Is Shetland a good place to live?

Shetland enjoys a very good quality of life and, for me, growing up here was magical. It’s not easy to answer this question because Shetland is all I have ever known. Born and raised here, I have nothing to compare it to. Shetlanders are warm and friendly, and there is certainly a strong sense of community. The islands are a brilliant place to bring up children, they are safe, with low crime rates and plenty of outdoor space to run around and explore – and the schools are fantastic, to boot. Shetland also has a thriving local economy, so there are plenty of job opportunities for anyone looking to live and work in the isles.

Here are a few reasons why Shetland is a good place to live:

In Shetland, the furthest you will ever be from the sea is three miles so, if you love the crash of ocean waves or the sweet lull of water rushing over a sandy beach, then Shetland is perfect.

Shetland prides itself on being a friendly community that is open and welcoming. Although perhaps shy at first Shetlanders soon relax, and you’ll not find a warmer welcome or more hospitable place to visit.

Traffic isn’t an issue.

One of the most infuriating aspects of staying in an urban centre is the traffic, wasting hours of your precious day in traffic jams and queues of cars. In Shetland traffic is light and the greatest hold up will be a sheep on the road.

It may not be the Costa Del Sol, but a Shetland summer’s day is hard to beat. With big skies, endless horizons and secluded beauty spots, you can walk for miles and not see a soul on your travels. You will have no idea how many shades of blue exist until you gaze at a Shetland sea or sky.

Shetland is an inspiring place to live. Artists and writers are drawn to the isles; to the big skies, the dramatic seas and the vast landscapes. As a result, Shetland is a hub of creativity and has a thriving arts scene.

In Shetland, you feel as if you are part of the natural world. It’s a fantastic place to birdwatch, whale watch, or seek out some of our rare plant species. Shetland is a land of fire and ice, where our geological journey over millions of years has shaped the landscape and given rise to dramatic cliffs and valleys.

Shetland’s story is one of Picts, Vikings and seafarers and it’s hard not to feel a sense of pride that these small islands, home to little more than 23,000 people, have left such a significant mark on the history books. Shetlanders have reached every corner of the world, and their stories are constantly inspiring.

But, as with everywhere, it’s not all sunshine and picnics, there are a few drawbacks to island life. In the winter we have fewer hours of daylight than anywhere else in the UK and our location means that we sit in the path of the numerous North Atlantic low-pressure systems that sweep through from October to March. Winter can therefore be a dark, wet and windy time that some people can struggle with. It’s also expensive to get to and from Shetland. More often than not, the most expensive part of any foreign holiday is getting off Shetland.