Anybody took their bike to Shetland?

[lingeringstin...]

I'm trying to plan a bike trip to Up Helly Aa and as there's significant water between here and there it means I can't just ride the whole way, so I was just wondering if anybody can shed any light on the cheapest options.

[stinkwheel]

There is only one option because there is only one ferry.

You have a choice of catching it from Aberdeen in the evening or Kirkwall on Orkney where it stops every other day in the middle of the night on it's way from Aberdeen.

There is a chance it might be cheaper from Orkeny, but you'd need to get to Orkney which will mean a good few hours more riding North then another ferry, the cheapest of which is the Gills Bay one.

Only real way to save on the journey is to not book a cabin on the ferry and just stay up all night drinking or crash out on the floor somewhere.

Uphellya is at the end of January. It will be fucking cold, it could be snowing both on Sheltand and in Aberdeenshire. You will only have 7 hours of daylight on Shetland at the end of January. They can have weather on Shetland at that time of year that means you can't leave the house, never mind ride a motorbike.

The ferry can't always leave if the weather is too bad. I personally wouldn't fancy that crossing in winter. Last time I did it it was midsummer and it was so rough I actually blacked out with seasickness and was still feeling rough and off balance several days later.

Never get into a drinking competition with a Shetlander, they are professional drinkers and you will loose. I speak from personal experience.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[ZebraDriver]

Just back, was there last weekend. As stinkwheel says easiest way is Aberdeen. Have also done the Gills Bay route as well. Any specific questions, ask away. We had a cabin but they are expensive at £121 each way. Sleeping pods are cheaper and you do get access to a shower.

Weather can be crap, but can be good as well, check out Caledonia Biker on you tube - he has just put up a video of a small part of our trip.

[stinkwheel]

Last time I went on the Shetland ferry, they put 4 ratchet straps on each bike and chained the cars and wagons down. The seats in the lounge were going up on 2 legs, hitting the wire they'd been tied down with, dropping back to the floor, then going up on the other 2 legs. You could only half fill a cup or glass.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[lingeringstin...]

I've been in Aberdeen in winter and yes it's bloody miserable. It's short dark days on roads that are sometimes covered in snow and usually fog so you can't tell where they are so you just stay between the poles on either side and hope for the best.

After looking into the logistics of riding to Shetland and trying to stay someplace at that time it's looking more like I'll just have to nip up on the ferry to a B&B if I can get one booked ahead of time. There's still time to plan the trip but it looks like going on the bike might be a bad idea. It would be a great summer trip though. I might investigate that next year for some Northern lights festivities or summat.

[stinkwheel]

[Islander]