A mini guide to
South Mainland: Sumburgh, Jarlshof & Mousa: getting there
Stops, stations and how to reach South Mainland: Sumburgh, Jarlshof & Mousa
Stops and stations
Getting to South Mainland: Sumburgh, Jarlshof & Mousa
Choose the stop closest to where you are going.
| Stop or station | Services | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Sumburgh Airport | Loganair flights | Flights to Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow, at the southern tip of the Mainland |
| Lerwick to Sumburgh bus | Local bus | Runs between Lerwick and Sumburgh along the A970; check ZetTrans for times |
| Sandsayre pier, Sandwick | Mousa Boat | Seasonal crossings to Mousa from April; all sailings depend on the weather |
Walking from nearby areas
- Lerwick & Bressay: 24.2 km from South Mainland: Sumburgh, Jarlshof & Mousa, better by public transport
- Scalloway & the West Mainland: 28.2 km from South Mainland: Sumburgh, Jarlshof & Mousa, better by public transport
- Northmavine, Yell & Unst: 74.7 km from South Mainland: Sumburgh, Jarlshof & Mousa, better by public transport
Reaching Shetland
Official travel information
Shetland is reached by the NorthLink ferry from Aberdeen or by Loganair flights to Sumburgh Airport. Always check the operator for current times, fares and weather disruption.
- Promote Shetland (shetland.org) → — the official visitor site
- NorthLink Ferries → — Aberdeen, Kirkwall and Lerwick sailings
- Loganair → — flights to Sumburgh
- Sumburgh Airport (HIAL) → — airport information
- Shetland Islands Council: ferries → — inter-island timetables, fares and bookings
- ZetTrans → — bus timetables
- Driving around Shetland → — single-track roads and fuel
Times, fares and disruption change: use the operator pages above for live information.
Plan your journey here
Enter your starting point and Google Maps will show routes to South Mainland: Sumburgh, Jarlshof & Mousa. Public transport is selected; change it on the map. Check operator sites for live disruption.

While you are here
Things to see in South Mainland: Sumburgh, Jarlshof & Mousa
A few of the sights in the area. The Things to do page lists them all, with directions and official links.
Shetland Crofthouse Museum
Traditional 19th-century thatched crofthouse in Dunrossness, presented as it would have looked in the 1870s, with box beds and a peat fire.
Quendale Mill
Watermill commissioned by the Grierson lairds of Quendale in 1867 to grind the estate's grain; grinding began the following year.
Levenwick
Small village about 27 km south of Lerwick with a sandy beach where otters are often seen.
Shetland
More areas to explore
Scalloway & the West Mainland
Shetland's old capital, the Shetland Bus story, Tingwall's law site and Neolithic Stanydale
Open the mini guide →
Northmavine, Yell & Unst
Esha Ness cliffs, Ronas Hill, the islands of Yell and Unst, and Britain's most northerly sights
Open the mini guide →
Lerwick & Bressay
Shetland's harbour town: the museum, Fort Charlotte, Clickimin Broch and the ferry to Bressay
Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Old Scatness Broch and Iron Age Village: Van de Beek, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- South Mainland: Sumburgh, Jarlshof & Mousa (area photo): swifant, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Shetland Crofthouse Museum: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Quendale Mill: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Levenwick: Mike Pennington, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Scalloway & the West Mainland: Robert W Watt, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Northmavine, Yell & Unst: Unukorno, CC BY 4.0, source
- Lerwick & Bressay: Florent Abel, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring Shetland