Getting to Unst from the Shetland Mainland.
And back. By car. 13 April - 13 September 2015
A very rough guide to connecting up the ferries
To get to Unst, you need to go to Toft, north of Mossbank on the Shetland Mainland, and catch a ferry to Ulsta on the wonderful island of Yell. Then you need to drive 18 miles to the north of Yell and catch a ferry from Gutcher to Belmont. Congratulations, you are in Unst, The Island Above All Others!
Now, apologies to all who live in and love the island of Yell, but this is a guide for those who just want to get Unst. This is an attempt to decipher the (complicated, sometimes puzzling) summer timetable of ferries across Yell Sound (Toft to Ulsta) and Bluemull Sound (Gutcher to Belmont) and back again, for those who (a) don’t want to stop in Yell and (b) maybe aren’t confident of driving fast on Shetland roads. Not that you should break any speed limits, of course. The Mainland to Yell ferry takes around 20 minutes. Yell to Unst about 10. Same in the other direction. Weather conditions can cause delays.
I have allowed 25 minutes for the 18-mile drive across Yell, but honestly, it can be done quicker and it can take longer (in a van or towing a caravan, for example). The road has some tricky sections. Some ‘officially connecting’ ferries are just 20 minutes apart. They are not listed here. You need to beware of wandering sheep, distracting scenery, pedestrians, tractors, quads, cyclists and very slow, cautious drivers in old cars (remember, you can drive on a provisional licence in Yell and Unst WITHOUT a qualified driver accompanying, and your car DOES NOT need an MOT, although it must be ‘roadworthy’). You also must beware risk-taking drivers racing for a ferry they’re desperate to get. And your own nerves about possibly missing the boat. (This is a common Shetland condition known as ‘ferry-itis’).
So, given that you want to get on and off Unst, and you’re heading not for Fetlar or Yell (delightful though both these islands are) but for Baltasound, Uyeasound, Hermaness or the fleshpots of Brae, Lerwick and elsewhere on the Mainland: this is for you.
Note that ’t’ stands for ‘tight’ in that you may find that connection gives too little time for you to get across Yell. Delays can happen. The asterisk * signifies that the ferry only sails if someone has booked on it. But only four of very late ferries are permitted per week. Booking is always advisable anyway, for all ferries, at this time of year. Remember that if you have an event, a large party or are wealthy, you can book a special ferry for upwards of £300 per sailing. I have ignored Fetlar sailings.
Look out for long gaps between ferries, particularly on Sundays. And remember there is often a two-hour break between ferries from Belmont to Gutcher (Unst to Yell) over lunchtime. Saturday is different from Sunday, is different from Monday, is different from Tuesday to Friday...
Also: weather and technical problems can affect things. Sign up for text alerts at the Shetland Ferries website or telephone the numbers for information on the crossings in question.
Website: www.shetland.gov.uk/ferries
Phone numbers
Yell Sound info: 01595 743972
Yell Sound and/or Bluemull Sound bookings: 01595 745804
Bluemull Sound info: 01595 743971
Bluemull Sound bookings 01595 745804
You can make bookings by phone or on the website. The online bookings system now offers ‘joined-up’ Toft-Belmont/Belmont-Toft options, but beware - some of these allow only 20 minutes to get across Yell.
If you’re travelling from the mainland to Unst, the ferry from Yell to Unst is free at the moment for cars and passengers. But keep your ticket from Yell Sound when you head north. You do not need to show any ticket or pay when you travel south - your ticket going north is effectively a Return.
