Delling Shetland Roots Family History Week
29th May - 5th June 2004

The Shetland Islands are situated105 miles north of the Scottish mainland. Access is either by Air or Sea and therefore governed by the elements.

I arrived at Lerwick aboard the 'MV Hjaltland' after an overnight sailing from Aberdeen. The crossing was smooth and enjoyable with good food and entertainment.
MV HJALTLAND
(The Old Norse name for Shetland)

Built: Aker Finnyards, Rauma, Finland
Keel laid: 4 October 2001
Port of Registry: Lerwick, Shetland
Speed: 24 knots
Lerwick, Britain's most northerly town, is undisputed capital of Shetland. With a population of over 7,000, home to around a third of the islands' people, yet it is a relatively new town and only assumed its present dominance in the 17th century; until then the principal town had been Scalloway, which had itself taken over from Tingwall as seat of the lawting. These law courts had moved to Lerwick by 1700, but the towns growth was largely due to the Dutch, who used the natural harbour as a northern base for their herring industry. Ships from the Hanseatic ports arrived here to trade and by 1625 Lerwick - taken from the Norse Leir-vik or 'muddy bay' - had a population of around 700.
It was like stepping back in time, quaint stone build buildings right up to the waters edge no change since they were build back in 1820s
To move between the many islands the Shetlanders rely on small ferries like this one on the right. Each ferry will hold around eight family cars and about twenty walk-on passengers.
From a tourists point of view the scenic views were fabulous, the air was cleaner and wild life was in abundance. The people of Shetland were very friendly and welcomed everyone with open arms.