Zetland
Zetland Sealtainn | |||
Location Map ( geo) | |||
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Other Important Destinations | |||
Lerwick | |||
Current Highway Authorities | |||
Shetland Islands Council | |||
Borders | |||
(Orkney) | |||
Transport Scotland Roads | |||
none | |||
Zetland is a small traditional county that covers the Shetland Islands. It lies to the north of the Orkney Islands, and is closer to Norway than London. There is a strong Norse heritage in the islands, dating back to the medieval 'ownership' of Shetland by Norway. The County is now covered by the Shetland Islands Council.
Geography & Economy
Unlike Orkney to the south, The Shetland Isles are mostly a rugged and barren collection of islands. The landscape has a wild beauty more familiar to the West Highlands, with steep hillsides plunging to sea cliffs or freshwater lochs. This makes farming difficult, and much of the land is uncultivated. Nevertheless, the islands have sustained a population for centuries, and with the North Sea Oil boom, that population has increased and become more prosperous in recent decades.
Despite the scenery, tourism in this far northern part of the British Isles is somewhat limited. The long ferry ride, or difficult air transfers put many people off, but for those who make it there is a lot to see across half a dozen or so main islands, and many smaller ones. Out to the west and south towards Orkney, Fair Isle and Foula are tiny rocky outcrops with tiny populations that somehow survive the worst of the winter weather at this inhospitable latitude.
Roads
The Mainland and larger of the isles are well served by a network of A and B roads, even if there is a tendency to give all of the spurs and branches one number rather than identifying them individually. The A970 is a long north-south route on the mainland, with the A971 heading west, whilst the A968 serves the northern isles of Unst and Yell, via ferries.
The Shetlands are reached via ferry from Aberdeen, although some services go via Kirkwall on Orkney. It is a 12-14 hour crossing, which can be very rough in winter weather. Several of the smaller isles are now reached by bridges and causeways, the oil money being spent to better access facilities and connect the residents to their workplaces. Other islands still rely on ferries, with numerous small ports in use depending on where the shortest and easiest crossing can be found. There are no Trunk Roads in the county, with all roads being maintained by Shetland Islands Council.
Route | From | To | Length |
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---|---|---|---|---|
A968 | Hillside, Mainland | Haroldswick, Unst | 41.9 miles | View |
A968 | Lerwick | Sumburgh | 24.4 miles | View |
A969 | Garthspool | Clickimin | 1.6 miles | View |
A970 | Grutness | Isbister | 71.4 miles | View |
A971 | Tingwall | Melby and Walls | 26.0 miles | View |
B9071 | Culswick | Vidlin | 26.5 miles | View |
B9071 | Channerwick | Sumburgh | 8.5 miles | View |
B9072 | Commercial Street | King Harald Street | 0.2 miles | View |
B9073 | Wick | Scalloway | 1.4 miles | View |
B9074 | Veensgarth | Hamnavoe | 7.9 miles | View |
B9075 | Weisdale | Laxo | 13.8 miles | View |
B9076 | Brae | Firth | 7.2 miles | View |
B9076 | Bridge of Walls | Sandness | 6.8 miles | View |
B9077 | Hillside | Mossbank | 9.6 miles | View |
B9078 | Hillswick | Stenness | 5.9 miles | View |
B9078 | Brae | Hillswick | 11.0 miles | View |
B9079 | Eela Water | Ollaberry | 2.5 miles | View |
B9079 | Orbister | Burra Voe | 10.1 miles | View |
B9080 | Bay of Ulsta | Cullivoe | 21.9 miles | View |
B9081 | Ulsta | Camb | 12.7 miles | View |
B9082 | Gutcher | Cullivoe | 2.4 miles | View |
B9083 | Cullivoe | Haa of Houlland | 1.7 miles | View |
B9084 | Uyeasound turn | Uyeasound pier | 0.6 miles | View |
B9085 | Belmont | Uyeasound Turn | 1.9 miles | View |
B9086 | Haroldswick | Stackhoull | 2.2 miles | View |
B9087 | Haroldswick | Kirkaton | 2.1 miles | View |
B9088 | Brough Lodge | Funzie | 5.9 miles | View |
B9122 | Channerwick | Boddam | 5.3 miles | View |
Key
Junctions
Bridges, Tunnels, and other Crossings
Links