MAINLAND TO UNST
Saturdays
Mainland-Yell ferry connecting to Yell-Unst ferry
07.45 connecting to 08.40 or 09.30
08.45 to 10.05
09.45 to 11.25
11.00 to 12.00 noon
12.00 noon to 12.50 or 14.00pm
13.55 to 14.40 (tight) or 15.15
15.00 to 15.50
16.00 to 17.00
16.55 to 18.15
18.05 to 18.55
18.55 to 20.05
21.05 to 22.15
22.00 to 22.50*
Sundays
Mainland-Yell ferry connecting to Yell-Unst ferry
08.15 to 09.15
09.45 to 10.30 (t)
11.00 to 12.50
12.00 noon to 12.50
13.55 to 14.50 or 15.30
16.00 to 16.50 or 17.40
16.55 to 18.15 or 18.50
18.55 to 20.15 or 21.00
21.00 to 22.15
Mondays
Mainland-Yell ferry connecting to Yell-Unst ferry
06.45 to 07.25
07.45 to 08.25
08.15 to 09.00 (t)
08.45 to 10.05
09.45 to 11.20
10.30 to 11.20 (t)
11.20 to 12.20
12.15 to 13.30
13.50 to 15.35
14.40 to 15.35
15.30 to 16.15(t) or 16.30
16.30 to 17.15 (t)
16.55 to 17.40 (t)
17.25 to 18.15
18.05 to 18.55
18.55 to 20.10
20.15 to 21.00 (t)
21.05 to 22.15
22.00 to 22.50*
Tuesday to Friday
Mainland-Yell ferry connecting to Yell-Unst ferry
06.45 to 07.25 or 07.45
07.45 to 08.40
08.15 to 09.00(t)
08.45 to 10.00 (t)
09.15 to 10.10
09.45 to 10.30 (t)
10.45 to 11.50
11.15 to 12.35
11.45 to 12.35
12.15 to 14.00
13.55 to 14.45
14.30 to 15.20
15.00 to 16.00
15.25 to 16.30
16.00 to 17.00
16.30 to 17.15
16.55 to 17.40
17.25 to 18.15
18.05 to 18.55
18.55 to 20.05
20.15 to 21.00
21.05 to 22.15
21.30 to 22.50*
UNST TO MAINLAND
Saturdays
Unst-Yell ferry connecting to Yell-Mainland ferry
08.25 to 09.15
08.50 to 10.30
09.45 to 11.30
10.55 to 12.30
11.40 to 12.30
12.35 to 14.30
13.45 to 14.30
14.15 to 15.30
14.55 to 16.30
15.30 to 16.30
17.15 to 18.30
17.55 to 19.20
18.30 to 19.20
20.45 to 21.30 or 22.30*
Sundays
Unst-Yell ferry connecting to Yell-Mainland ferry
06.30* to 07.15
07.00* to 09.15
08.25* to 09.15
09.30* to 10.30
10.15* to 11.30
10.45 to 11.30
12.05 to 12.45
13.50 to 14.30
14.30 to 15.30
15.15 to 16.30
16.30 to 17.30
17.05 to 18.30
17.55 to 19.20
18.30 to 19.20
20.05 to 20.40 (t)
20.50 to 21.30
21.40* to 22.30*
Mondays
Unst-Yell ferry connecting to Yell-Mainland ferry
06.30 to 07.15
07.00 to 07.45
07.30 to 08.15
08.00 to 08.45
08.25 to 09.15
08.40 to 9.45
11.35 to 12.45
12.05 to 12.45 (t)
13.45 to 15.05
14.15 to 15.05
14.45 to 16.00
15.15 to 16.00
15.55 to 16.55
6.45 to 17.30
17.15 to 18.30
17.55 to 18.30
18.30 to 19.20
20.45 to 21.30
Tuesday to Friday
Unst-Yell ferry connecting to Yell-Mainland ferry
06.30 to 07.15
07.00 to 07.45
07.30 to 08.15
08.00 to 08.45
08.25 to 09.15
08.40 to 09.45
09.45 to 10.45
10.15 to 11.15
10.45 to 11.45
11.30 to 12.15
12.05 to 12.45 (t)
13.45 to 14.30
14.15 to 15.00
15.00 to 16.00
15.35 to 16.30
16.00 to 16.55
16.15 to 16.55
16.45 to 17.30
17.15 to 18.30
17.55 to 18.30
18.30 to 19.20
20.45 to 21.30
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