The Shetland Islands are in the far north of Scotland, forming the northernmost part of the United Kingdom between mainland Scotland, Norway, and the Faroe Islands.

Where they are

  • The Shetland Islands are an archipelago in Scotland, in the North Atlantic and North Sea, roughly 100–130 miles (about 160–210 km) north of the Scottish mainland.
  • They lie about 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Orkney and around 140 miles (220 km) west of Norway, sitting between Scotland, Norway, and the Faroe Islands.

Key geographic facts

  • Shetland consists of over 100 islands (around 15–20 inhabited), with the largest island called Mainland and the main town and port being Lerwick.
  • The total area is about 567 square miles (around 1,469 km²), with an indented coastline of roughly 1,697 miles, reflecting its many inlets and bays.

Quick travel picture

  • Lerwick, the capital, sits near latitude 60° N, putting Shetland on a similar latitude to parts of southern Greenland and Alaska, giving it long summer days and short winter days.
  • Ferries and flights typically connect Shetland with Aberdeen and other Scottish locations, making it a remote but regularly linked part of the UK.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.