I live in Shetland AMA

[Sheltietime]

Just like the Outer Hebrides one, but I live in Shetland... ask away

Are the 're any ethnic minorities living there?

@TheIsland my husband is from Unst!

It’s a very special place. My Dad was from Unst and I am v close to my cousins up there. We spent every summer holiday there as a child.

Rememory - Not met him, don't think he looks that great anyway!

BrazzleDazzleDay - I was born here, grew up here, moved away to go to University, stayed away for a few more years after that then moved back.

LoisWilkerson1 - I'm pretty introverted and feel no pressure to be socially active or involved in the community. Yes it really does take 12 hours on the ferry, longer if its the one via Orkney.

TheIsland - Probably! One half of my family are from Unst...

DottyBlue2 - It's not really much like the TV program. Far less exciting crime, anything vaguely serious and they fly in more police from Inverness.

georgedawes - I live on the mainland island, the overall population is fairly stable in Shetland - around 23,000. The smaller islands have issues with depopulation due to lack of job opportunities and the cost of ferry travel to the mainland though there are a number of schemes to generate jobs such as the current Space Centre being set up in Unst (yes really!)

OllyBJolly - Not sure about next week but I had carrot & ginger at the Peerie Shop at the weekend and it was lush.

I'd say its very welcoming to incomers. We've had plenty of incomers over the years with the RAF base in Unst and the Oil Terminal in Sullom Voe.

I've never ever been aware of any divide between locals and incomers and would say that once you get over everyone knowing your business (not in a bad way) you won't feel like an outsider at all.

Its a big community there and yes if you don't know someone then you probably know their aunt/sister/dad/granny.

I've seen the Northern Lights many times.

I'd say its both easier and more difficult to meet a partner. As a youngster there was no such thing as 'dating' you simply went out and if you met someone you liked you knew you'd see them the next weekend whether you arranged it or not.
Once you're a bit older it can be more difficult as you'll probably know their ex/them know your ex/ worked with them /sister lives next door to them etc so in that respect it can feel a bit too much like a fishbowl to meet someone 'new' so to speak.

How did you vote in Indyref and how did you vote in the Leave/Remain EU ref?

Did you/do you eat reestit mutton and salt piltocks?

Do you knit?

How easy is it to find work? I live in a very rural part of Wales and jobs here are hard to come by. We also really struggle to recruit. The local dentists is just about to close because they can't recruit a dentist. Similarly GPs, professionals of most kinds because there's nothing for their spouses to do and schools aren't great.

Would consider relocating but couldn't go back to a city now.

Yes there are ethnic minorities living here, not a huge number but far from unknown.

It's great to see all the love for Unst - I also spent many holidays there as a child and frequently visit family who still live there. Absolutely stunning place and some of the best beaches in the world.

Are there many schools there?

Also, daft one, I imagine Shetland having wild Shetland ponies just kind of wandering about.... are there?

I voted for independence and to remain in the EU, though the local fishermen had a big campaign here to vote leave the EU over fishing quotas and the common fisheries policy.

I learned to knit in school but I haven't knitted since much to my mothers disgust.

I love reestit mutton and tattie soup. Absolutely the best thing ever. Not so fond of salt piltocks though - much prefer a freshly caught mackerel.

There's very low unemployment here - I think its about 0.6%. I'd say there's pretty much a job for anyone willing to work.
Recruitment can be hard for things like doctors, dentists and teachers. A lot of people love the romantic notion of a remote and windswept isle but can't handle the reality of very dark winters where its only really light for a few hours and its cold, windy and rainy most of the time.
Plus its painfully expensive to actually get off the islands. £140ish to get to Aberdeen/Edinburgh on the plane and then another plane to wherever you want to actually go! There are discounts for local residents but even with those its expensive and can quickly add up if you're taking your family on holiday.

The schools up here are generally excellent though - the oil has pumped a lot of money into the economy and most are very well equipped.

There are two High Schools (Secondary 1-6)
5 Junior High Schools (Nursery - Secondary 4)
and 22 Primary schools (Nursery - P7)
With two more islands having schools that are currently closed as there are no children to attend at the moment.

There's no 'wild' Shetland ponies wandering around (wouldn't be fun to meet that on a dark night on a single track road!) but there are a fair few to see in fields if you were driving around.

What about my question about arts and culture?😀

Arts and culture hmm, well there's the Bonhoga Gallery out in Weisdale with art exhibitions and a great cafe. The Shetland Museum in Lerwick is fantastic and the exhibitions change a fair bit.

There are loads of Historic sites to visit, such as Mousa Broch, Clickamin Broch, Jarlshof, Staneydale Temple to name but a few.

There's a fairly big drama scene in Shetland if you're into either acting or watching that sort of thing.

The music scene is huge with lots of live music events, big ones like the Folk Festival and the Fiddle Frenzy and smaller more impromptu ones where a few people take along their guitar or fiddle to the pub at the weekend.
At Mareel (music and film venue) there's been everything from a classical pianist to Fred Macaulay (comedian)

Ahhh thanks so much for answering my questions this has all been very interesting. I can't wait to visit your part of the world one day.

What's the weather been like there while we've all been having a heat wave?

Is there a lot of folklore and mysticism, are people very superstitious? I have heard this before about other similar places.

The weather has been warm but windy which means its rarely the stifling heat you get further south. There's also been rain sometimes so we've not really had the drought there's been further south.

There's a lot of folklore and stories about things like trows (mischievous troll type things).

I was about to say there isn't much superstition but I remember my granddad being horrified I was thinking of moving house on a Friday (Friday flit, short sit apparently!) So I ended up moving on a Thursday instead.

Many fond memories of music nights in The Lounge in Lerwick. I need to come back - it’s been tooo long!

I bet you know my cousin!

Do you have much involvement with Up Helly Aa?
Do you know John Laurenson?

Pleased to see this thread as thinking of visiting early/mid October for holiday! Probably also Orkney too. Will have a hire 4x4/SUV to get around in.

What is the weather like in October?
Any local speciality food? (am guessing the seafood is lovely)
Any recommendations for places to stay?
What will DH and I love and not love about the island?

I tended just to experience the culture of the bar at the Sumburgh Hotel when I travelled up for work!

Ambition is to make it to Unst sometime, to visit the gin distillery.

The weather in October will be windy and rainy most likely! If you want nicer weather go in summer...
The seafood is generally well worth a try - Da Haaf restaurant in Scalloway, attached to the fisheries college, does freshly caught fish that's always fantastic. Hays Dock (part of the museum in Lerwick) is also usually great and well worth a visit.
If you get the opportunity to try reestit mutton and tattie soup then make sure you have some. That's possibly the most 'Shetland' of things to eat.
Places to stay - depends what you want. The Lerwick Hotel is pretty decent and the restaurant there is good - there are a few other hotels in Lerwick. I've not stayed in any of them but Kveldsro looks pretty nice and quiet. The Queens and the Grand are right in the centre of town if you want something in easy walking distance of the shops etc.
If you fancy something outside Lerwick then Busta House is further north in Brae and is beautiful and also does great food.
There are many many self-catering cottages all over Shetland if that's more your thing.

You'll love the scenery, the people, the wildlife, the music.

You'll not love that many shops close at 6pm and are only open 2-4pm on a Sunday. A few still do half days on Wed.
You'll not love that most of the smaller villages don't have much in the way of cafes/places to eat.