Home > Shetland, Orkney, and the Hebrides

Shetland, Orkney, and the Hebrides

For outstanding beauty, fascinating history, and diverse scenery, Scotland’s more remote islands give an unrivaled variety. ASSC members can provide holiday accommodation whether you want to stay in Orkney holiday cottages or self-catering homes in the Shetland or the Outer Hebrides.

Shetland

For 600 years, the Shetland Islands were a province of Norway until they were pledged to Scotland in 1469 as part of a royal wedding dowry. The modern Shetland dialect still uses hundreds of Norwegian words. Shetland’s traditional fiddle music is a blend of many styles including ancient Norwegian folk music, Scots reel, and tunes brought home by sailors from Ireland and North America.

Flying to the Shetland Islands has become easier, and there are flights from many of the major British airports, London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Belfast. There is also a car ferry that operates from Aberdeen to Lerwick. For the inhabited 15 islands, inter-island ferries operate on a frequent basis which makes getting around Shetland easier than ever.

Orkney

Orkney is a group of 70 islands situated approximately 10 miles off the Northern tip of Scotland along the Caithness coast. It is easy to travel to Orkney either by plane from Aberdeen or ferry service from the ports of either Aberdeen or Thurso. You’ll find quaint Orkney holiday cottages dotted around little fishing villages evoking images of a unique Orcadian lifestyle with wonderful craft work and superb food.

The Hebrides

Made up of over 200 islands, the Outer Hebrides stretch for 130 miles. Set beneath breathtakingly expansive skies, these islands are blessed with quick rivers, rugged mountains, open moors and tranquil lochs. They are also dotted with prehistoric graves and brochs that add extra mystery to the already atmospheric landscape. The Gaelic culture in the Western Isles is more prominent than in any other part of Scotland with Gaelic still the language of choice amongst the islands strongly religious people.

Find self catering accommodation and holiday cottages in Shetland, Orkney, & the Outer Hebrides, Scotland.