Thanks every one, think I'll bite the bullet and fly.

Even I don't fancy the crossing having watched that clip. Three things in a blokes life his dog,his car and a Cornish pasty,nothing else matters.

2010 Range Rover Vogue SE Santorini Black, Arabica Aniline seats

Previous cars
1973 Mini 1000
1971 Hillman Avenger
1975 Chrysler Sunbeam
1981 Ford Cortina
1985 Volvo 340
1989 VW Golf
1989 Volvo 240
1991 Volvo 240
1991 Jaguar Soveriegn
1996 BMW 730
2003 Honda CRV
1999 Jaguar Soveriegn
2003 Range Rover HSE Epson Green with Sand trim.

Yeah, the plane will be much less frightening than that boat.

oldcro wrote:

SoggyBottoms wrote:

if your pal is registered as an Shetlander he gets a ferry discount. why not see if he can book the ferry tickets for you?

As there is only one ferry company (essential if travelling by car) such a suggestion could result in a heavy fine, as anyone doing so would have to travel under a false name. So could be result in a very expensive fine for both.

A Shetland resident can nominate friends and family members to get a 30% reduction on fares (not cabin costs) from 1st September till 17th December.

SoggyBottoms wrote:

I've been on the Hamnavoe in big seas but feck me this would get me worried

I bet there was no one at the buffet that time. Yikes!

SoggyBottoms wrote:

oldcro wrote:

SoggyBottoms wrote:

if your pal is registered as an Shetlander he gets a ferry discount. why not see if he can book the ferry tickets for you?

As there is only one ferry company (essential if travelling by car) such a suggestion could result in a heavy fine, as anyone doing so would have to travel under a false name. So could be result in a very expensive fine for both.

A Shetland resident can nominate friends and family members to get a 30% reduction on fares (not cabin costs) from 1st September till 17th December.

how is what you said any different to what I said?

flights can be on the scary side too - just over alot quicker - although I remember one trip where I was having to go Aberdeen to Sumburgh as Inv flight was full - we couldnt land in Shetland, circled a while, headed back to Abz, couldnt land here either and ended up landing back in Inverness, some jobs worth then tried to insist that I had to catch the bus back to Abz as it was company policy to return passengers back to their departure point - after a slightly heated debate common sense prevailed........

SoggyBottoms wrote:

oldcro wrote:

SoggyBottoms wrote:

if your pal is registered as an Shetlander he gets a ferry discount. why not see if he can book the ferry tickets for you?

As there is only one ferry company (essential if travelling by car) such a suggestion could result in a heavy fine, as anyone doing so would have to travel under a false name. So could be result in a very expensive fine for both.

A Shetland resident can nominate friends and family members to get a 30% reduction on fares (not cabin costs) from 1st September till 17th December.

how is what you said any different to what I said?

you've been North of 60 for too long chap

Spent what feels like half my childhood on bl00dy Stena & P&O ferries in the Irish Sea and dear god some of those trips were haring, the best ones are where as seasoned ship travellers and spending time with Grandad on cheap holidays on his ships when he was in the merchant navy at a very young age made you a bit sterner, you could watch people running around or to the toilet at full speed or just heaving into barf bags! It did always mean that the food courts were near dead and that the plates were put away and you got your dinner in a bowl with a rubber mat to help it stick on the table and stuffing you face with seconds or thirds

One year we tried the Holyhead route and never ever again! that video a few posts above is near enough exactly what it was like as soon as we passed the harbour wall after the idiot captain sailed across the harbour and waited 9hours to go out after giving everyone 2 meals for free, i swear to this day he was a sadist! so many people were barfing everywhere and i mean everywhere, they ran out of sick bags pretty quick and started handing out keys to cabins for families so that they could get them using the ensuite loo's that some had just to free up the public ones but the floor was yuck! I did wonder if the 9hours was so they could get more tie down chains as every vehicle was properly strapped down to within an inch of its life and we could see on the lorry tyres the stress of the chain digging into them as the vehicles were being forced around during the crossing.

I'd drive up, get the ferry and do it in one shot, its a long crossing so taking a cabin and doing it overnight would be a good way to go and then you can hammer up the road to catch the ferry in one long stint  FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
Mantec Sump Guard, Rigid Load liner, MY10 BT upgrade.