A beginner's guide to Shetland: A few pointers in the right direction for those arriving.
Commercial Street, Lerwick on a busy summer day
A beginners guide to Shetland
You’ve read the travel guide? Great. You’ve seen the Shetland TV series, even better; now read a real guide from a local. Delve a little deeper into the fascinating culture of the place I call home: Shetland.
Our island’s culture and tradition is unique and distinctively ‘not Scottish’ – if that’s a thing? We’ve only been part of Scotland for 550 years so don’t expect to find any haggis, kilts or bagpipes here.
So, for those arriving here for the first time, I’ve compiled this little Survival Guide – a beginner's guide to Shetland, if you will. It’s by no means comprehensive and should be taken a little tongue-in-cheek, but here you go:
Lerwick Harbour
Welcome
First things first, welcome to Shetland – hiyi, noo den, whit lik’, or whatever – you’ll find a few variants of this common greeting. We’re a friendly bunch, and you’ll find that people will be only too happy to help you while you’re here, so please, don’t be afraid to ask locals for directions, tips or any other little thing which might spring to mind.
If it’s your first time to Shetland then pop into the Tourist Centre and meet the staff – a more helpful team you couldn’t ask for. You’re sure to leave feeling inspired and bursting with ideas for your holidays.
Lerwick Tourist Centre where a friendly welcome awaits
Motoring
*note* WE DRIVE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD.
With introductions over, it’s likely that one of the first things you’ll do as a visitor to our islands, is rent a car (several car rental companies are available, such as thisone, thisone and thisone).
You will then find yourself on one of our minor, single-track roads with passing places. We have rules for these, which are unwritten, but strictly observed by islanders. Below is your handy guide to Passing Place Etiquette:
A Shetland passing place, many people visiting ask what "passing place" means on the road signs
On meeting a car coming in the opposite direction: If there is an available passing place, or verge (if necessary), pull over to allow other vehicle(s) to pass.
If the passing place is on your left, pull into it. If it’s on your right, stop on the road – allowing the other car to pass by weaving in-and-out of the passing place (which will be on their left).
Always give way to larger vehicles such as buses, trucks or farm machinery.
Always give way to a vehicle coming uphill – for the simple reason that it’s harder to take-off again on a hill (although, more and more vehicles are automatic, but that’s not the point. When did etiquette ever make perfect sense?).
When passing, always give a waveof acknowledgement and thanks, or atooton the horn.
Using one of Shetland's passing places in Fetlar
A few notes, or additional points to consider when driving in Shetland:
Be aware of vehicles displaying car hire logos. They may, or will almost certainly be unsure of where they’re going, or how to navigate the roads. We expect this from self-drives. Remember that for many, they’re driving on the opposite side of the road to what they’re accustomed to. This is as much a reminder to locals (and myself) as anyone else because it can be frustrating when rushing to get somewhere only to come up behind a car going at 35 mph on a 60 stretch.
Be aware that unless specified, you’re probably going to end up with a manual car if you rent one, and one that has about as much power under the bonnet to get up the hills as my hairdryer. That said, Shetland’s car hire companies are very good, and the vehicles are usually reasonably new.
And finally:
Cyclists are a problem here too. I joke. Please just be aware that we have a lot of cyclists on the roads and there are no dedicated cycle paths, other than a few around town and one leading into the village of Hoswick. I wrote a blog about cycling in Shetland that you can read here.
I should also give you a little heads-up about roundabouts in Shetland, especially for our American visitors who have never encountered this quintessentially British intersection. Basically, on entering a roundabout, give priority to traffic approaching from your right. You will find these randomly situated throughout the isles, and lots of people living here are quite unaware of how to use them too (!). Be prepared for lengthy stand-offs – the roundabout stare-off – as people unblinkingly gaze from one car to the other, wondering who dares to go first. It can be quite fun (if you’re not in a hurry) and I like to treat it as if it were a competitive sport – always disappointed when someone has the guts to enter the roundabout before me. Basically, this system to ‘keep traffic flowing’, more often than not brings traffic to an absolute standstill.
But don’t worry, traffic hold-ups in Shetland are short-lived and infrequent and if you’re still unsure about navigating a roundabout check out this advice from the Highway Code.
If you want to understand a little more about how to use passing places and general ‘Shetlandy stuff’ check out this helpfulYouTube video.
So that's the roads covered.
Who lets a little rain stop them anyway? A rainy day in Yell. Welcome to Shetland summer
Small talk & weather
Despite a surge in tourism in recent years, visitors can still come here and catch a glimpse of the islands distinct culture. Shetland remains true to its roots in many areas – despite the fact we all have iPhones, instant messenger and wifi.
