A two-week odyssey to Britain’s most northerly islands; Shetland and Orkney… on a Bike Called Wanda.
The Daily Posts
- The Northern Isles: Day 0
- The Northern Isles: Day 1 – Lerwick
- The Northern Isles: Day 2 – Lerwick To Unst
- The Northern Isles: Day 3 – Unst
- The Northern Isles: Day 4 – Unst To Brae
- The Northern Isles: Day 5 – Brae To Scalloway
- The Northern Isles: Day 6 – Scalloway To Sumburgh Head
- The Northern Isles: Day 7 – Levenwick To Lerwick
- The Northern Isles: Day 8 – Kirkwall
- The Northern Isles: Day 9 – Kirkwall To Stromness
- The Northern Isles: Day 10 – Hoy
- The Northern Isles: Day 11 – Stromness
- The Northern Isles: Day 12 – Stromness To Kirkwall
The Post-Trip Podcasts
These have been published as episode 083 of The Cycling Europe Podcast:
- Episode 083, Part 1: Shetland
- “The Cycling Europe Podcast travels to the most northerly islands of Britain for a week of camping, hostelling and cycling. Renowned for its wild beauty, but also its capricious weather, Andrew Sykes sets off on a ride that will stretch the entire length of the archipelago from Unst in the north to Sumburgh in the south taking time to explore the attractions, meet the locals and compare notes with fellow travellers as he cycles.”
- Episode 083, Part 2: Orkney
- “After a week on Shetland, The Cycling Europe Podcast takes the late-night ferry south to Kirkwall on the islands of Orkney. Following a day spent exploring the capital, Andrew Sykes cycles west for three nights of camping in the historic town of Stromness. From here he heads first to Hoy, home to the spectacular beach and cliffs at Rackwick and the Scapa Flow Museum where he discovers more about the wartime importance of the deep water harbour. After spending a day off the bike investigating the delights of Stromness itself, Andrew cycles off on a journey around the mainland taking in prehistoric Skara Brae and the bucolic Brough of Birsay before a return to Kirkwall and his ferry home via Aberdeen.”
Scroll down to access the pre-tip podcast (episode 081).
The Interactive Map
Pre-Trip Website Posts
- Shetland 2024? / Cycle Camping UK: Can You Help? (19.5.24)
- Shetland / Orkney August 2024 (27.7.24)
- Shetland / Orkney: T – 1 Week (6.8.24)
Pre-Trip Podcast: Episode 081 of The Cycling Europe Podcast
Shetland is the northernmost part of the United Kingdom, 170 km from mainland Scotland and only 220 km from the Norwegian coast. Of its 100 islands, only 15 are inhabited (by a population of just over 20,000) but according to the local tourist board, the remote archipelago “…has everything a cyclist could hope for”. Tim Sanders, Anne Lawther and Jayne Moore have all visited Shetland in recent months and the writer Martyn Howe has been a regular visitor over the years both on foot and by bike. The Cycling Europe Podcast asked all four travellers to recount their cycling experiences. Does Shetland really live up to the tourist hype? Anne, Jayne and Martyn also reflect upon their visits to nearby Orkney. How does it compare to its near-Nordic northern neighbour?
Relevant links:
- Martyn’s website: Trail Planner
- Shetland.org
Listen to the podcasts with subtitles on YouTube:
