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Filming In Shetland

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In summer, Shetland’s location at latitude 60ºN means almost endless daylight,  the longest filming hours available in the UK; at midsummer, the islands enjoy four hours more daylight than London. The light is very special, too, and the air is clear and unpolluted. It's a great place for film-making.

Shetland has 1,697miles (2,702km) of coastline, over 16% of Scotland's total.  The islands' unique landscape is dominated by spectacular cliffs, while deserted white, sandy beaches can be found throughout the isles.

Europe’s largest oil shipment terminal nestles amid rolling hills at Sullom Voe, without affecting the islands' natural beauty. Shetland is a relatively prosperous place, possessing high quality hotels, sports facilities, roads and other support services for the film director.

Separating the Atlantic Ocean and the northern North Sea, Shetland has mile after mile of superb and very varied coastal scenery. There's also a wide range of inland landscape types ranging from moorland to woodland and meadow. Settlements range in type from lonely cottages in spectacular settings to the historic centres of Lerwick and Scalloway, both of which are well managed Conservation Areas and may be suitable for period productions. Private and social housing estates, castles, country houses, brochs and a variety of other ancient sites also form part of our inventory. Shetland's natural environment has long drawn specialist film crews; Hugh Miles' outstanding BBC film, On The Tracks Of The Wild Otter, was filmed here and the BBC has more recently presented SpringWatch from Shetland. Simon King's Shetland Diaries, in the form of three spectacular hour-long documentaries, was first shown on BBC 2 in February 2010. There is a huge range of spectacular and unexpected locations on offer, from pre-historic sites to rural landscapes, historic townscapes and a spectacular coast. There is scope, and rich material, for a wide range of documentary productions.  

The islands also offer opportunities for drama, either by developing a screenplay from a story set in Shetland or by using Shetland’s landscapes and locations in any other kind of production.  One of the early classics of British cinema, The Edge of the World (1937) , was made on the Shetland island of Foula by Michael Powell.  It was inspired by the evacuation, in 1930, of the remote island of St Kilda, which lies to the west of the Outer Hebrides.  More recently, the Shetland island of Fetlar has been cast in a starring role in a new feature film, Between Weathers. As its director, Jim Brown, put it: 

‘It’s although this film was destined to be set in Shetland.  Returning from LA, as I sat in Heathrow waiting for my flight to Aberdeen, I noticed on the monitor some of the most stunning scenery that I had ever seen in all my travels round the world.  It turned out to be Shetland’.

Shetland Islands Council works in conjunction with the regional film offices in Scotland and can give you a fast, free, confidential and informative service to help you realise your project, whether it’s a feature film or a stills shoot. The Council can offer:

• An image gathering service
• A free location-finding service covering the islands
• Familiarisation trips and possible financial help with recces
• Assistance with research
• Knowledge of local services from car-hire to set builders and accommodation to local experts

With daily connections to the UK mainland and reasonably priced accommodation, great food and wonderful spaces to relax, Shetland has everything you need for a successful production. We look forward to welcoming your production to Shetland and assisting with its smooth delivery.

"We had a fabulous time filming The Woman Who Ate Scotland on Shetland. We were spoilt by the range of seafood, meat and produce available, so could only film a small part of Shetland's rich bounty in 30 minutes! The Shetlanders were so friendly and welcoming and we all felt we had really experienced some wonderful Shetland hospitality - and I definitely feel I've still got lots of Shetland left to eat!" - Nell Nelson, Presenter, The Woman Who Ate Scotland (ITV).

If you are interested in filming in Shetland please contact Neil Henderson, the Film Liaison officer at Shetland Islands Council, who will be happy to help with any enquiries - tel: +44 (0)1595 744 960 .

Neil Henderson
Marketing Section Head
Shetland Islands Council
Economic Development Unit
Solarhus
3 North Ness Business Park
Lerwick
Shetland, ZE1 0LZ