I’m listing small-talk and weather together here because they seem to come as a package. All small-talk begins with the weather, and the weather is the first thing that we ever talk about. We have weather here in abundance, and it can change in a millisecond – providing us with endless opportunities for small-talk.
If you meet a local, be prepared to be given a run-down on the weather (especially if you meet my mother-in-law), it’s how we start most conversations here.
Some jargon:
‘Fine day, daday’ – It’s a good day, today.
‘It’s a day o’ dirt’ – It’s a horrible day today.
‘It’s steekit’ mist’ – It’s extremely foggy.
‘A laar o’ wind’ or ‘a scaar o’ wind’ – Not much wind, or, a little more wind...
‘It’s a day o’ shite’ – I’ll let you figure that one out for yourselves.
And one of the nicest things you can hope for is ‘a day atween wadders’ – a calm day between storms when the birds come out singing, and everyone appears outdoors after being stuck in! (As I write, we’ve enjoyed a ‘day atween wadders’, and I’m writing on the rainy end of it).
On a serious note:
Be prepared for four seasons in one day. And, be prepared for the wind chill – It’s a real thing here despite our temperate Oceanic climate. It will surprise you – it still surprises me!
So, pack wisely and layer up.
I wrote a blog about what to wear in Shetland that can be found here.
What not to say to a Shetlander:
Never say that you are ‘on Shetland’, or ‘on Unst’for example – us Shetlanders can’t abide it (even if it is grammatically correct). Just bear in mind that when visiting; you are ‘in Shetland’or you are ‘in Unst’, never 'on'.
Another never never is – the Shetlands. We’re not the Shetlands; we are just Shetland. Period. Call us the Shetland Isles, or an island archipelago, or da auld rock, or da rock – whatever, just don’t call us 'the Shetlands'. This is a sure-fire way of getting off on the wrong foot, or most usually, corrected.
Although, as mentioned, Shetlanders are a friendly bunch and will probably helpfully correct you with a smile of knowing sympathy at your error.
Fair Isle knitwear is the national dress in Shetland; not tartan
National dress
Mother's hand-knitted Fair Isle smucks [slippers]
Don’t ask what our tartan is; a real Shetlander doesn’t have a tartan – our roots are very much Scandinavian (if you want to know more about our ‘non-Scottish’ culture you can read my blog posthere).
You will perhaps want to buy some of our locally made Fair Isle knitwear, and this can be picked up all over the isles from larger shops on Commercial Street to small community museum shops.
Knitwear sold in the community museums is usually locally made by women at home; as has been done throughout the generations here. And an FYI, my mother – Ingrid – makes smucks(slippers) which she knits in Fair Isle patterns and sells in Scalloway Museum (and online via email), as does my granny Beth.
Knitwear has always been important to our economy – much more than tartan ever has. But that’s for another day.
One of the Shetland fishing fleet; supplying fresh local fish to market
Food & Drink
Again, this is another blog post, but for now:
Eat fish; the ocean is our supermarket, so why wouldn’t you eat fresh and local?
Eat shellfish (as above) – our mussels are delicious and so versatile in terms of exciting flavour combinations and sheer yumminess, nom nom nom.
Eat bannocks, a traditional flat-bread (my favourites are from the Voe bakery) and the Burra women have printed an amazing little recipe book.
Eat Shetland lamb – delicate, salt-kissed flavours to melt in your mouth, a real flavour of Shetland with undertones of heather.
Eat Shetland beef and pork – in fact, if it says ‘produced in Shetland’ eat it! It’s fresh, wholesome and produced by our fantastic farmers and growers. Turriefields veg – unmissable!
Drink ‘red cans’ - McEwans Export – because that’s what the locals (my dad) still drink.
Drink Shetland Reel Gin. I love gin, and we have a big collection, but I do really rate the gin produced here as being up there with the best in artisan producers.
Drink Shetland beer – we have the Lerwick Brewery and the Valhalla Brewery, so there’s plenty of choice for all you beer lovers.
So go on, eat that third course, take the aperitif, savour the nightcap.
I wrote a blog about Classic Shetland Dishes for Promote Shetland if you want to read more.
Local pork on the menu at the String restaurant, Lerwick
What more can I say? I don’t know? I’m so entrenched in life here that I sometimes forget that it’s foreign to some. What do you want to hear about? Get in touch, drop me a line in the comments below.
With love,
