Wheelchair accessible sites of interest in Shetland
Shetland is renowned for its dramatic scenery, breathtaking coastal views, and sweeping beaches, but did you know that many of these sites are wheelchair accessible? Whether you’re a local or a visitor, there are plenty of places to explore comfortably.
Shetland’s unique landscapes, wildlife, and heritage are becoming increasingly accessible to all visitors, ensuring that everyone can experience the rich history and breathtaking scenery of the islands.
Here’s our pick of the best, along with some useful accessibility information to help you plan your trip.
Getting to Shetland
NorthLink’s passenger ferries to Shetland and Orkney provide easy access and a full range of facilities for those with accessibility requirements. These include cabins, lifts, Changing Places toilets, and removable seats in restaurants to allow wheelchair access. Please view the Company Accessibility Policy here or contact us to request a copy of our Inclusive Travel Guide.
You can also access:
- Accessible cabins for passengers with a disability. MV Hjaltland and MV Hrossey each have four accessible cabins. Three (two standard and one premium cabin) are designed to allow ease of access and sleeps two, whilst the fourth is fitted with a hoist and sleeps three.
- Changing Places facilities
- Boarding assistance for passengers with a disability
- Access to WelcoME – a disability aware customer service platform
Ability Shetland
Ability Shetland supports individuals with disabilities by offering a range of mobility aids, including all-terrain wheelchairs, which are perfect for exploring Shetland’s stunning outdoor spaces. These chairs enable access to beaches, nature reserves, and some of the more rugged coastal paths.
Website: www.abilityshetland.com
Contact: +44 (0) 1595 743900
Best accessible outdoor experiences in Shetland
Michaelswood
Michaelswood is a community woodland in Aith, featuring picnic benches, a Polycrub and an accessible play boat. The wooded area is possible but can be a hard push in some areas due to the terrain. An all-terrain wheelchair is available to use.
Eshaness cliffs
The cliffs at Eshaness are very close to the car park and can be accessible to wheelchairs. The car park is paved and access to the cliff area is possible on a dry day in the summer when the ground is dry. The ground is relatively flat with scrubby grass.
When wet it is not possible to access with a wheelchair. Care should be taken, and individuals should assess the terrain fully before attempting to visit.
Sumburgh Head viewing platform
Sumburgh Head is a fantastic Nature Reserve to view seabirds – particularly the puffins between April and August – and sometimes a passing cetacean. The ‘Lookout’ at Sumburgh Head is a wheelchair accessible platform where visitors can watch the birds coming and going from the cliffs.
The RSPB also have an accessible lookout on the Loch of Spiggie, providing protection from the weather and a good vantage point over the loch which is a favourite habitat for birds.
Some of Shetland’s beaches are partially accessible for wheelchairs, although some may require a bit of a push, and it might be worth accessing one of Ability Shetland’s all-terrain wheelchairs. Here is our pick of the most accessible:
- Spiggie (Scousburgh) Beach, South Mainland
- Reawick, West Mainland
- St Ninian’s Isle, South Mainland
- West Voe beach, South Mainland
- Minn Beach, Burra
- Norwick Beach, Unst
- Skaw Beach, Unst
Lerwick’s wheelchair-accessible walking paths
Lerwick has several scenic walking paths that are suitable for wheelchairs, pushchairs and bikes, offering beautiful coastal and lochside views:
- Da Sletts coastal path
- The Knab coastal path (avoid the steep part on the east side)
- Clickimin Loch circular path, passing Clickimin Broch
Accessible museums & heritage centres
- Shetland Museum & Archives
- Scalloway Museum
- Hoswick Visitor Centre
- Unst Boat Haven
- Unst Heritage Centre.
Mareel: Cinema and arts centre
Mareel offers ASN-friendly screenings in their cinema, and also have wheelchair bays which can be reserved by calling them at +44(0) 1595 745500.
Leisure Centres
Shetland’s eight leisure centres have excellent facilities and will often have soft play sessions. Clickimin Leisure Centre has two sensory rooms which are available to book. The swimming pools can be chilly for anyone with limited mobility, but Clickimin does have a hydrotherapy pool with hoists.
Many of Shetland’s playparks also have accessible equipment, including wheelchair swings and roundabouts and nest swings.
Accessible tours
Seabirds and Seals
Seabird is an accessible catamaran with a steel platform at the stern of the boat to allow wheelchairs to transfer easily. Tours run daily throughout the summer to the incredible seabird colonies at Noss.
Find out more by visiting www.seabirds-and-seals.com.
M.V. Wootton Lass
Operated by Ability Shetland, Wootton Lass can take five passengers and is available to organisations, families, or individuals.
For information, contact a trustee on 07895 406005 or via the website: www.abilityshetland.com.
Guided tours
Jacqueline Mercer is a fantastic local guide who has a wheelchair-accessible car
For more information or to book, please visit: [email protected].
Shetland’s unique landscapes, wildlife, and heritage are becoming increasingly accessible to all visitors, ensuring that everyone can experience the rich history and breathtaking scenery of the islands.
If you have any accessibility questions, get in touch with:
- NorthLink Ferries for travel assistance
- Ability Shetland for wheelchair hire
- Local tour providers for tailored experiences
For more information and updates on accessibility in Shetland, visit:
https://shetlandwithlaurie.com/the-blog/accessibility-in-shetland-travel
By Laurie GoodladBorn and raised in Shetland, Laurie loves the unique history and culture there so much that she started her own tour company offering visitors the chance to see the isles through the eyes of an islander. Find out more at www.shetlandwithlaurie.com
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