Are you planning a trip to Shetland in your caravan or motorhome? You will be about to embark on one of the best adventures to an archipelago of islands that have their own unique heritage and culture of which you may not truly understand until you visit.
Scalloway Caravan Park is an excellent base with fantastic facilities for your trip to Shetland being conveniently a 12 minute drive from the ferry terminal. In this post we will share more with you so that you can prepare ahead of your visit.
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Scalloway Caravan Park, Shetland
- Scalloway Caravan Park
- Facilities at Scalloway Caravan Park
- Wigwams
- Things to do near Scalloway Caravan Park
- Up Helly Aa
- Before you leave for Shetland
Scalloway Caravan Park
We received a very friendly welcome to Scalloway Caravan park by Janet who showed us around and provided us with a cone for when we were away from our pitch. We were also greeted with a small welcome pack of tea, coffee and biscuits which was a lovely touch on arriving to Shetland.
Scalloway Caravan Park is a new facility that opened in May 2023 which offers modern facilities nearby to Scalloway and Lerwick. It is situated on a single track quiet road with light traffic throughout the day, surrounded by beautiful views..
The site is small and intimate but it was lovely to get to know the others that were staying there and chat about our experiences visiting Shetland.
The tarmac pitches are wide and very spacious overlooking the beautiful Tingwall Loch. It is worth noting here that the winds can be strong in Shetland and it is unlikely you would want to pitch and awning! When the weather is fair, there are picnic benches which you can enjoy the view from.
No pets are allowed at Scalloway Caravan Park.
Facilities at Scalloway Caravan Park
The facilities at Scalloway Caravan Park are all brand new as the campsite opened in 2023. There are 10 hardstanding pitches, perfect for a caravan, campervan or motorhome. There is also with a grass area with space for 3 tent pitches and and on the other side of the communal building, there are 2 wigwams.
The communal area is spacious with tables and has a toaster and kettle and washing up facilities. There is also wifi and an information board with details of what is going on in the local area.
We were really impressed by the laundry facilities which are included in the price of your stay and include a washing machine, tumble dryer, airer and small garments dryer.
There are great shower and toilet facilities with accessible options as well. You can also find a hardryer and plug sockets in the communal area.
The campsite has wifi and we found the internet signal to be good with EE, Three and Vodafone.
Wigwams
Craa Hamar is a 4 berth Wigwam with fantastic views overlooking the loch and the valley. This fully insulated wigwam has a panel heater, plug sockets and lighting.
Ramnaberg is a fully accessible wigwam and sleeps up to 5 people, perfect for a family trip. In addition to the panel heater, electric lighting and power sockets, Ramnaberg comes with a mini fridge and a roof light, perfect for watching the stars on a clear night. You can also enjoy great views of the loch and valley from this wigwam.
DON’T FORGET
Your trip to Scotland will be a lot more comfortable with a midge net and midge spray. These little biting bugs can be enough to ruin a trip if you don’t have the equipment to protect yourself from them. A repelling candle can also be helpful if you are sitting oustide.
Things to do near Scalloway Caravan Park
Scalloway Caravan Park is a great base for visiting Shetland in your caravan or motorhome. It is only a 10 minute drive from the main town of Lerwick and a 5 minute drive to Scalloway.
We based ourselves at Scalloway Caravan Park whilst exploring the south mainland and even took a day trip up to Eashness (the most westerly point on mainland Shetland)from there which was around a 45 minute drive. We also drove to Sumburgh Head which is the most southerly point on the mainland of Shetland which was also around a 45 minute drive.
Other things to see and do near Scalloway Caravan Park are:
- Scalloway Museum
- Scalloway Castle
- Shetland Ponies
- The Original Cake Fridge
- Walk around Lerwick
- St Ninians Isle
Up Helly Aa
Scalloway Caravan Park is open all year round and is the perfect base if you are attending Up Helly Aa in Shetland. Up Helly Aa is a viking fire festival that is well worth adding to your bucketlist!
Up Helly Aa dates back to the 19th century and has evolved through the years with todays celebrations being in the form of a torchlit procession, led by the chief viking, known as the Guizer Jarl. Overr 1000 torch bearers march around the streets of Lerwick followed by the guizers throwing their burning torches into a galley (viking longship) which has had months spent on it being built.
The event takes place on the last Tuesday of January annually in Lerwick and across other parts of the Shetland Isles through until March. It is one of the most unique things to do in Shetland.
Before You Leave on Your Trip to Shetland
Before you leave on your trip to Shetland there are a few things you will need to get organised to ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip. These include how to get there and around the isles, what to pack and where to stay, all of which are discussed below.
