Passengers travelling to and from Unst, Yell and Fetlar this weekend are reminded that major works will take place to replace the linkspan at Gutcher ferry terminal in Yell from Friday evening.
There will be no vehicle services to or from Yell on Bluemull Sound while the works are underway, from 1855hrs on Friday evening (16th) until 0610hrs on Monday morning (19th). During this time, ferry services will operate to and from Cullivoe Pier in Yell, and will be for foot passengers only.
- The 1830 will be the last service to take vehicles out of Unst from Belmont into Gutcher
- The 1855 will be the last service to take vehicles out of Yell from Gutcher into Belmont continuing onto Hamars Ness in Fetlar.
Ferry services on Bluemull Sound will operate to an alternative timetable and on a bookings only basis - the Ferry Booking office number is 01595 745804. The alternative timetable in place for Bluemull Sound ferry services is available on the Council’s website.
The service will operate with MV Bigga for foot passengers only with access provided via gangway from the vessel to the quayside in Cullivoe, and via the ramp at Belmont and Hamars Ness.
While these works take place, anyone with restricted mobility may not be able to safely board and disembark the vessel using the gangway at Cullivoe Pier. Anyone needing to travel during this time is asked to contact Ferry Services on 01595 744200 to discuss this, before traveling.
A full Ro-ro service for vehicles and passengers will operate between Hamars Ness and Belmont over the weekend, running to the alternative timetable.
The normal timetable on Bluemull Sound will resume on Monday 19th June 2023. Ferry services on Yell Sound between Toft and Ulsta ferry terminals are unaffected by these works.
Shetland Islands Council apologise for any inconvenience that these essential works may cause.
Bus services will run to the normal timetables on Saturday 17th June with the following exceptions:
- All journeys on Service 24Y (Yell Service) and Service 24V (North Isles Integrated Service) will operate via the Cullivoe Pier.
- Service 28 (Unst Service) – the 0735 from Baltasound will depart at the earlier time of 0720 and operate 15 minutes earlier than timetabled throughout its journey to maintain the ferry connection at Belmont at 0800.
- Service 28 (Unst Service) - 1600 from Belmont will depart at the later time of 1615 to maintain the ferry connection at Belmont.
- Service 28 (Unst Service) - 1910 Dial-a-Ride will depart at the later time of 1920 to maintain the ferry connection at Belmont, if a booking is made on the service.
- Service 29 (Fetlar Dial-a-Ride) will connect with sailings to/from Hamars Ness at 0730, 1050, 1645 and 1950. These services will only operate if a booking is made by calling ZetTrans on 01595 745745 by 1600 on Friday 16th June.
The following travel connections will therefore be possible:
Southbound services
- Service 29 (Fetlar Service) Dial-a-Ride to Hamars Ness for ferry departure from Hamars Ness at 0730. Then connecting to 0820 Service 24V (North Isles Integrated Service) departure from Cullivoe at the Cullivoe Pier, heading through Yell and the Shetland Mainland to Lerwick.
- Service 28 (Unst Service) - 0720 departure from Baltasound for ferry departure from Belmont at 0800. This will also connect to the 0820 Service 24V (North Isles Integrated Service) departure from the Cullivoe Pier.
Northbound services
- Service 23 (Lerwick to Toft) - 0740 departure from the Viking Bus Station will link with the 0845 Yell Sound ferry departure from Toft. Service 24Y (Yell Service) then departs Ulsta at 0915 and connects with the (foot passenger only) 1000 Bluemull Sound ferry departure from the Cullivoe Pier to Belmont (Service 28 connecting at the ferry) and on to Hamars Ness (Service 29 Dial-a-Ride connecting at the ferry).
- Service 24V (North Isles Integrated Service) - 1355 departure from Tesco will link with the (foot passenger only) 1600 ferry departure from the Cullivoe Pier to Belmont (Service 28 connecting at the ferry) and on to Hamars Ness (Service 29 connecting at the ferry).
- Service 23 (Lerwick to Toft) - 1710 departure from the Viking Bus Station will link with the 1805 Yell Sound ferry departure from Toft. Service 24Y (Yell Service) then departs Ulsta at 1820 and connects with the (foot passenger only) 1905 Bluemull Sound ferry departure from the Cullivoe Pier to Belmont (Service 28 Dial-a-Ride connecting at the ferry) and on to Hamars Ness (Service 29 Dial-a-Ride connecting at the ferry).
RG Jamieson & Son will operate bookable trips between the Cullivoe Pier and Gutcher for any passengers looking to access vehicles parked at Gutcher, as well as bookable trips to/from Belmont to meet the amended ferry timetable on Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday. All journeys must be booked two hours before the ferry departure/arrival by calling 07747 847017.