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Major city · United Kingdom

WallsWaas

Go only with a car and a booked ferry: one night, two if you add Papa Stour or Foula. Without wheels, skip — the bus runs five times a day and stops at the village.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Nov–Feb (short days, wind, ferry disruption)
Airport
LSI
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
  • United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
  • United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.

Walls (locally Waas) is a small fishing village on the west Mainland of Shetland, 30 km from Lerwick, and it works as a base for two things: the Neolithic Stanydale Temple and the ferries to Foula and Papa Stour. There is one hotel, one shop, no mobile signal and no pub. Come for the archaeology and the island crossings, not for a village to wander.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Walls, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or tea in the village£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
  • Budget bedHostel or bunkhouse bed, a night, per person£30 (≈ US$40)
  • Mid-range bedHotel or B&B double room, a night, per room£140 (≈ US$190)
  • High-end bedHotel or B&B double room, a night, per room£200 (≈ US$300)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £45 (≈ US$60) · Mid £90 (≈ US$120) · High £160 (≈ US$250)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Stanydale TempleCulswick BrochFoula ferryPapa Stour ferryWest Mainland coastline
Airports
LSI Sumburgh Airport (Main Shetland airport, 40 km south of Lerwick; hire a car there or in Lerwick before driving west.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Walls: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

6°C

1°C

22 rd

Feb

6°C

1°C

18 rd

Mar

7°C

2°C

20 rd

Apr

8°C

3°C

17 rd

May

11°C

5°C

14 rd

Jun

13°C

8°C

13 rd

Jul

15°C

10°C

14 rd

Aug

15°C

10°C

15 rd

Sep

13°C

9°C

18 rd

Oct

10°C

6°C

21 rd

Nov

8°C

4°C

21 rd

Dec

6°C

2°C

22 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

You need a car. Stanydale Temple is 8 km east of Walls and West Burrafirth is 32 km north, with no useful bus between them. The A971 is single-track in places with passing places. Bus 9 links Lerwick to Walls about five times Monday–Friday, roughly 50 minutes via Whiteness and Hellister — fine for the village, useless for the sites.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Stanydale Temple

go

Door to door: About 30 min from Walls

Drive the A971 east, then a signed side lane and a muddy path southwest for about a mile

Free, open 24 h. Neolithic walled enclosure, roughly 2000–2500 BC. Boots needed; the path is indistinct.

Culswick Broch

go

Door to door: About 30 min from Walls

B9071 (≈ US$13,000) south, then walk up the track

Free. Iron Age broch with about 4 m of stonework left; the Steep Islands sit offshore.

Papa Stour

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min including the crossing

Drive to West Burrafirth, then the ferry

Foot passengers; leave the car at West Burrafirth. About five hours ashore on a day trip — enough for the rock formations and the Stofa.

Foula

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h each way

BK Marine ferry from Walls pier, half a mile south of the village

Twice weekly, 12 passengers, reservation essential. No same-day return by ferry.

Lerwick

go

Door to door: About 40 min by car, 50 min by bus

A971 to the A970, or bus 9

Do your shopping, fuel and cash here before heading west.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Walls village

The only practical base: one hotel, plus self-catering. Book ahead in summer.

West Burrafirth

20 miles north, at the Papa Stour ferry pier. No village services — only useful if you have an early sailing.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
£45–70 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
Mid
£80–120 (≈ US$110–160) excl. bed
High
£150 (≈ US$200)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel or B&B double room1 × 1 night × £140£140
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £90£180
Papa Stour ferry, return2 × £6£11
Foula ferry, return2 × £30 · check£60
Car hire, one day1 × £60 · check£60
Groceries, one day2 × £15£30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£48
Trip total≈ £265 per person per day, bed included£529≈ US$750

Burrastow House is the main hotel; check availability and rates

2026 estimate in pounds; ferry fares and car hire excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or tea in the village£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
Bakery pastry£2–4 (≈ US$3–6)
Pub-style main mealNearest options are in Lerwick or Bixter; Walls has no pub.£12–20 (≈ US$16–30)
Papa Stour ferry, return£5.60 (≈ US$8)
Foula ferry, returncheck£30 (≈ US$40)
Car hire, one daycheck£50–80 (≈ US$70–110)
Petrol, per litrecheck£1.40–1.60 (≈ US$2–3)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very low crime; the real risks are weather, single-track roads and having no phone signal. Tell someone your route and carry a paper map.
  • No mobile signal from any carrier around Walls, West Burrafirth or Papa Stour (as of Sep 2024): download maps and ferry details before you drive west.
  • The Foula ferry takes foot passengers only, twice a week (Tue and Thu), about 2 hours, and carries 12 — reserve on +44 1595 (≈ US$2,500) 840208 (≈ US$1,200,000). A same-day return is not possible.
  • The Papa Stour ferry runs from West Burrafirth twice on Wed, Fri and Sat (one sailing Sunday), about 45 min; a day trip gives about five hours ashore.
  • Single-track roads with passing places; sheep and slow tourist traffic.
  • The village shop keeps limited hours and there is no public bar — bring your own drink.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance, coastguard
999
Police non-emergency
101
NHS non-urgent
111

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

WallsWaas

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Dis address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance, coastguard999
  • Police non-emergency101
  • NHS non-urgent111

Embassy

No consulates in Shetland; embassies and consulates-general are in Edinburgh and London. US citizens: consulate general in Edinburgh.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Bus 9 Lerwick → Walls: about 50 min, five times Mon–Fri
  • Papa Stour ferry from West Burrafirth: about 45 min, twice on Wed, Fri and Sat
  • Foula ferry from Walls pier: about 2 h, Tue and Thu, foot passengers only, 12 seats

Say or show

  • Hello / Guid day — Hello (hello)
  • Thank you — Thank you (thank you)
  • Where's da ferry pier? — Where is the ferry pier? (wheres da ferry peer)
  • Is da boat sailin da day? — Is the ferry running today? (is da boat sailin da day)
  • Can I pay wi card? — Can I pay by card? (can I pay wi card)

No mobile signal around Walls, West Burrafirth or Papa Stour — save this card offline.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Walls. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Feb (short days, wind, ferry disruption) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Ferry contract for Foula and Papa Stour: sailing days, booking phone line, foot-passenger rules and weather-cancellation fallback.
  2. Walking cluster around Walls, Culswick and Stanydale with parking points and path conditions.
  3. Signal-dead-zone fixture so offline maps and ferry confirmations are pushed before departure.
  4. Self-catering and hotel inventory for Walls and West Burrafirth, with summer sell-out flags.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources