islands in Scotland. It is the northernmost part of the United Kingdom. The islands are located between Orkney, the Faroe Islands, and Norway, about 50 miles northeast of Orkney.

The Shetland Islands cover an area of 1,467 km² and had a population of 23,190 in 2024. The largest settlement and capital is Lerwick. Because of its location, getting to Shetland requires taking a ferry or a flight.

People have lived in Shetland since ancient times. The islands have a rich history, especially from the time when they were part of Norway. Today, Shetland is known for its strong ties to its Norse heritage. This is seen in traditions like the Up Helly Aa fire festivals and in the local music, especially the traditional fiddle style. The islands are also home to unique animal breeds, such as the Shetland pony and the Shetland Sheepdog.

Etymology

The name Shetland has several possible origins. One idea is that it comes from Old Norse words meaning "hilt" and "land." Another possibility links it to an ancient Celtic tribe. Early writers like the Roman author Pomponius Mela and Pliny the Elder mentioned islands they called Haemodae and Acmodae, which scholars think might be the Shetland islands.

In old Irish stories, the islands were called Insi Catt, meaning "the Isles of Cats," possibly referring to an early group of people there. The oldest known version of the name Shetland is Hetland, which might mean "Catland." Over time, the name changed from Hjaltland to Ȝetland, and finally to Zetland, which is where the ZE postcode for Shetland comes from. Many of the island names have Norse origins, though some may be even older.

Geography and geology

Main article: List of Shetland islands

Shetland is located about 106 miles north of Great Britain and 143 miles west of Bergen, Norway. It covers an area of 567 square miles and has a very long coastline.

Lerwick, the main town, has around 7,000 people, and about half of the islands' 22,920 residents live close to it. Only 16 of the roughly 100 islands are lived on. The largest island is called Mainland. Others include Yell, Unst, and Bressay.

The rocks in Shetland are complex, with many different types. Some are very old, similar to rocks on the Scottish mainland. There are also places where you can see layers of stone that tell stories of ancient oceans.

The highest point in Shetland is Ronas Hill at 450 meters. Many tall, narrow cliffs called sea stacks line the coasts.

Shetland is a special area for its natural beauty, including places like Fair Isle and Esha Ness.

Climate

Shetland has a cool, windy climate with lots of rain. Winters are mild, and summers are cool. The temperature usually stays between about 1 °C in winter and 14 °C in summer.

Rain falls more than 250 days a year, and snow is rare, usually melting within a day. The area often has cloudy skies and fog, especially in summer. In winter, the northern lights can sometimes be seen, and in summer, it never gets fully dark.

Settlements

The largest settlements in Shetland are Lerwick, Scalloway, and Brae. These three places have more than 500 people living in them.

For town planning, the Shetland Islands Council has identified eight important settlements. These include the three large ones plus Aith, Baltasound, Mid Yell, Sandwick, and Symbister.

Prehistory

Main article: Prehistoric Shetland

Shetland has many old stone buildings because people there built with stone long ago, when there were very few trees. There are over 5,000 places where archaeologists have found clues about life from thousands of years ago. One important place at West Voe on the south coast of Mainland shows that people lived there as far back as 4320–4030 BC. Another site at Scord of Brouster in Walls has things from about 3400 BC.

At Jarlshof, pieces of old pots show that people lived there during the time called the Bronze Age. This place also had a place for making things, a group of round houses, and a big stone building called a broch. There are also special stone burial places called heel-shaped cairns, found only in Shetland, with a big one in Vementry.

Many big stone buildings called brochs were built during a time called the Iron Age. Besides Mousa, important ruins can be seen at Clickimin, Culswick, Old Scatness, and West Burrafirth. In 2011, several important Iron Age sites in Shetland were added to a list of possible World Heritage Sites.

History

Main article: History of Shetland

Scandinavian colonisation

The growing number of people in Scandinavia led to less land and resources, causing them to look for new places to live. This began a time when people from Norse culture moved to new areas. Shetland was taken over during the late 8th and 9th centuries. Many people in Shetland today still have family names that show this history.

Vikings used the islands as a place to plan trips to other lands. In response, a Norwegian king took control of the islands in 875. Over time, the islands became part of a larger area ruled by Norwegian leaders.

The people of the islands started following the Christian religion in the late 10th century after a leader ordered everyone to change their beliefs.

