I'm thinking of taking a short break in Shetland in March, and was hoping to get there by bike/train/ferry. The owner of the cottage I've looked at was very surprised and advised *strongly* against riding the 40 miles from Lerwick (we'll have all day), citing possible snow and gales (and possibly the distance). Is she being over-dramatic (as non-cyclists are wont to do with some fairly trivial rides) or am I being overly blasé about March in Shetland?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Cycling in Shetland in March
(20 posts)-
Posted 9 years ago #
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There's a chap used to be on here who moved home to Shetland a wee while back that I'm still friends with on FB - I'll drop him a line. He cycles up there, so may have the same blase attitude ;)
Posted 9 years ago # -
Whereabouts is your cottage? Main roads in Shetland are generally very good but drivers aren't used to many cyclists - certainly not in March. (Which is essentially still winter in Shetland)
The weather is the problem factor more than the distance. It is possible to get clear settled weather in March but also possible to get caught in winter gales - 40 miles in driving rain into a force 8 will not be pleasant.
Also, there are a fair few hills to contend with - the hill south out of Lerwick is a slog, the hill north is worse. Entirely do-able but far easier on a nice day than on a wild day with a load of panniers.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Aye, having lived in Orkney for a few years I can say that the wind will be the main obstacle to cycling. March can be very unsettled, though not as bad as December and January.
That said you may be lucky. Keep an eye on the forecast when you're there and borrow a heavy bike that won't blow away: an old roadster like a Raleigh Superbe or similar would be ideal! :-)
Posted 9 years ago # -
I believe the buses in Shetland take bikes. I've been planning a route there myself so checked that out in case of severe weather.
Posted 9 years ago # -
@Crowriver - ooh, whereabouts? I lived in Tankerness from 2009 till early last year!
Seconding the wind issue. I thought I knew what windy was like before I moved to Orkney. I was wrong! It's not just the strength - it's the relentless nature of it in the North Isles. It can happily blow a hoolie for several days without letting up.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Carlos Riis the time-trial champion rides with Shetland Wheelers. Make of that what you will.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I could be mistaken, but I think Riise lives in Lerwick but works at Sullom Voe so his training is his commute to work on the 25 mile or so ride.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Ignore my previous post, I lied. It's the Western Isles that permit cycles on buses. I emailed the Shetland bus company who said they had no facility for this, but hope to implement it in the near future.
Posted 9 years ago # -
@unhurt, I lived on Sanday during the 1980s. Went to school in Kirkwall.
Orkney is a lovely place. In summer. The winters though! (Shudder).
Posted 9 years ago # -
Aw, I thought the winters were fine - as long as you don't require much in the way of daylight! (I had a lightbox thing by the second time round. It was that or hibernation.)
Posted 9 years ago # -
So you enjoy walking leaning into the wind at 45 degrees then? ;-) Granted, the thrill of never knowing whether the roof would be torn off by a storm added a certain frisson to the Christmas holidays...
Posted 9 years ago # -
Wind in Orkney and Shetland is one reason that we've sold several low down ICE trikes there. (Sales certainly disproportionate to population and reg cycle use). One had flag ripped off but at least trike only moved sideways slightly.
Posted 9 years ago # -
@crowriver I will admit to not enjoying the time my car door blew almost off, bending the hinges beyond proper repair, and then acted as a wing, trundling the car towards the sea - while the handbrake was on. That was an exciting Christmas Day outing..! Rented cottage roof was very solid. The barn next to it tended to shed bits of corrugated iron in bad weather though.
@Laidback - hmmm. If I move north again at some point I might investigate those myself.
Posted 9 years ago # -
My memory of Shetland is from early May 2010(?). The weather was mixed and we made it to the northern point quicker than expected due to a good tail wind. We paid for it heading south though and eventually bailed in the rain about 20miles north if Lerwick. A friendly bus driver took pity on us and offered a lift, however we had to wait for her to return to Lerwick and get a bigger bus with a boot.
So back then at least some of the fleet had boots big enough for 2 bikes plus trailers.
Posted 9 years ago # -
First post on the forum :-). Shetland is a fantastic place to cycle - if you have the opportunity I would really recommend it!
I did a tour in June this year from Edinburgh up to Unst. Strong persistent wind was a feature in Shetland. For me the biggest issue was trying to stay warm (yes in June!) while waiting for ferries between islands - there was not great provision for shelter at ferry terminals and the combination of wet weather and incessant wind does get you shivering! Make sure to pack extra layers of clothes for these moments - particularly if you'll be up there in March!
Although part of the national cycle route, the main road on the mainland is best avoided; it is the island equivalent of a motorway - trucks and high speed traffic. The other signposted cycle routes are circuitous and will take you up and over a fair few hills but at least they are quiet. In rough weather you could be quite exposed but the effort is worth it as you will be rewarded with dramatic views!
@adamthekiwi - whereabouts on the islands will you be staying?
Posted 9 years ago # -
I agree about the disadvantages of the main road in Shetland (A970) but it's not always possible to avoid and some of the diversions that do allow you to miss it will add serious mileage on to the trip (but are usually nicer scenery - the stretch up the middle of the Mainland from Lerwick to Brae is bleak, alternative but longer routes are coastal and more scenic).
Posted 9 years ago # -
Hi folks,
Apologies for going a bit quiet...
I haven't yet booked - I'm looking at cottages in:
Hillswick;
Bixter;
Mossbank;
Reawick.Mossbank and Hillswick are furthest, right?
It is right at the end of March... I'll investigate buses...
Posted 9 years ago # -
Hillswick is in a spectacular area but not handy for anywhere else and would be a long cycle from Lerwick. The same goes for Reawick - which is a lovely spot but there's not much there - Hillswick at least has a hotel. Bixter has a bit more in the way of services.
Mossbank is better located for trips to the North Isles but not the bonniest spot in Shetland.
(It's possible that cottages are not actually in Hillswick, Bixter etc. but somewhere in the vicinity - maybe someway from a bus stop.)
Posted 9 years ago # -
"
But, admittedly by some contrast, the rugged beauties of the Shetland Isles are just as fondly recalled.
“I took my bike there this time and cycled a lot,” he says. “It’s a fantastic place to be. There’s a lighthouse down at Sumburgh Head and I went over and stayed there.
“I could happily spend a week there. I don’t know about living there. Trying to get through a winter in Shetland would be tough, but if you could survive that you could definitely live there.”
"
Posted 8 years ago #
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