Bluemull Sound Ferry

The Bluemull Sound Ferry carries the A968 on a 2.0km journey across the Bluemull Sound.

Additionally, the same vessels are used to go from Gutcher and Belmont to the nearby island of Fetlar where they link to the B9088.

History

Old maps show that the original crossing between Unst and Yell was from the pier at Cullivoe on Yell to Snarra Voe on Unst. While Cullivoe is on the road network, a footpath around the north shore of the Loch of Snarravoe connected to the roads on Unst. In the 1940s and 50s, a number of different ferry routes are shown on maps, using Cullivoe and Gutcha on Yell and Snarra Voe, Belmont and Uyeasound on Unst. In addition, the original car ferry services appear to have originated in Lerwick and called at Mid Yell and Baltasound (Unst) for cars, while also calling at Gutcher and Uyeasound. These routes are depicted on the OS Travel Maps throughout the 1960s, while Gutcher to Belmont is noted as a passenger ferry in 1961 and again in 1972, despite being on the route of the A968, which was routed this way in the 1950s.

The first known car ferry to sail on the current route was the Fylga, which was built in 1975, perhaps the year when the service began.

Ferries

Name	IMO	Operator	Dates	Notes
Geira	8712489	Shetland Islands Council	2005-date	15 cars
Fivla	8410237	Shetland Islands Council	?-date	15 cars
Bigga	9000821	Shetland Islands Council	2004-date	15 cars
Fylga	7347342	Shetland Islands Council	?-2005

Links

• Undiscovered Scotland Page
• 2018 Fares & Timeable