POLL: Will Shetland have a tunnel by 2030?
Fixed links could be a reality in the isles this decade, the council’s political leader has said. Emma Macdonald made the bold claim after the…
The Shetland Times Live
Todd takes podium finish in Glasgow
An isles athlete has taken a podium finish – and set a new Shetland record – at the Scottish Athletics Indoor championships.
Layla Todd took bronze in the U20 women’s 3,000 race on Saturday afternoon, setting a huge 17-second PB in the process.
The achievement comes as a new Shetland record of 9:52:31, and represents a great start to the year for the young athlete.
Todd has thanked NorthLink Ferries, sportscotland and Shetland Islands Council for their support.
Yellow warning for ice issued
The MET Office has issued a fresh warning for ice, as the winter blast continues to grip the isles.
The yellow warning is valid from 4pm today until 10am tomorrow.
It follows heavy snow falls and sub-zero temperatures.
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Weather disruption to rubbish collections
Wintry weather has hampered council waste service collections in the isles.
Waste service teams have not been able to collect grey-lidded recycling bins in the South, North and West Mainland.
This has also affected the pickup of household waste bins in some side roads.
Attempts will be made to collect household rubbish in Lerwick and Scalloway tomorrow, weather permitting.
The service will return to normal on Monday. But grey-lidded bins will not now be picked up until the next scheduled date.
The SIC has apologised for the disruption.
Snow and ice grip isles
Icy conditions are gripping the isles this morning, as a wintry blast impacts on travel.
It comes after a Met Office yellow warning for snow and ice was issued yesterday.
Temperatures have reached as low as -2.4C, with a wind chill of -8C.
There have been further snow showers overnight, causing travel difficulty for many.
A gritter reportedly left the road this morning in an area near Gonfirth.
LATEST BOOKS FROM THE SHETLAND TIMES BOOKSHOP
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A Shetland Boyhood: Memories of a Manse 1911-1922
Retired minister John B. Logan recalls his boyhood in Shetland where his father had the extensive Dunrossness parish between 1911 and 1922. A vivid portrayal in prose and poetry of …
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Discover Lerwick
Lerwick-born author and respected local historian, Douglas M. Sinclair, in his own inimitable style, takes the reader on a journey of discovery through the streets of the Conservation Areas of …
£14FIND OUT MORELerwick-born author and respected local historian, Douglas M. Sinclair, in his own inimitable style, takes the reader on a journey of discovery through the streets of the Conservation Areas of …
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To the End of the Days of Sail. The Mariners of Shetland
Laughton Johnston’s grandfather, like so many Shetland seamenof the 19th century, moved to Leith where his father’sgeneration was brought up. The Shetland family and seafaringconnections, however, proved strong and a …
£25.99FIND OUT MORELaughton Johnston’s grandfather, like so many Shetland seamenof the 19th century, moved to Leith where his father’sgeneration was brought up. The Shetland family and seafaringconnections, however, proved strong and a …
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History Maker
Essays in Honour of Brian SmithEdited by Mark Smith and Ian Tait In 1976, Brian Smith became Shetland’s first archivist. Since hisappointment, however, he has been much more than a …
£23.99FIND OUT MOREEssays in Honour of Brian SmithEdited by Mark Smith and Ian Tait In 1976, Brian Smith became Shetland’s first archivist. Since hisappointment, however, he has been much more than a …
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Telescope, Telescope, what can you see?
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Wild Shetland Through the Seasons
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Farewell Fugley Island
Alec arrived on Britain’s most inaccessible inhabited island of Foula at a critical time, the last cattle had been sold, the shop was due to close and several young people …
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A Shetland Knitter's Notebook
A Shetland Knitter’s Notebook is the companion volume to the bestselling A Shetland Pattern Book. First published in 1991, it contains more words and pictures from Mary Smith and photographs …
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A Shetland Pattern Book
First published in 1979, A Shetland Pattern Book became a global bestseller, with numerous reprints and revisions. Since the last edition went out of print in the early 1990s it …
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Best Days with Shetland's Birds - Paperback
PAPERBACK EDITION Spanning decades as well as the seasons, thirty well known figures of the local bird scene share what Shetland’s birds mean to them and recount their best days. …
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Shetland's Boats: Origin, evolution and use
The popular view is that Shetland’s graceful double-ended boats are direct descendants of the Viking longship. This unbroken linking of the Shetland boat to the Norse era was fuelled by …
£40FIND OUT MOREThe popular view is that Shetland’s graceful double-ended boats are direct descendants of the Viking longship. This unbroken linking of the Shetland boat to the Norse era was fuelled by …
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Kirstie's Witnesses
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Knitting By the Fireside and on the Hillside
A History of the Shetland Hand Knitting Industry 1600-1950 First published 1995. This facsimile edition first published 2021. This book traces the history of the Shetland hand knitting industry from …
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Fair Isle Designs from Shetland Knitters Volume 2
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£21.99FIND OUT MOREFollowing the huge success of Volume One, the Shetland Guild of Spinners, Knitters, Weavers and Dyers are back with 12 new designs. Patterns range from peerie projects to full size …
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The Shetland Bus
Our bestseller now reprinted for a fifth time. A classic story of secret wartime missions across the North Sea. Dark winters provided the perfect cover for missions to occupied Norway …
£8.99FIND OUT MOREOur bestseller now reprinted for a fifth time. A classic story of secret wartime missions across the North Sea. Dark winters provided the perfect cover for missions to occupied Norway …
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‘Bombshell’ revelation shows ministers overruled NorthLink to force through 10 per cent fare hike
Ministers overruled NorthLink to demand a 10 per cent ferry fare hike – according to a “bombshell” revelation.
