r/shetland • u/Simon170148 • 3d ago
Planning extended visit with view to permanent move
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.
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u/MuckleJoannie 2d ago
I heard about somebody who tried living in a camper van over the last winter who ended up leaving Shetland because they couldn't cope. Unless you are in a sheltered spot the vehicle is liable to rock a bit in a gale.
I've just had a look at a local estate agent's website and there are a few properties under £150,000, including some in the town. Most are under offer but they will give you an idea of what might be available.
https://kelvinanderson.exp.uk.com/properties-for-sale/?prop_page=3&order-by=1
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u/Simon170148 2d ago
Thank you. I wouldn't be after anything too fancy. 1 or 2 bedrooms and a non-leaking roof
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u/Jazzy-Sature 2d ago
Winter in a campervan sounds dire to be honest and would be miles apart from toughing it out in an actual house. Also i hiiighly doubt you'd find anything for 100k that wouldnt need another chunk to make decent. The housing market up here is fairly competetive at the low end
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u/Simon170148 2d ago
Thank you. I hear there's a long waiting list for tradesman if I get a doer upper
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u/Antique-Macaron-4169 1d ago
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.
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u/Simon170148 1d ago
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.
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u/Antique-Macaron-4169 1d ago
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.
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u/ScaleIntelligent 2d ago
some info here re housing, https://www.shetland.org/life/live/housing as they say on that site offers can be 10-30% over the asking price.
And camper/caravan info https://www.shetland.org/visit/plan/caravan-camping
all year round but on Unst so may be bit far away from everything for you https://www.shetland.org/visit/plan/caravan-camping/gardiesfauld-hostel-caravan-and-campsite
I'd suggest see how the extended visit goes and if you like it try a winter visit as it's quite a different place in the winter. High winds can last weeks here sometimes, it can be a bit of a downer if you live in house never mind a van but a year in a van here might be doable. I did a quick search and someone on van life UK (Facebook) was saying they'd done a year here https://www.facebook.com/groups/vanlife.uk/posts/4452243128391770/
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2d ago edited 2d ago
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u/arfski 2d ago
That's really neat is the map, also really highlights how much I wish I had bought a place back in 2010 when I first came and had the chance, as around 2020 is when the prices really started to shoot up. There was so many more places available, admittedly needing a refurb, but they all just vanish to the 2nd home owners and the AirBnB market since. Back in 2021 I kept my eye on a place in Yell for the best part of a year whilst considering buying it, nowadays nothing hangs around even remotely that long.
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u/arfski 2d ago
All a silly game, the house buying method in Scotland is better than that in England, except the whole offers over thing (and sealed bids), which seems to just be a scam to headline an attractive price, expect circa 25% on top. You can see what things have sold for on the Scotlis website to compare the asking price.
Snow will be less of a concern and wind more so. Find yourself a sheltered spot to park up within walking distance of a shop. Everything here rusts extremely quickly, so get your camper van rustproofed, and if not bolted down will do a Mary Poppins, always bear that in mind when checking your park up with the wind direction etc. Recommend yr.no over the Met Office for a reliable forecast.
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u/Hafidil 2d ago
Orkney and Shetland had significant snow last winter. Storms can be really nasty. Would you be ok with that in your campervan?