Increased Scottish interest

From the 1200s, leaders from Scotland wanted to control nearby islands. This led to conflicts, including one where a Norwegian king tried to keep the islands but died during the fight. After this, some islands were given to Scotland, but Shetland stayed under Norwegian control.

Absorption by Scotland

In the 1300s and 1400s, Scotland’s influence grew. By 1472, Shetland became part of Scotland permanently, though it kept some ties to Norway.

From the 1400s, people in Shetland traded with groups of German merchants, who bought fish and wool and brought back salt, cloth, and beer.

18th and 19th centuries

After an important law in 1707, German traders could no longer visit Shetland, causing hard times for the local economy. Some local leaders began trading on their own.

Many people from Shetland served in naval forces during wars, and some did not return home. By the late 1800s, most of the land was owned by a few people, causing many to leave the islands. A new law in 1886 helped small farmers own their own land.

20th century

During World War I, many from Shetland served in military forces, and the islands lost more people than other parts of Britain.

During World War II, a special group used Shetland as a base for secret missions to help people and gather information in areas controlled by enemies.

Discoveries of oil in the seas around Shetland later brought new jobs and money to the islands.

The number of people living in Shetland was 17,814 in 1961.

Economy

Shetland’s economy relies on several key areas. Important industries include agriculture, aquaculture, fishing, renewable energy, the petroleum industry (crude oil and natural gas production), the creative industries, and tourism. Unst has a rocket launch site named SaxaVord Spaceport. In February 2021, a German company planned to start launching spacecraft from this site using hydrogen power.

Fishing is very important to Shetland. In 2009, the total catch was 75,767 tonnes, worth over £73.2 million. Atlantic mackerel makes up more than half of this catch. Other fish caught include haddock, cod, herring, whiting, monkfish, and shellfish. New fish markets and plans for more aquaculture show that fishing is growing.

Oil and gas have been important since 1978, when they were first landed at Sullom Voe. Taxes from oil have helped fund public services. The Shetland Islands Council has also supported local programs. Plans for wind farms, like the Viking Wind Farm, aim to bring more renewable energy to the islands. Projects like PURE in Unst explore using wind power to create wind-hydrogen energy.

Farming in Shetland focuses on Shetland sheep, known for their fine wool. Knitting and clothing designs, like the Fair Isle design, are also important. Small-scale farming, called crofting, continues on small plots of land.

Shetland is a popular place for tourists, especially for cruise ships. In 2019, over 107,000 cruise passengers visited. Main attractions include the Shetland Museum, wildlife reserves, galleries, and the islands’ natural beauty. Tourism grew by £12.6 million between 2017 and 2019.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism dropped due to travel restrictions. The government introduced schemes to help businesses affected by these restrictions.

Transport between the islands is mainly by ferry, with services operated by the Shetland Islands Council. There is also a ferry service from Lerwick to Aberdeen on mainland Scotland. Sumburgh Airport offers flights to other parts of Scotland. Public buses serve several islands, and there are plans for road tunnels to connect some islands.

Governance

The local authority is the Shetland Islands Council, based in Lerwick. It meets at the former St Ringan's Church and has its main offices at 8 North Ness, overlooking the harbour.

Administrative history

In 1472, Shetland became part of Scotland. Around that time, more Scottish ways of running things were slowly brought to the area. A special job called the Sheriff of Orkney and Shetland started in 1541. Shetland and Orkney kept their own rules until 1612, when Scotland's main laws were used there.

In 1667, groups called Commissioners of Supply were set up in Scotland. Shetland and Orkney, even though they were one area, had their own groups of commissioners. Over time, these groups took on more jobs. In 1829, a big court decided not to say if Shetland and Orkney were one area or two. They worked together for some things but separately for others.

In 1890, new local government rules were made. This led to separate councils for Shetland and Orkney. Zetland County Council, for Shetland, met for the first time on May 22, 1890, at the County Buildings, Lerwick.

In 1975, local government changed again. Shetland became one of the special island areas, along with Orkney and the Western Isles. In 1996, all of Scotland changed to single-tier councils, but Shetland’s council kept providing the same services.

Parishes and communities

Further information: List of civil parishes in Scotland

Parishes have been used since medieval times for keeping records, though they no longer have any official roles today.

