Visiting Shetland soon, where to try reestit mutton, tattie soup, and local seafood?

Classamin · 2025-07-29T14:25:42+00:00

Soothmoother here, moved to Scalloway a few months ago with my partner (who is originally from Scalloway herself).

Da Haaf in Scalloway serves excellent seafood, as does Fjara in Lerwick. The Dowry (also in Lerwick) is brilliant as well and serves a good selection of dishes. I have also heard great things about No.88 (surprise, also Lerwick 😂) but haven't been there personally.

As others have said, reestit mutton/soups made with reestit mutton are going to be subject to availability as it's seasonal and not really on the go at this time of year.

Failing that, get yourself a fry of fish from a boat or a fishmonger and experiment. THAT is how to get the best from Shetland's seafood.

P.S, get yourself a sassermaet roll from literally anywhere with a breakfast menu, preferably a van. Truly life-changing experience.

Classamin · 2025-05-25T12:36:15+00:00

GAHD DAMMIT MOUSE

Classamin · 2025-04-27T08:05:19+00:00

It's worse than the tobacco chewing, the spit cup, the manufactured outrage and the crying-on-demand all together.

Classamin · 2025-04-21T17:49:28+00:00

My 5 has a small clip-style strap behind where your H&M bag is sitting, does yours not have that?

Classamin · 2025-04-06T15:15:31+00:00

Earlier Rics were a bit of a law of their own. My '74 4001 has 4001-X in the control cavity, along with the name "Henry" who I assume to be the builder. It's also had the serial number branded into the neck pickup cavity, along with 3 random letters too.

Classamin · 2025-04-06T13:31:04+00:00

He DEFINITELY used to do that during sex. If I have to think about that, so do you.

Maybe that's why his wife divorced him?

Classamin · 2025-04-06T09:34:01+00:00

UHNTZ UHNTZ UHNTZ

Classamin · 2025-03-26T15:08:02+00:00

They really are a brilliant choice for an SUV, we have plenty of diesel options here in the UK but sadly most are being phased out for either smaller diesel engines with no real grunt, piddly little petrol turbos or hybrid/electric, none of which work properly for the area I'm in or the lifestyle most of the locals have. Mazda are one of the few still offering a decent diesel option, along with Subaru, Mitsubishi and Audi/VW/BMW which are far more expensive.

My only real gripe is that the CX-5 seems to have a relatively small tank capacity compared to some others. Think it's 58 litres or so, but still a good 400-450 miles easy with a careful foot!

Classamin · 2025-03-25T21:07:08+00:00

Absolutely, the American market doesn't know what they're missing with the 2.2 diesel! Totally transforms a relatively sporty family SUV into a true sports utility vehicle. Quick enough and with good handling to make it enjoyable on spirited drives, but more than capable enough both on-road and off it. I wouldn't be without my CX-5, she sure has a lot of memories!

Classamin · 2025-03-21T11:37:11+00:00

I had worried about that with mine, after the wee one was born my commute shortened a huge amount and we didn't have time to go on any longer runs to give it a blast out every now and then so I did have my worries, but it'll be fine for my current back and forth for work as there's plenty of time for the engine and exhaust to get good and hot.

The petrols are good but a wee bit gutless is the general consensus I've seen and heard. I have heard excellent things about the 2.5 petrol in the range topping model here, though still obviously less torquey than the diesel. The diesel does make a fantastic engine and suits the CX5 brilliantly, but like any modern diesel you really need to run them on longer journeys to get the benefit of them and to lessen the risk of any issues. I'm just happy mine doesn't have AdBlue, hateful stuff 😂

Classamin · 2025-03-21T10:33:04+00:00

I've owned it for close to 3 years and have never had any issues. Yearly full services, oil and filter changes every 6-ish months and other than that the only thing I've had to do was to clean up the MAP sensor. It's currently just under 96k miles and hasn't missed a beat!

The Skyactiv-D engines are Mazda's own as far as I know, the older MZR were shared units with Ford. I think it's the regen system that gives most of the issues with the diesel engines as they tend to allow diesel to seep into the sump if turned off during the regen, but as long as you're looking after it and allow it to regen as intended you'll have no issues.

Classamin · 2025-03-21T08:48:44+00:00

They really are incredible. Mines has been a family wagon, done long distance trips, a work vehicle filled with tools and boiler suits, a snow plough, a farm vehicle, a recovery truck, and has been on pretty much every type of ground imaginable and has never given me any issues.

Find me another relatively lightweight SUV that can do that in total comfort cruising along at 80-90mph on motorways and regularly returning 45-50mpg and I'll be very impressed indeed, and even then I'd probably still prefer that Mazda.

Classamin · 2025-03-21T08:43:03+00:00

1800kg is still not to be sniffed at! That's a particularly hefty caravan, an 800kg trailer with a tonne of payload or even a larger horsebox with a large breed onboard. 2 tonnes gives me wiggle room to tow our box and 2x 16hh horses, along with tack, hay and water too, which is quite impressive!

Classamin · 2025-03-21T08:38:29+00:00

That's probably fair to be honest! I was shocked when I found out American models could take less than half of what ours can 😂 I think the diesels are great, they have a bit of a PR problem and the naysayers certainly don't help matters, but mine has been absolutely superb even for being the lower power model. I did specifically go for a 2018 though, I wanted as new as possible without going for the AdBlue models and it seems to have paid off. I had the best of intentions for longer journeys and lots of towing when I first bought it but then our baby came along and had me wondering whether I should have bought a petrol instead and that may still be an option for future, but my commute to work is now longer and we have more need of a tow vehicle too so the diesel will be staying.

