Aberdeen to Lerwick, Shetland
We were excited to have our first trip to Shetland and chose to travel overnight by ferry from Aberdeen. There was some apprehension as my wife Helen does not travel well be sea! But, anyway, we were doing it and everything was planned including suitable anti-sea sickness measures.
We were sitting in a restaurant at Aberdeen when I received a call from the ferry company: “where are you – are you coming”. It seems I had mistaken the ferry leaving time! We lept out of our seats, ran to the car park and raced through Aberdeen to reach the ferry just before it left. We had made it!
Now for the crossing.
The ferry journey from Aberdeen to Lerwick covers a distance of approximately 225 miles and takes around 12-13 hours to complete. The route takes you across the North Sea, passing through the Pentland Firth and around the northern tip of Scotland before arriving at the port of Lerwick on the Shetland Islands. The ferry service is operated by NorthLink Ferries, which offers regular sailings throughout the year, with a choice of daytime and overnight crossings.
The ferry journey from Aberdeen to Lerwick is renowned for its stunning scenery, with a host of scenic highlights to take in along the way. As you depart from Aberdeen, there are the views of the city's skyline and the rugged coastline beyond, before heading out to sea and passing through the Pentland Firth. This stretch of water is known for its strong currents and whirlpools, and is a popular spot for wildlife sightings, including seals, dolphins, and whales. Though not today.
Thankfully the crossing was calm as we retired to our cabin for the night. Even so, sure enough, nausea and vomiting followed for Helen. But, we arrived safely and ready to enjoy our 2 week stay on Shetland, especially looking forward to meeting up with our friends Martin and Helen who had bravely left Liverpool to set up home on Shetland.