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Mirrie Dancers create epic New Year display
The Mirrie Dancers have been out in full force this evening (Wednesday) – creating a breath-taking start to 2025.
Folk across the isles have been sharing epic images of the display with colours ranging from green to pink, purple and red.
Among those to capture it was Vicky Tylsar who photographed the dazzling sky in Toab.
Did you see the Northern Lights? Send us your photos by emailing [email protected]
Happy New Year
Here’s wishing everyone all the very best for 2025.
New Year celebrations cancelled due to weather
Hogmanay celebrations have been cancelled due to “worsening weather”.
READ FULL STORYSHETLAND JOBS
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UHI Shetland staff ‘devastated’ after death of ‘kind and sincere’ colleague
UHI Shetland has paid tributes to a “kind and sincere” colleague who has died aged 58.
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Organisers cancel torchlit Hogmanay procession
The Hogmanay torchlight procession was cancelled due to risk to public safety.
Organisers decided to pull the event, due to be held yesterday (Sunday), because of a forecast of high winds.
Edinburgh Hogmanay said in a statement the safety of everyone attending was paramount.
“The safety of all attending is our top priority and following recent torch tests on the route, the winds are proving too strong to proceed safely,” it said.
“We know that this will be hugely disappointing to all who wished to participate… the box office will be in touch with further instructions to ticket buyers.”
Lifeboat launched amid report of ‘fault’ with aircraft
The lifeboat has been launched this morning following a report of a “fault” with a helicoper trying to land at Sumburgh Airport.
The coastguard confirmed it received the call at 9.10am this morning (Monday) and tasked Lerwick Lifeboat with attending this incident.
Police, ambulances and fire crews from Sumburgh, Sandwick and Lerwick were also called to the scene around 9am.
It is understood the aircraft has since landed safely.
Body found in water believed to be missing man Ian Napier
A body found in the water in the South Mainland is believed to be Ian Napier, who was reported missing yesterday..
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NorthLink sailings to go ahead but passengers warned to expect delays
NorthLink has confirmed tonight’s (Saturday) northbound sailing to Lerwick will go ahead after it was placed under review yesterday.
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UPDATE: Concern growing for missing swimmer who is UHI Shetland senior fisheries policy adviser
Police are growing increasingly concerned for a missing swimmer.
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Search launched for missing man believed to have gone swimming in South Mainland
Rescue teams will resume their search this morning for a missing man.
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POLL: Would you support a ban on unlicensed fireworks displays?
Social media was awash with appeals to find a missing dog who ran off following fireworks on Christmas Day.
READ FULL STORY SHETLAND ACCOMMODATION Powered by Stay.Shetland
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Baltasound Hotel
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Harbour View
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Lerwick Lanes Self Catering
Situated in the picturesque, quiet Lerwick Lanes area, this beautifully renovated 19th century dwellinghouse is just one step away from the main street of Lerwick. Ample free parking nearby. Withi…
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Ortolan House B&B
A warm welcome to our private 18th-century Georgian townhouse in the leafy, picturesque 'lanes conservation area' of central Lerwick. Perfectly located, just a minute's walk into town and with beautiful…
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The Boatman’s House
Perched above the waters of Burrafirth Voe, this former Boatman's House will capture a peerie bit of your heart. With two double bedrooms and an indoor 'bunk house' sleeping fou…
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Wildrig
Four-star, self-catering accommodation with stunning panoramic views of the cliffs, loch and beach at Spiggie. This two-bedroom property provides a comfortable, high quality and relaxed setting from where you ca…
No injuries after car crashed into ditch and caught fire
The occupants of a car which crashed into a ditch, flipped onto its roof and later caught fire, managed to escape without serious injury, police said.
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NorthLink northbound sailing ‘under review’ due to weather
Tomorrow night’s (Saturday) NorthLink sailing to Lerwick is currently under review due to forecasts of poor weather.
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In this week’s Shetland Times
In today’s (Friday, 27th December) edition of The Shetland Times:
- EXCLUSIVE: Transport chiefs assessed 72 vessels for the Northern Isles ferry service.
- Winner of Times 2025 calendar competition is revealed.
- Althing organisers say debate is needed now more than ever.
- EXCLUSIVE: Tourist centre sale expected in new year.
- EXCLUSIVE: Council received £700k investment returns from Smyril Line.
- Gilbert Bain’s Santa Claus retires after 10 years of hospital rounds.
- EXCLUSIVE: School absence soars as families jet off to avoid holiday rush.
- Part one of our Review of the Year and Sports Review of the Year.
- Historian Jon Sandison looks back at Christmas 1914.
Forecast for White New Year, and ferry disruption
Forecasters have made their prediction after checking it twice – a cold turn at the weekend might bring a white New Year to Shetland after all.
Wintry showers turning to snow could arrive on Sunday and stay for much of the week, according to the volunteer-run Gulberwick weather station.
Hopes of a white Christmas this year were dashed by cloud and mist holding temperatures up.
The early hours of Wednesday 25th itself saw temperatures at high as 12° Celsius, according to the Met Office.
The colder forecast could also bring disruption to ferries over the weekend, NorthLink said on Thursday morning.
More detailed updates are expected in the coming days.
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