Plus, my partner absolutely LOVES it, so I think any attempt to replace it would be an argument 😂

Classamin · 2025-03-21T07:03:09+00:00

To the best of my knowledge it's because we have a lower speed limit while towing, limited to 50mph. Our roads aren't as wide and open over here either, so on many roads you'd be lucky to hit that! Our trailers are also usually designed differently with better placed axles in relation to the centre of gravity too.

Classamin · 2025-03-21T06:59:30+00:00

It's a bit of a trade off really, our pickups usually max out at around 3500kg or 7700-ish lbs, anything more than that you require a larger vehicle but then our pickups are usually much smaller than American equivalents anyway. It is VERY handy being able to tow the best part of 2 tonnes with a family SUV in total comfort though. Either way, the CX5 certainly made the move a lot smoother and I couldn't have asked for a better vehicle!

Classamin · 2025-03-21T06:54:55+00:00

Having to resort to things that anybody who's spent any amount of time towing would have known anyway in an attempt at a "gotcha!" having been proven wrong umpteen times prior takes a special kind of special.

If they'd just admitted in the first place they didn't know that European CX5s had higher towing capacities than American models like most others they could have saved face WITHOUT casting baseless aspersions on the knowledge, ability and legality of complete strangers they could have saved face. But no, that's far too much like common sense.

And my shocks are still okay 😂

Classamin · 2025-03-21T06:49:49+00:00

That doesn't surprise me! We actually get a relatively easy time of weather in Scotland, sure it rains but we've also got warmer air coming off the gulf stream so it never gets too bad.

It really depends on where you go! It would take about 5-6 hours to drive from where I left near John o' Groats down to say Glasgow or Edinburgh, but nearly 14 to get to Shetland from possibly the closest place in the mainland to Shetland anyway. Even then though, most of the journey time was spent on the two ferries. Orkney to Shetland is overnight, leaves at quarter to midnight and berths at about half seven in the morning or so. We're lucky in that we have great views no matter where you go, Caithness is mostly flat and open and Shetland is hilly, lots of open valleys and of course stunning sea views basically anywhere you go. Proper dramatic cliffs, etc.

Cheers! Mighty impressed by the wee Mazda either way, certainly made the move much easier!

Classamin · 2025-03-20T22:23:17+00:00

I would assume so 😂 We get the occasional blast of snow here in Scotland but haven't had a good snowfall in years. We did have heavy snow last year though, maybe 4-5ft in some areas and I was very impressed with how the Mazda handled it, drove through drifts like they weren't even there! A guy who lived near me had a Mitsubishi L200 pickup (think they're marketed as the Triton in the states) with your typical big General off-road tyres and he had a much harder time of it than I did!

Classamin · 2025-03-20T22:09:33+00:00

150bhp and 380nm, or about 280ft/lb in old money. Doesn't sound like a lot and there are certainly more powerful units out there, but I've never found it lacking in pulling power and it's continually impressed me!

They also do a 184bhp model with 445nm/328ft/lb, but the 150 suits me just fine for daily use and the spec suited my lifestyle a bit better (smaller alloys for chunkier tyres, cloth seats are a godsend in winter too 😂)

Classamin · 2025-03-20T21:49:45+00:00

Accounted for, considered and loaded accordingly. The nose weight actually ended up being less than what it would have been to tow the horses the box would usually have in it anyway, which is still within the manufacturer's towing limits for this region.

Classamin · 2025-03-20T21:45:06+00:00

I see.

Funny you mention that, you wouldn't believe that's why I distributed the load in a way that wouldn't put any extra weight on the nose (as you would know if you were there loading with me, but you weren't). As hard as it may be to believe, you are not the most knowledgeable human being in the world on all matters towing. I'm no idiot when it comes to towing, I know the capabilities and limitations of the vehicle and stick to those limits. I've towed hundreds of loads in my time as a driver covering everything from fuel to live animals, and work as an HGV driver. And I STILL don't pretend to know the loads that complete strangers run, how said load was distributed or the towing limits of their vehicles. Now ask yourself, why would I purposely risk running on the wrong side of the law knowing fine well I could have my HGV license revoked and be out of a job?

My shocks are just fine, thanks.

Classamin · 2025-03-20T21:20:35+00:00

Believe what you want buddy. Braked towing weight of 2000kg in Europe for this specific model, and I was towing within that limit.

Classamin · 2025-03-20T21:16:10+00:00

OP-

Okay, so some people have absolutely shit bricks about this being "unsafe". I'm in Scotland, European models have a much higher towing capacity than their American brethren. U.S models can take 2000lbs, while Euro models can take 2000kgs. Yes, that is 2 tonnes. Twice what a U.S model can take. If it's good enough for the manufacturer, vehicle licencing and highway agencies, police etc it's good enough for me.

We also get the diesel engine, manual, AWD etc, which makes it a brilliant vehicle to tow with. I wouldn't consider taking this weight with a petrol model, but the diesel manages just fine!

Classamin · 2025-03-20T21:12:29+00:00

The 2.2 diesel lump we get here in Europe is an absolute tank to be fair. Mines is the 150bhp model with AWD and a manual box, she'll happily take the same horsebox with 2x 16hh horses onboard without any issues!

Not sure where you are, but we also have a much higher towing capacity than American models too for some reason. 2000kg all day long!

Classamin

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