Shetland-based writers Jen Hadfield and Donald S Murray are to appear at the Edinburgh Book Festival later this month.

WELCOME to the online edition of The Shetland Visitor magazine. A special welcome this year to those of you coming ‘home’ from around the world to attend the 50th anniversary Hamefarin. We hope you have a splendid visit and take lots of happy memories back to your other home, wherever it may be.
The magazine is produced in the hope that it will help you to enjoy your stay in Shetland by giving details of travel, accommodation, shopping and services, activities and events, as well as some information on the islands, their history, people, wildlife and culture.

EMERGENCIES: Police 999; Ambulance 999; Fire 999; Coastguard 999

Medical
Gilbert Bain Hospital 01595 743000

Lerwick Doctors 01595 693201

NHS 24 (24-hour health help service) 08454 24 24 24

Chemist Shops & Pharmacies
A.L. Laing 01595 692579 or 01595 693502

Boots the Chemist 01595 692619

Travel

Sumburgh airport 01950 461000 (not 460100 as in printed edition)

NorthLink Ferries 0845 6000449

SHETLAND may be one of the remotest parts of Britain but the islands are easily accessible with daily sea and air connections from and to the British mainland throughout the year. Lying 957km north of London, 360km west of Bergen, Norway and 1123km from Reykjavik in Iceland, Shetland’s 100 scattered islands (15 of them inhabited) lie at a crossroads of the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean and are a popular and convenient stop for cruise ships, yachts and commercial shipping.

A varied range of accommodation is available throughout Shetland, from Fair Isle in the south to Unst in the north, from a basic self-catering camping böd to a luxury fully serviced apartment. Whether you stay in a lighthouse keepers’ cottage or a self-catering croft house; a hotel, guesthouse or bed and breakfast in the town or country; or a hostel, outdoor centre or camp site, you should receive a warm, friendly and helpful service.

In Shetland you’ll find a surprising and increasing selection of good, fresh produce available, either to purchase for cooking yourself, or prepared for you in one of the varied selection of ‘eating-out’ establishments.

From fishmongers, butchers, confectioners and the local dairy to crofters, market gardeners, chip shops and restaurateurs, local suppliers offer plenty of choice to stop you going hungry.

SHETLAND can boast a wealth of talented knitters, craft makers, artists and photographers who are engaged in producing various quality items for both the local and tourist markets. Work is available direct from the makers or from local shops, websites, craft fairs, markets and gallery outlets. Exhibitions also take place at various venues where you can browse work from both local and visiting artists.

ON the trail of heritage centres, museums, history groups and cultural exhibitions you will discover the magical story of Shetland, its history, its people and traditions. The network provides an insight into the lives and livelihoods of the islanders from prehistoric times to the present day. From static displays and interactive presentations to live dance, music and craft demonstrations you can sample the Shetland story at venues throughout the islands.

TO GET the most out of a holiday you should try to fit in a trip with a guide who knows the local history and folklore, or the best places for wildlife watching, trout angling, walking or just sight-seeing, both on land and from the sea. A selection of the available trips and tours are highlighted here. Most can be booked through the Visit Shetland office at the Market Cross in Lerwick (Tel. 01595 693434), who will also be able to give details of other operators.

THE Shetland pony is undoubtedly one of the most well known of all the equine breeds. The isolation of the Shetland Isles and the problems this caused transporting ponies has, over the centuries, resulted in the Shetland pony being one of the purest of British native pony breeds

No-one could come to Shetland and…

A former Lerwick optician is suing his estranged wife and erstwhile business partner for more than £800,000, claiming that her actions after they went their separate ways six years ago effectively left him out of work.

New SIC chief executive Alistair Buchan came face to face with all councillors this week for the first time since taking up the post for what he described as “very positive” initial discussions about how to react to major criticisms in the Accounts Commission’s recent report on the local authority.

Multiple Grammy winner Steve Earle, the outspoken singer-song­writer responsible for a host of classic Americana songs including Copperhead Road, Guitar Town and Galway Girl, will be stopping off in Lerwick next Thursday for a re-arranged show at Clickimin.