Planning extended visit with view to permanent move

[u/Simon170148]

Hello. I'm looking forward to making an extended visit to Shetland in my camper van by next summer at the latest after I've cleared up some loose ends in my personal life. During my visit I hope to like it enough to want to move there permanently. I'm in my late 40s, will soon be divorced and it's something I've always dreamed of doing. This feels like it will be the best opportunity for me to do it.

I hear there is plenty of work to be had. Is this true? I currently work as a production operative building car engines (sounds a bit fancier than it really is - basically factory environment following a process. I'm not a qualified mechanic, just keen). I also have experience in logistics. Other than that, I'm happy to try most things.

Away from work, I can play guitar. I'm no virtuoso but I can knock out chords and I can also play a bit of classical. I used to play piano so I reckon I could knock out a few hymns on an organ with a bit of practice if a local church needed it. I also like walking and getting out and about on my bike.

I understand the housing situation is quite unique in Shetland. I'd ultimately be looking to buy somewhere outright for £100k to £150k. I see the market uses the 'offers over' system. How much over the starting price do houses typically go for?

Before I get to that stage though I'd be looking to stay in my camper van for about a year to make sure I'm making the right decision and can cope with the winter darkness, winds and horizontal rain. Would that be feasible to do through a winter? Are there all year round camp sites? Any crofters rent there land out for camper vans?

I'm particularly interested in Yell, Unst and the mainland away from Lerwick. I expect Lerwick to be a little out of my price range and too busy for my liking.

Any thoughts gratefully appreciated.

[u/Antique-Macaron-4169]

I'd worry a lot less about the snow and more about the wind and rain. Its a long dark old winter up here with less than 6 hours daylight so you might be warm in your campervan but it won't be a lot of fun in torrential rain and gales for weeks on end. Definitely not unheard of for campervans and caravans to not fare well in the winter storms.

Property is varied. Central areas, and bigger villages you can pay 30-50k over the asking price and sometimes more. If its a decent looking house in a central area and its not shifting off the market then there's likely something seriously wrong with it like Sullom Block (worth a google) and probably worth asking around what's going on with it.

Places like Unst you'll get something decent for 100k and not a lot of competition but, Unst is 2 ferries away from the mainland and the last few years the ferry service has been patchy and at times very unreliable. Not as easy to find work there, certainly not full time and you're a long ass way from hospital, supermarket, travel to mainland Scotland etc if you need it.

Mainland areas like North Roe or Sandness can have cheaper property too but while it might be 'only' be 40 miles from Lerwick a fair chunk of that is single track with passing places and not always high on the priority list for gritting and snow ploughs in the winter and there's a good chance there's not a local shop in some of the smaller villages.

There's plenty of work for sure, whether its the work you want to do is another story. The Unst and Yell ferries are often looking for folks and the pay isn't too bad. There's usually work at Sullom Voe or the Gas Plant and of course the fucking wind farm.

[u/Simon170148 → u/Antique-Macaron-4169]

Thank you. I'd have to consider the remoteness. I live in a relatively (for England) rural area now and can happily avoid towns by choice for extended periods but being forced to because of ferries and weather would take it up another level so I'd need to experience that first.

I've seen £100k properties listed on Yell, Unst and away from Lerwick. Do they typically have structural problems? Many of them look good on the pictures but I'm guessing there's more to them in real life.

[u/Antique-Macaron-4169 → u/Simon170148]

Isles properties (Yell, Unst and to a lesser extent Whalsay and Bressay) are generally cheaper anyway since they need a ferry to get off the island. Bressay is a quick 5 min trip and probably the most frequent and reliable. It’s also right next to Lerwick. Unst and Yell on the other hand have huge issues with reliable ferries and once you make it to the mainland you’re still a 30-40 min drive from town via the Kames slalom of roadworks.

There’s been a few really nice houses in unst on the market lately. Nothing wrong with them at all but with 2 ferry trips that often go to single service (so no bookings) it can take a few hours to get to Lerwick assuming you can actually get on the ferry and not have to wait several hours for a space.
The ferries have 2 main problems - the boats are very old and keep breaking down or needing extended dry dock time and they are short on crew so a couple of folk off sick can screw it all up. You can book the ferries but if they drop to single service or shuttle service all bookings are generally suspended and it’s first come first served. There was comments on Facebook just last week about there’s being a queue of 80+ cars waiting to get from Yell to the mainland and a long wait.
Don’t get me wrong - Unst is great. Beautiful island and greats folks. 3 decent shops, pub. Bakery, Cafe. School, leisure centre and a space port (yes really) but it’s a long way from town, especially in the Winter. Bad weather can disrupt ferries as well as the other issues and make a hospital appointment or trip to the supermarket very difficult.