Overview
Shetland is an archipelago in the northernmost part of the United Kingdom, consisting of about 100 islands, of which 16 are permanently inhabited. The islands contain a mixture of towns, villages, hamlets, and notable geographic features. The following list enumerates the principal settlements and populated locations across the Shetland Islands, grouped by the main islands on which they are situated. The list is not exhaustive; smaller crofts, farms, and uninhabited localities are omitted.
Mainland (the largest island)
Settlement
Type
Notes
Lerwick
Town (administrative centre)
Principal port, largest population centre (~7,500).
Scalloway
Village
Former capital; historic castle and market place.
Brae
Village
Near the northern tip; gateway to the North Isles.
Sumburgh
Village
Home to Sumburgh Airport (main air link).
Hirta
Village
Coastal community south of Lerwick.
Mavis Grind
Hamlet
Historic crossing point between North and South Atlantic.
Houbie
Village
Near the southern tip, close to the ferry terminal.
Bixter
Village
Central western Mainland.
Quarff
Village
Situated on the Scalloway peninsula.
Cunningsburgh
Village
Known for the annual agricultural show.
Gullane
Village
Small settlement on the east coast.
Uyeasound
Village
Not to be confused with the same‑named settlement on Unst.
Sandwick
Village
Near the southern end, close to the ferry.
St. Ninian’s
Village
Near the western coast.
Ullapool
Village
Small coastal settlement (different from the Scottish mainland Ullapool).
Muckle Roe
Village
Located on the island of Muckle Roe, linked by bridge to Mainland.
Spiggie
Village
Small coastal hamlet.
North Isles
Unst (largest of the North Isles)
Settlement
Type
Notes
Houbie
Village
Principal settlement on Unst.
Haroldswick
Village
Northernmost village in the UK.
Uyeasound
Village
Harbor with historic castle ruins.
Balta
Village
Small coastal community.
Muckle Roe
Village
Linked by bridge to Mainland (see above).
Hoxa
Hamlet
Near the western coast.
Yell
Settlement
Type
Notes
Lerwick (Yell) – Note: not the Mainland Lerwick
Village
Principal settlement on Yell.
Mid Yell
Village
Central location on the island.
Garff
Village
Small coastal settlement.
Bixter (Yell)
Hamlet
Small hamlet on the west coast.
Anderby
Village
Near the northern tip.
Voe
Village
Located on the east coast.
Fetlar
Settlement
Type
Notes
Houbigie
Village
Main settlement on Fetlar.
Lage
Village
Small community near the west coast.
Cunnings
Hamlet
Minor settlement.
Whalsay
Settlement
Type
Notes
Symbister
Village
Principal harbour and administrative centre.
Laxford
Village
Small settlement on the southeast coast.
Noup
Hamlet
Minor coastal locality.
Other North Isles (e.g., Bressay, Papa Stour, Foula, Fair Isle)
Island
Settlement(s)
Type
Notes
Bressay
Shetland Airport (near Bressay House)
Airport/settlement
Only limited habitation, chiefly the airport and a few houses.
Papa Stour
Papa Stour Village
Village
Small community at the island’s centre.
Foula
Foula Village
Village
Remote island with an airstrip; population under 30.
Fair Isle
Fair Isle Village
Village
Known for knitting and bird observatory; population ~60.
Other Inhabited Islands
Island
Settlement(s)
Type
Notes
St. Ninian’s Isle
St. Ninian’s (historical)
Ruin / archaeological site
Not a modern settlement; notable for ancient broch.
Muckle Skerry
—
Uninhabited
Occasionally used for navigation aids.
Hildasay
—
Uninhabited (formerly a fish curing station)
No permanent population.
Oxna
—
Uninhabited
No permanent settlement.
Notes on the List
The term “place” is interpreted as any named populated locality (town, village, hamlet, or notable settlement) that has a permanent or semi‑permanent resident community.
Smaller crofting out‑stations, isolated farmsteads, and historic ruins without a resident population are excluded to keep the list concise.
Population figures fluctuate; the list reflects the most recent publicly available data (2023) where available.
The Shetland Islands have numerous additional minor localities and geographic features (e.g., bays, lochs, skerries) that are not included because they do not constitute inhabited places.
This compilation draws on publicly available geographic and administrative sources such as the Ordnance Survey of the United Kingdom, Shetland Islands Council records, and the National Records of Scotland. No speculative or unverified entries are included.
