About the Shetland Islands
Like Orkney, Shetland was once a colony of Norway. It was given to Scotland as part of a marriage settlement.
When you look at how close it lies to the Norwegian mainland, you can see why many Shetlanders still consider the Nordic link to be a strong one.
If you hear words spoken on the islands that you don’t recognise as English, that’s because many words have survived from the Shetlandic that was spoken and which was heavily influenced by the old Nordic language, Norn.
Today Shetland is home to 21,940 people, spread over 15 inhabited islands out of over 100 that make up its entirity.
Most people live on the largest island known as ‘The Mainland’. The capital Lerwick, on the east coast, is a thriving harbour town, popular with tourists and the sailing community.
The Future
The installation of broadband internet on the islands has meant that Shetland is more connected with mainland Britain and the rest of the world than ever before.
It’s likely that more and more people who want to work from home will choose to move there since broadband means there is less need to be located close to business centres.
Improved travel links make this an even more appealing prospect. There are direct flights between Edinburgh, Inverness, Aberdeen and Glasgow, and connections with Iceland, Denmark and Norway via the Faroe Islands. Atlantic Airways provide direct flights from London Stanstead during the summer months.
- Atlantic Airways
- More about air travel to and from Shetland
- More about broadband services in Shetland
Would you like to live in Shetland?
Find out more about the practicalities of Moving to Scotland
Back to About Shetland & Orkney Islands
