You could get to most places in Europe cheaper. I did enjoy the ferry though, other than someone nearly dying in the night.
Think it was 7pm to 7am. They only do overnight. You can get a cabin but they’re expensive. We stayed in a ‘pod’ room, basically big chairs with a bit of recline in a dark room (there’s lots of chairs in each room). Some people just use the general chairs but I definitely wouldn’t be able to sleep that way so I’d rather pay the extra. We had a medical emergency on the way in our room though which wasn’t great but I’m sure was much worse for the person involved (they were fine in the end).
Getting up at sunrise and seeing dolphins was 
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Wonderful 
It’s a unique place
I’m getting more hyped for this just from seeing how hyped all of you are!
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Went in June 2009. Overnight on the ferry. Hired a car and drove up to Hillswick and stayed in the St Magnus Bay hotel for a night. Went back home on the overnight ferry the next day. So not long enough didn’t get up to much but very glad we went. A nice li’l adventure. Being June, it barely got dark at night, but I suppose that’s not so much of a novelty for a Norway bod. Would like to go back at some point. A distinct lack of trees, as I recall.
As an aside, spent a bit longer in Orkney a couple of years after that. And it comes highly recommended. Skara Brae, Ring of Brodgar, Maeshowe, Old Man of Hoy, Italian Chapel, Stromness Pier Arts Centre, seals, otters. Stayed in a wee single room cottage (‘bed in a cupboard affair’) right on the coast (like front door 5 metres away from the sea), by a lovely bay. Magical.
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this looks cute
https://www.theshetlandponyexperience.com/about-the-experience
although as a big horse person, we know shetland ponies as ‘shitlands’ for their ability to destroy everything in their path
This is tomorrow night - wish I could be there:
If anyone fancies it, you can watch the live stream here:
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Never been to Shetland but reckon it would be well worth a visit. Have always been fascinated about the island Foula which is about 20 km west of the mainland. Not a whole lot there but it’s got some 370m high cliffs with lots of sea birds, a scattering of people, and its own breed of sheep.
In Foula they’re on a different calendar to anywhere else in the world after not signing up from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar with the rest of Britain in the 1750s, and then ignoring a leap year in 1900. New Year is 13th January.
It’s a 2-hour boat trip to Foula from Walls in a 12-person boat (Tuesdays and Thursdays only), which if this website is correct will cost you £2.80! I think I’d be happy to pay for that even if there wasn’t an island at the other end.
Couple of random locations I noticed on google maps that I’d probably make a stop at if travelling from Walls up to Unst and the north of Shetland…
This memorial community woodland seems kind of interesting if you like dinosaurs and other random sculptures/artwork…
And this 24/7 honesty-box cake fridge and part-time tea-room could be handy. It appears to be looked after by various Shetland ponies and goats.
Hope you have a nice time and some decent weather wherever you get to.
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This looks like a great place for a visit! There’s even a yarn shop! 
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Only A WEEK TO GO until my big Shetland adventure! So just wanted to bump this in case any new Shetland experts have joined the boards since I posted this in Jan 
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Wooo 
Really want to go back!!
Do you have an itinerary planned?
I do! Staying in a different place each night (except for 2 nights in Lerwick at the end) so we’ll be seeing a lot of the place. Staying in “larger” places like Tingwall and Scalloway, and smaller places like Papa Stour and something really far north as well.
We tried to book a night staying at Fair Isle, but it was not to be.
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Amazing - let us know how it goes and I’ll keep my fingers crossed for the weather!
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Is St Ninians on your itinerary?
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Def for a day trip 
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We went in midwinter so the weather was poor, but it was still stunning. Summertime will be wonderful, I’m sure. Please share lots of pics 
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We’re looking forward to ten degrees and a drizzle for most of the time! Very authentic.
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Go for a sea swim if you can! I went swimming at Meal beach (Burra) and Norwich (Unst) and it was amazing. At the latter I had a young kittiwake come right up to me, it was so curious! And the seals!
Want to be there now 
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Absolutely packing swimwear! Remember I live in the Arctic, so chilly temperatures do not scare me.
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