How to Get to the Shetland Isles
Ferry
The ferry journey with Northlink Ferries to Shetland is a picturesque adventure on a calm bright night. However on a stormy winter evening it can feel a little less magical. Departing from mainland Scotland, there are several ferry routes available, with Aberdeen serving as the primary departure point and Scrabster on the north coast as the secondry. The overnight ferry from Aberdeen to Lerwick, the capital of Shetland, takes 12 hours direct and 14 hours with a stop at Orkney. The ferry is complete with onboard facilities, communal pods and private cabins. It is advisable to book your ferry tickets in advance, especially during peak travel seasons.
Fly
Flights to Sumburgh Airport, located in the southern part of Shetland, are available from several airports in Scotland, including Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. Flying with Loganair offers the advantage of shorter travel times, making it an ideal choice for those with limited time or a preference for air travel.
Where to Stay in Shetland
Where you stay on Shetland will vary depending on what activities you are wanting to do whilst on the island.
What to Pack for Shetland
When it comes to packing for a trip to Shetland there is one item of clothing that you are going to need all year round: a waterproof. It rains in Scotland on average 250 days a year, meaning that during your trip to the Shetland, you can expect rain at some point. Due to this, the number one item on your packing list is a good waterproof jacket (men’s / women’s).
Second to that, another item to not leave home without is a good pair of warm and, if possible, waterproof boots (men’s / women’s). A lot of the best sights on Shetland require a bit of walking to reach them and the conditions underfoot can become very muddy. You do not want to ruin a good pair of white trainers so pack some sturdy boots.
You will definitely need a hat and gloves during the winter months as the wind chill can be bitter.
It is also important to stay hydrated, especially when you are out exploring in the marvellous landscape of Scotland. We use Water to Go water bottles to fill up with water from running streams when we are hiking.
Given the beautiful sights and scenery that you are no doubt going to see around the Shetland, we highly recommend packing a good camera for your trip. If you want to read more about the cameras we use and why we love them, check out the link below.
Photography Equipment
Main Photography Camera – Sony A7v Mirrorless Camera and Sony A7iii Mirrorless Camera
Microphone – Sony Mic ECM-B1M
Main Lens – Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8
Zoom Lens – Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8
Camera Tripod – ZOMEI Z669C Camera Tripod
Gorilla Pod – JOBY JB01507-BWW GorillaPod
Action Camera – GoPro Hero 11 and Insta 360 One RS
Drone Camera – DJI Mavic Pro 3
Camera Bag – Wandrd PRVKE 41L and The Nest by Tropicfeel
Phone Tripod – Manfrotto MKPIXICLAMP-BK, Mini Tripod with Universal Smartphone Clamp
Sturdy Phone Tripod & Selfie Stick – ATUMTEK 61″ Selfie Stick Tripod, Sturdy Phone Tripod Stand with Wireless Remote
Hard Drives – LaCie Rugged Mini, 5TB, 2.5″, Portable External Hard Drive
SSD – SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB Portable NVMe SSD
Travel Adapter –Worldwide Travel Adapter Universal Travel Plug with 4 USB Ports+Universal AC Socke
What is the Best Travel Insurance for Shetland
I know travel insurance is the least enjoyable thing to purchase and look at when you’re planning a trip, however, you wouldn’t want to be without it in the event that something happened. Accidents can happen anywhere and the extortionate medical bills will ruin your trip if you are not covered.
To ensure you have a stress-free trip with no worries about potential medical bills, make sure you cover yourself when you travel. We can recommend using SafetyWing, a backpacker-friendly and cheap insurance company that provides good coverage and support. It is also nomad-friendly, unlike most other insurance companies, meaning you do not need to worry about being out of your home country for too long.
Get a quote for your travel insurance right here and get covered!
So there you have it, your guide to Scalloway Caravan Park in Shetland. If you are visiting this incredible place and have any other questions on what to expect, leave us a comment down below. We love to chat about this stuff! If you have already been, let us know how it was! Did you get a clear day to see the sights? Did you manage the trip without getting caught in the rain? Let us know in the comments below!
Also, remember to share this with your friends and family that you are going to share this amazing experience with. Sharing is caring and we want to ensure that everyone is fully prepared to maximise their experience in Shetland.
If you are planning a Scotland trip soon then check out our other Scotland content right here. Come and find us on social media to see where we are currently exploring. Tag us in your photos from your stay and we will share them with the rest of our community of explorers and backpackers.
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