For our first ever visit to the Shetlands, we were greeted with overcast skies, with cloud hiding every hill top, together with occasional rain, which later became continuous. Some might say-typical Shetland weather!
But to be fair, despite its high latitude (60 09N ), I have known parts of Shetland reach 23 degrees on rare occasions (higher than anything Pitlochry has had this August ) & severe frosts--as bad as some of ours-- are unknown, such is the powerful influence of the surrounding seas + a warm ocean current.
Lerwick is the capital & county town of the Shetland Islands, situated on Mainland on Bressay Sound, a natural harbour. The town is equidistant from Aberdeen & Bergen, about 200 miles each.
Over 100 islands make up the Shetlands, only 15 of which are inhabited. Their 3,000 mile-long coastline offers rocky beaches, jagged cliffs & sheltered inlets. The total population is 22,000 people, vastly outnumbered by 330,000 sheep. The Shetlands have been occupied for over 4000 years, but the atmosphere & character of the area are very nordic, due to 5 ceturies of Viking rule.
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