Shetland has many community groups that help represent local areas. These groups started in 1975 and work with the local council. The following areas each have their own community group:

• Bressay
• Burra and Trondra
• Delting
• Dunrossness
• Fetlar
• Gulberwick, Quarff and Cunningsburgh
• Lerwick
• Nesting and Lunnasting
• Northmavine
• Sandness and Walls
• Sandsting and Aithsting
• Sandwick
• Scalloway
• Skerries
• Tingwall, Whiteness and Weisdale
• Unst
• Whalsay
• Yell

Education

Shetland has many schools for children. There are 22 primary schools, five junior high schools, and two high schools named Anderson High School and Brae High School. There is also a college called Shetland College UHI that works with the University of the Highlands and Islands. This college offers many courses about film, music, and media. Another college, the North Atlantic Fisheries College, offers training for jobs related to the sea.

Sport

The Shetland Football Association manages two leagues – a top league and a second league – that work together with the Scottish Amateur Football Association.

Churches and religion

In 2011, many people in Shetland said they did not follow any religion. The largest group that did follow a religion was the Church of Scotland. The Catholic Church and other Christian groups also had followers. There were also a few people who followed Islam or other religions.

The big change called the Reformation came to Shetland in 1560. It happened peacefully, and there was not much fighting or harsh treatment because of religion. Even though many people in Shetland do not follow a religion, the Methodist Church is quite popular there. The Church of Scotland also has an important group called a Presbytery in Shetland.

In June 2020, the Presbytery of Shetland joined with another one from Aberdeen to become the Presbytery of Aberdeen and Shetland. Now, all 13 church areas in Shetland are combined into one.

Politics

Shetland is part of the Orkney and Shetland area in the House of Commons. This area chooses one Member of Parliament, called an MP. The current MP is Alistair Carmichael from the Liberal Democrats party.

In the Scottish Parliament, the Shetland Islands choose one representative called a Member of the Scottish Parliament, or MSP. This person is chosen by a voting system called "first past the post." Recently, in the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, a new person from a different party was chosen for the first time in many years.

The local government, called the Shetland Islands Council, is mostly made up of independent members, with one person from the Scottish National Party. There is also a group called Wir Shetland that wants the islands to have more control over their own money and decisions.

Local culture and the arts

After the islands became part of Scotland in 1472, many Scots families moved to Shetland in the 1500s and 1600s. Studies show that many people in Shetland have Scandinavian roots, which affects many parts of local life. For example, almost every place name in Shetland comes from Viking times.

The Lerwick Up Helly Aa is a big winter festival held every year in January. It started over 100 years ago to celebrate the end of winter and the islands' history. During the festival, men dress up as Vikings and burn a model ship on fire.

Shetland also takes part in the International Island Games every two years.

The food in Shetland uses local lamb, beef, and seafood, including some organic choices. Valhalla Brewery makes real ale, and there is a special type of blue potato called the Shetland Black.

Language

See also: Norn language and Shetland dialect

The Norn language, a type of Old Norse, was spoken in Shetland until the 1700s. It was replaced by a local version of Scots called Shetlandic, which is now mostly being replaced by Scottish English. Though Norn is no longer spoken, it still influences the local dialect. The Shetland dialect is used in local radio and writing, and groups work to keep it alive.

Music

Shetland’s culture and landscapes have inspired many musicians and writers. The Forty Fiddlers group, formed in the 1950s, helps keep traditional fiddle music alive. Famous musicians from Shetland include Aly Bain, Jenna Reid, and Fiddlers' Bid. The Shetland Folk Festival happens every year in early May.

Writers

The writer Walter Scott wrote a novel called The Pirate set in Shetland after visiting the islands in 1814. Other writers who have been inspired by Shetland include Hugh MacDiarmid, Hammond Innes, and Ann Cleeves, whose crime novels are set in the islands and were turned into a TV series.

Films and television

The film The Edge of the World tells the true story of people leaving the island of St Kilda in 1930. Other films about Shetland include A Crofter's Life in Shetland and It's Nice Up North. The BBC TV series Shetland is based on books by Ann Cleeves and is filmed in both Shetland and mainland Scotland.

Wildlife

Shetland has three special areas for nature, called national nature reserves, where many birds live. These are at Hermaness, Noss, and Keen of Hamar. Many parts of the islands are protected to help plants and animals.

The plants in Shetland are influenced by tough weather and sheep grazing. There are about 400 different plants, including special ones like the Shetland mouse-ear, which grows only here. Birds are very common, with many types such as puffins and storm-petrels. Some rare birds, like the black-browed albatross, have also been seen.

There are not many mammals, mainly just a few types of mice and rats. Shetland is also known for its small but strong ponies and other animal breeds like sheepdogs and sheep.