Shetland by motorhome

Maybe you want to spend some time in Shetland to explore all that the islands have to offer the visitor. Our website has lots of information about things to do. Or maybe you’re thinking of joining us permanently in Shetland, and want to get the measure of the islands as a place to live; again, we have plenty of practical information to help you do that.

Whatever your reasons for visiting Shetland, a caravan or motorhome makes a great and very flexible base. There are licensed sites with facilities in many parts of Shetland and all of them have at least four hook-ups.

It’s easy to get here, by nightly car ferry from Aberdeen. Roads are good and frequent, economical car ferries connect the larger islands to the mainland.

The closest sites to your arrival point in Lerwick are Scalloway Caravan Park at Asta, Cunningsburgh Touring Park in the South Mainland, Bridge End in Burra Isle or South Nesting, all of them roughly 20 minutes’ drive from the town. Another south mainland site, at Levenwick, is a further ten minutes or so south of Cunningsburgh.

If you begin your exploration in the south mainland, there’s a lot to see, including the remarkable archaeological site at Jarlshof and the intriguing, astonishingly intact Broch of Mousa, reached by ferry from Sandwick, which is the best-preserved of its kind anywhere. Sumburgh Head is an ideal place for watching seabirds and it’s very easy to get very close to those inimitable puffins, but the lighthouse here also has a fascinating story to tell. There’s much more in this area: the beautiful tombolo and the evocative ruined chapel at St Ninian’s Isle; glorious sandy beaches; or glimpses into more recent heritage at the Croft House Museum or Quendale Mill. If sea swimming is outside your comfort zone, there’s a modern indoor pool next to the junior secondary school at Sandwick. There are shops in some villages and a bakery in Sandwick.

Bridge End is a good base for exploring not only Burra Isle itself – with beautiful beaches at Meal and Minn – but is also close to Scalloway, Shetland’s ancient capital, which retains its own identity and has a good range of facilities, including shops, a health centre and a swimming pool. The most striking building here is Earl Patrick Stewart’s castle; next door is the excellent local museum, which tells the moving story of the Shetland Bus operation that supported the Norwegian resistance against Nazi occupation.

Heading west from Lerwick, a 25-mile, 40-minute drive takes you to Skeld. With 19 hook-ups for caravans and motorhomes, plus comprehensive facilities, this impressive site by the pier and marina is the largest in Shetland.

Skeld is a good base from which to explore the West Mainland. There’s archaeology, for example at the mysterious Staneydale ‘temple’ or the Broch of Culswick. Gardens and tree plantations are also a notable feature at Michaelswood and Da Gairdens. Scores of lochs attract anglers and the coastal walking is memorable. The main centres are Walls (pronounced Waas), which has a shop and Aith, where you’ll find a modern leisure centre with a swimming pool.

In the north-east of the mainland, the caravan and motorhome site beside the community hall in tranquil South Nesting is about 25 minutes’ drive from Lerwick. It’s a useful base for exploring the central and north mainland, including the Lunna peninsula, with its Shetland Bus associations and a beautiful little church.

Farther north, there are caravan sites at the Delting Boating Club in Brae and in Eshaness. Brae is the main centre of activity in the north mainland and has a secondary school, a health centre, a supermarket and other shops, plus several places to eat. Users of the touring pitches at the Boating Club have access to the clubhouse, including the bar. From here, you can easily enjoy a hike or mountain bike ride to witness the beautiful scenery at Muckle Roe.

The Eshaness site, which has a restaurant on site, is perfect for exploring the district of Northmavine, a notably rugged part of Shetland, with rock outcrops and spectacular cliffs, or you can trek to the deserted fishing station of Fethaland.

On the island of Fetlar, there's a campsite at Fetlar Hall. Facilities include toilets, showers, a laundry room and waste disposal. There's plenty to see and do in Fetlar, too, including beautiful beaches, coastal walks, lochs for angling, the Fetlar Interpretive Centre, a shop and cafe.

Over in Yell, you’ll find a delightful little site at Burravoe with hook-ups. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you spot the facilities building, its roof a lifeboat from the liner, Canberra. Yell is known as one of the best places to see otters. There’s an interesting local museum in Burravoe and endless walking opportunities. Most of the island’s main facilities, including a junior secondary school and swimming pool, are located at Mid Yell.