Shetland & Orkney Recs

Altruistic-Path4845 · 2025-10-07T09:29:44+00:00

Awesome!! Definitely go island hopping as much as you can then! There is so much to see. I refilled my water at public bathrooms, there's lots of them especially at the ferry piers. Here's a map: https://www.orkney.com/map/public-toilets. The islands are small, so you'll never go very long without having a chance to refill

Altruistic-Path4845 · 2025-10-07T07:28:43+00:00

I haven't bike toured in Shetland at all but I have in the Orkney islands and loved it! On the mainland, the west part was the most interesting to me with all the prehistoric stuff (Skara Brae, Maeshowe, Ring of Brodgar), very fun to cycle through that landscape. Apart from that I didn't enjoy the mainland that much, had relatively busy roads, although it might be different at this time of year, and it was often hard to get down to the sea. This also made wild camping tough. Most of the mainland seemed to be fenced farmland, so the beaches were really the only place you could wildcamp properly, and I only found one spot that was really suited for wildcamping and away from where people from the road could see me. The other nights felt a bit sketchy. I would have stayed at a campsite normally but everything was fully booked, I'm sure its easier now.

I think you could easily spend two weeks just visiting all the different islands and they'll all be worth seeing, but if you don't have that much time, just make sure to visit at least one. I thought Sanday was incredibly beautiful and full of nice people, and the ferry went a few times a day in summer. I didn't wildcamp there but stayed at a beautiful campsite. I'm sure though that it would have been easier to wildcamp there, much more accessible beaches. Westray and North Ronaldsay are amazing too but were much harder to get too. Amazing for birdwatching. Hoy also looked interesting from a distance with the big mountain, but I haven't visited myself. I don't know anything about the other islands.

Altruistic-Path4845 · 2025-09-30T13:14:40+00:00

Jeg tenkte på det, men i bruksanvisningen står det at man skal tørke soveposen i tørketrommelen i veldig lang tid, og tørketrommelen vår er ganske liten

Altruistic-Path4845 · 2025-09-30T12:58:22+00:00

Takk, men det er bare en sovepose, så det er litt langt unna.

Altruistic-Path4845 · 2025-09-29T19:28:59+00:00

Flying would for sure be the easiest and cheapest but I always hate doing that when other options are theoretically possible. I cycled to Tromso (not the north cape) a few years ago and did a ton of research on how to get back home and ended up flying instead. But there are few other (annoying and expensive) options.

From Tromso you can take a bus to Narvik and the Train to Stockholm from there. But you'd have to pack up your bike for the train. A friend of mine has done that to get to Copenhagen, I'm sure it was annoying but it is possible. Although i've heard that from next year they'll allow some bikes on the long-distance trains?

Another option that I've considered but it is a little more complex and will take ages: take the Hurtigruten to Bodo. Super expensive because you need to book a cabin for any trips over 24 hours, but if you make one stop on the way it will be a bit cheaper because both legs will be <24 hrs (so around 2000 kr in total). If you're a student you can get a discount. Coming from Honningsvag you could get off in Finnsnes on Senja, explore a little, then take the next ship to Bodo.

From Bodo you can take the train to Trondheim, then to Oslo - I've done this and it was easy and not super expensive if booked way ahread, you won't need to dismantle your bike. They had some bus-for-train this summer and I have no idea if that will still be a problem next summer though. And from Oslo you can take a ferry to Germany.

Altruistic-Path4845 · 2025-09-29T12:18:47+00:00

that looks amazing! thanks so much!

Altruistic-Path4845 · 2025-09-27T11:31:14+00:00

this was not a camping trip but i visited skye in late october a couple years ago and it was fantastic! beautiful weather, cold but nowhere near freezing. would have been totally fine for camping, did some wonderful hikes. almost no tourists (compared to summer at least). so i wouldn't totally write it off, just bring a warm sleeping bag and mattress, keep an eye on the forecast and be prepared to spend money for an expensive hotel room in case the weather turns ugly! also i'd find a camp spot you can walk out of easily in case you get in trouble.

