From tyres in Dundee to Viking fire - Driving North for Up Helly Aa

It’s that time of year when thoughts turn to planning your Up Helly Aa journey. January can be a tricky time to be heading north — the days are short, the weather can be unpredictable and there’s a fair bit of driving involved — so I’ve teamed up with Fife Autocentre to make one part of the journey a little easier, with the added bonus of a stop in Dundee.

I went to uni in Dundee, so I have a real soft spot for the city. If you’re heading north, why not make a little more of your stop? You could pop into the V&A, discover the city’s jute, jam and journalism past or grab a coffee on Perth Road while you wait. Then, once the car is ready for the road ahead, you can carry on towards Aberdeen and your ferry to Shetland.

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There comes a moment on the long road north in midwinter when the journey to Shetland stops feeling like a drive and starts to feel like a pilgrimage. Every January, as the islands settle into their shortest days, Lerwick prepares to set the darkness ablaze with Up Helly Aa, Shetland's famous fire festival. Torches are lit, a hand-built Viking galley is hauled through the streets and the Jarl Squad, dressed in full Norse splendour, leads the guizers towards the burning site. It is a spectacle that draws visitors from every corner of the world, and for those bringing a car, the adventure begins long before the ferry slips into Holmsgarth. Hundreds of miles of winter road lie between the central belt and the islands, and the four small patches of rubber holding the car to the tarmac do more work on that journey than almost anything else. That is why so many drivers make time for tyres in Dundee before the final push north.

When cold, damp mornings arrive, worn tyres can make every journey feel unpredictable. Get winter-ready with reliable tyres in Dundee - order online at Fife Autocentre. As the last big city before Aberdeen, it makes a natural stopping point, with time to stretch the legs, grab a warm drink and set off again knowing the car is ready for whatever the islands have in store.

Why Tyres Matter More in Winter

Tyres behave differently once the temperature drops. Below around seven degrees, the rubber on standard summer tyres starts to harden, which means less grip on cold, wet roads and longer stopping distances. On a winter drive through Scotland, where frost lingers in shaded dips and sleet can arrive without warning, that difference is easy to feel.

Tread depth matters just as much. The legal minimum in the UK is 1.6mm, but most garages recommend at least 3mm for winter, as deeper grooves clear water and slush far more effectively. A quick check with a 20p coin is a handy guide: if the outer band of the coin is visible when slotted into the tread, it is time for a closer look. Pressures should be checked too, as they drop in cold weather and an underinflated tyre wears faster and grips less. A quick stop for tyres in Dundee is an easy way to have all of this looked at in one go before heading on to Aberdeen.

Loading Up for the Ferry

The NorthLink ferry sails overnight from Aberdeen, and in the run-up to Up Helly Aa it fills with a real sense of anticipation. Cars below deck are often packed to the roof with suitcases, waterproofs, wellies and enough warm layers for a week of island weather. Cabins and car spaces disappear quickly at this time of year, so booking early is essential.

All that extra weight affects the tyres. Most car handbooks list a higher tyre pressure for a fully loaded vehicle, and adjusting to it before the drive helps the car handle properly and stops the tyres wearing unevenly. It is a small job that takes minutes, yet it makes a noticeable difference over a long journey.

How Shetland's Roads Test Your Tyres

Driving in Shetland is a real pleasure, but the roads ask a lot of a car. Many are single-track with passing places, and pulling onto rough, stony verges is part of everyday driving. Cattle grids, potholes and loose gravel all take their toll, and a tyre that was already worn can pick up damage far more easily.

Then there is the wind. In winter it blows hard off the Atlantic and the North Sea, carrying salt spray across the coast roads and leaving the surface slippery without much warning. Good tread is what keeps the car steady in those conditions. Sheep wander wherever they like, so blind bends call for a gentle approach, and tyres in good condition mean the car stops when it needs to. With help sometimes a fair drive away, sorting any concerns with car tyres on the way north is far easier than dealing with them on the islands.

The Night the Galley Burns

Up Helly Aa takes place on the last Tuesday of January, and Lerwick buzzes from first light. The Jarl Squad marches through the town in the morning, with the galley on show by the Esplanade, and visits the Shetland Museum in the afternoon, before the main event unfolds after dark.

As night falls, the streetlights go out and around a thousand blazing torches light up the town. The procession snakes through the streets with the galley at its heart, before the guizers circle the longship and hurl their torches inside. The celebrations carry on in the halls until the early hours, and the following day is a public holiday. Anyone driving on afterwards will often find frosty roads and dark mornings, which is one more reason good tyres matter right to the end of the trip.

Tyres in Dundee, Fire in Lerwick

Up Helly Aa is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many visitors, and the journey north deserves to be part of the memory rather than a source of stress. With the tyres in Dundee checked, the pressures set and the ferry booked, the road to Shetland becomes the opening chapter of something truly special.

So, when the darkest month of the year arrives and the call of the north grows louder, there is only one thing left to do. Set off early, enjoy the drive and see the islands on the one night of the year when the whole town turns out to watch the galley burn.

Find out more about visiting Shetland for Up Helly Aa here …