What is Shetland famous for?
Shetland has long been world famous as a mecca for bird enthusiasts. From the ultra-rare to the quirky, birds of all breeds flock to the isles in their droves.
Is Shetland closer to Norway or Scotland?
Is Shetland closer to Norway or Scotland? Shetland is around 170 km (106 mi) north of mainland Scotland and 350 km (217 mi) west of Bergen, Norway.
What language do they speak in Shetland?
Scots language
Today, the language spoken by Shetlanders is a regional dialect of the English or Scots language but its roots are firmly bedded in Shetland’s Scandinavian past. This language came to Shetland with the Vikings when they arrived here about 850 AD.
Is Shetland part of Scotland or England?
Shetland Islands, also called Zetland or Shetland, group of about 100 islands, fewer than 20 of them inhabited, in Scotland, 130 miles (210 km) north of the Scottish mainland, at the northern extremity of the United Kingdom. They constitute the Shetland Islands council area and the historic county of Shetland.
Why are there no trees on Shetland?
The real reasons for the lack of trees are to do with clearance for firewood and the presence of sheep, which have prevented natural regeneration. Where sheep are excluded, trees grow with little or no shelter.
Is it expensive to live in Shetland?
Talking to people on the streets of Lerwick, the capital of Shetland, there’s pretty much unanimous agreement. Living in the islands costs more than living down south – on the Scottish mainland. And transport costs figure largely in household budgets.
Why are there no trees on the Shetlands?
Can anyone live in Shetland?
Eleanor Doughty explores life on Scotland’s myriad beautiful islands. No man is an island, as John Donne wrote, but, north of the border, you can live on one.
How do you say hello in Shetland?
First things first, welcome to Shetland – hiyi, noo den, whit lik’, or whatever – you’ll find a few variants of this common greeting.
Why are there no trees in the Shetlands?
How cold does it get in Shetland?
Despite being so far north, Shetland’s winters are relatively temperate due to the Gulf Stream warming the sea around the isles. The temperature in December rarely dips below freezing point, with the average temperature being around 2°C.
Does Shetland get snow?
Question: Does Shetland get a lot of snow? Answer: No, but we do get lots of wind. The (relatively) warm sea air means that snow is only occasional during winter, being most common in January & February. When it does fall it rarely stays for long.
Is the Shetland Islands part of the UK?
Shetlanders consider themselves their own people — you better not call a Shetlander Scottish! Shetland isn’t making motions for independence from Britain, but you can easily tell that being British is a secondary consideration. Shetland isn’t too far from Norway, and because of that, you see a Scandinavian influence in much of the architecture.
Is the Shetlands an ethnically diverse place?
Shetland is not an ethnically diverse place — I didn’t see a single person of color the whole time I was there. That’s to be expected, as it’s so isolated. But when one of the squads came out in full blackface at the after-party, my jaw dropped — and the Shetlanders in the room seemed unfazed.
Who are the guides in the Shetland Islands?
It was best said as we were about to leave Shetland: our guides, Tony and Dougie, were walking through town when they passed two Shetlanders still awake, still drunk, and still in costume. “ Happy Up Helly Aa, ya couple of pricks ,” one of them said with a grin.
How long do people stay up in Shetland?
Oh, and most of them stay up and drink for 24-48 hours straight, pulling two all-nighters in a row. It was best said as we were about to leave Shetland: our guides, Tony and Dougie, were walking through town when they passed two Shetlanders still awake, still drunk, and still in costume.