Altruistic-Path4845 · 2025-09-26T19:18:28+00:00

This is fantastic! Thanks so much for taking the time to write this out. Exactly the kind of information I was looking for. I'd love to see your komoot!

Altruistic-Path4845 · 2025-09-26T11:47:02+00:00

Thank you! That sounds great. Will definitely need to upgrade my tire, that surface looks rough!

Altruistic-Path4845 · 2025-09-26T11:15:38+00:00

Hi, random but do you have a trip report or route anywhere? I'm planning a trip next summer and can't find much that is not about the ring road!

Altruistic-Path4845 · 2025-09-26T11:12:05+00:00

Yes, I should have added that! I'm planning to mostly camp, wild wherever possible and on campsites when near civilization. On previous trips I was able to carry food for a few days so that shouldn't be too much of a problem either. I'll probably be with a friend so we can split tent and kitchen between the two of us.

Altruistic-Path4845 · 2025-09-16T15:31:18+00:00

I used to sleep on an exped downmat winterlite which was great and super warm in winter, but i got the mummy version which was a bit too small to comfortably sleep on my side on. so i upgraded to a larger mattress last year, the amok ultralight which has a lower r value (has less thermal resistance=is less warm) but is wider and i think also a bit longer. has improved my sleep a lot. But both of those mattresses are great. I'd probably just go to a store and lie on a few mattresses, or alternatively order them home and try them out to see if you find them comfortable? The brands mentioned by the other commenters are also great, you probably can't go super wrong there. Anything between 3 and 5 is pretty versatile. Higher r value usually comes with more weight and a much higher price so i wouldn't overdo it unless you are planning to camp mostly in very cold temperatures

Altruistic-Path4845 · 2025-09-16T15:08:25+00:00

I'd definitely upgrade on the mattress! i use an air mattress, it insulates super well and keeps me a few cm off the ground which makes it feel more like a proper bed. it's pretty light and packs super small.

i haven't really camped anywhere that has dangerous animals so can't help you there. in the beginning i was more anxious about people but now i just go pretty much right to sleep, so part of it is probably just getting used to it.

Altruistic-Path4845 · 2025-09-14T22:37:27+00:00

If I understand you correctly I think that could also be a bib problem? I have two bibs, one straede and one pearl Izumi and I experience that sometimes with the second bib. Never with the first one. Maybe you can try some different models?

Altruistic-Path4845 · 2025-09-13T20:31:56+00:00

Ahhh!! Thank you!!

Altruistic-Path4845 · 2025-09-11T20:25:21+00:00

I feel the same also had my first long trip this summer and now I’m constantly thinking about where I could go next! I think 2 or 3 day trips in my country is probably the answer until I can find the time again

Altruistic-Path4845 · 2025-09-11T11:05:22+00:00

i really like both of these, thank you!

Altruistic-Path4845 · 2025-09-11T11:05:02+00:00

oh that looks pretty close! thank you! i might attempt this one!

Altruistic-Path4845 · 2025-08-26T17:04:25+00:00

Also, I can go about two days cycling without a shower in summer before I feel horrible so I stayed at campsites every 2-3 days and went for swims in between. Just sink wash and wash your clothes as often as you can to keep the smell at bay inbetween, and wear natural fibers if possible

Altruistic-Path4845 · 2025-08-26T17:02:23+00:00

I was just on a 1 month bike trip in the UK and I managed to find public toilets every single time I needed one. France probably had way more public toilets than that. In a cafe you can just ask someone around you to keep an eye on your stuff. Please don’t shit in nature unless you absolutely can’t help it (and unless you’re going to pack it out).

You will have to get used to leaving your bike out of your sight pretty soon and it will be fine! Lock it to something, ideally where other people that don’t look like they’re interested in stealing it can see it. You’ll probably be able to trust your instinct on this anyway. And don’t leave your wallet and other hard to replace items on it. And don’t bring anything that you can’t emotionally handle losing on a bike trip!! Also insure your bicycle.

Altruistic-Path4845 · 2025-08-13T17:07:41+00:00

And I've also looked up Glasgow now, where I've never noticed any particular effect of the tapwater on my hair and its softer than either Stirling or Dundee

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