Shetland by Train and Ferry
Shetland is a train and ferry journey from the mainland: the train to Aberdeen, then a 12hr 30min crossing to Lerwick. The terminal is a short walk from the platform.
Ronas Hill, 450m, is the highest of Shetland's 36 listed hills.
Photo: Bill Griffiths, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How to get to Shetland by train
The train takes you to the ferry port, and the ferry carries foot passengers, so you can walk on with a rucksack and no car.
Train and NorthLink ferry
Train to Aberdeen, 12hr 30min ferry to Lerwick
The ferry terminal is a short walk from the platform. Aberdeen station
Between the islands, Shetland Islands Council runs ferries to Yell, Unst, Fetlar, Whalsay, Skerries, Papa Stour, Bressay and Fair Isle.
Train times to Aberdeen from Glasgow, Edinburgh and more
The quickest train from each city to the ferry port. Then add the crossing: 12hr 30min from Aberdeen.
| From | To Aberdeen |
|---|---|
| Stirling | 2hr 18min |
| Edinburgh | 2hr 26min |
| Glasgow | 2hr 46min |
| Newcastle | 4hr 3min |
| Durham | 4hr 22min |
| Lancaster | 4hr 35min |
Hills you can walk to from the ferry
No listed hill is within 3 miles of the Lerwick terminal, so the walking starts further onto the island.
Hills on Shetland
Shetland has 36 listed hills, including 19 Marilyns. Ronas Hill is the highest at 450m.
Marilyns on Shetland
- Ronas Hill450m
- Da Sneug418m
- Royl Field293m
- Saxa Vord284m
- Fitful Head283m
- Scalla Field281m
- Ward of Scousburgh263m
- Button Hills252m
- Sandness Hill249m
- Da Noup248m
- Ward of Bressay226m
- Ward Hill220m
- Scrae Field216m
- Valla Field216m
- Hill of Arisdale210m
- Noss Head181m
- White Grunafirth173m
- Mid Ward172m
- Vord Hill159m
Protected places on Shetland
Protected places that lie mostly on Shetland, each with its own page.
National Nature Reserves
Special Areas of Conservation
Wild Land Areas
Can you visit Shetland without a car?
Yes. The ferries carry foot passengers, so you can arrive with a rucksack and no car. We don't list island buses, so for anywhere further from the ferry, check local transport before you travel.
More Scottish islands by train and ferry
- Isle of SkyeTrain to Mallaig, 30min ferry to Armadale
- Isle of MullTrain to Oban, 50min to 1hr ferry to Craignure
- Isle of ArranTrain to Ardrossan Harbour, 55min ferry to Brodick
- Isle of ButeTrain to Wemyss Bay, 35min ferry to Rothesay
- BarraTrain to Oban, 5hr 35min ferry to Castlebay
- South UistTrain to Mallaig, 3hr 30min ferry to Lochboisdale
- The Small IslesTrain to Mallaig, ferry to Eigg, Muck, Rùm and Canna
- Coll and TireeTrain to Oban, ferry to Coll and Tiree
- OrkneyTrain to Aberdeen, 6hr ferry to Kirkwall
Also by train and ferry: English, Welsh and Manx islands.