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Gyms in Shetland

Clickimin in Lerwick and six more leisure centres with pools, from Sandwick to Baltasound. Here's where to train in Shetland and who to train with.

Gyms and venues
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Showing 1–24 of 38 gyms

Places in Shetland

From Lerwick to the North Isles.

Training in Shetland

Seven leisure centres, seven pools and a very long coastline.

Shetland is about 100 islands, 16 of them inhabited, and 22,900 people at the 2022 census. Families are well represented: 16.8% of residents are under 15, against 15.3% across Scotland, and 21.8% are 65 or over (Scotland: 20.1%). The islands lie about 110 miles from mainland Scotland, with 2,702 km of coastline.

Training here is organised around Shetland Recreational Trust, a charity that runs seven leisure centres. Clickimin in Lerwick is the biggest, with a swimming pool, gym, health suite, squash courts, a main hall and a bowls hall. The other six are spread across the islands, in Aith, Brae, Sandwick, Mid Yell, Symbister on Whalsay and Baltasound on Unst, the most northerly leisure centre in Britain, and all of them have a pool. There are only a few independent gyms, and many of the other venues on this page are boating, golf and football clubs.

With centres that far apart, a training partner close to home makes a difference: a lane partner at Clickimin, someone to lift with at Brae, someone to walk Ronas Hill with. Gymist is how you find them.

Where to train in Shetland

Shetland Recreational Trust's leisure centres first, then the independent gyms.

Clickimin, Lerwick (Shetland Recreational Trust)

Mainland leisure centres (Shetland Recreational Trust)

North Isles leisure centres (Shetland Recreational Trust)

Independent gyms and training

Find a training buddy in Shetland

A lane partner at Clickimin, a squash opponent in Lerwick or Symbister, someone to share the gym with in Brae or Aith: find people nearby who train when you do.

Find a buddy

Start a Shetland training group

A hill group for Ronas Hill, an early swim group at Clickimin, a running group on the core paths around Lerwick: set it up in minutes and we'll help people nearby find it.

Start a group

Train outdoors

Free places to train in Shetland.

  • Ronas HillShetland's highest point, at 450 m.
  • The coast2,702 km of coastline around about 100 islands.
  • Core pathsthe council's core paths network, for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and canoeists, with maps and GPX files on its website.
  • A right of responsible accessthe Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 lets you walk, run, cycle, paddle and swim on most land and inland water.

Getting around

Ferries, flights and buses to Shetland's leisure centres.

Ferry

  • NorthLink: Aberdeen to Lerwick in about 12 hours, some sailings calling at Kirkwall
  • inter-island ferries run by Shetland Islands Council

Air

  • Loganair from Sumburgh Airport, 40 km south of Lerwick, to Kirkwall, Aberdeen, Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh
  • inter-island flights from Tingwall to Fair Isle and Foula

Bus

  • free bus travel for everyone in Scotland aged 5 to 21 with a National Entitlement Card

Who trains here

What Scotland's Census 2022 says about the people you'll meet in the pool and at the rack.

  • 22,900People at the 2022 censusSpread across 16 inhabited islands, at 15.6 people per km² against 69.8 across Scotland.Scotland's Census 2022, rounded population estimates
  • 16.8%Aged under 15Above Scotland's 15.3%, so there are plenty of families in the pool.Scotland's Census 2022, rounded population estimates
  • 21.8%Aged 65 and overClose to Scotland's 20.1%, so training partners here come in every age group.Scotland's Census 2022, rounded population estimates

Shetland gym questions

What people ask before they train here.

How many gyms are there in Shetland?

Gymist lists 38 leisure centres, pools, gyms and sports venues across Shetland. Only a few are independent gyms: most training happens at Shetland Recreational Trust's seven leisure centres, and many of the other venues listed are boating, golf and football clubs.

Which leisure centres are in Shetland?

Shetland Recreational Trust, a charity, runs seven: Clickimin in Lerwick, West Mainland in Aith, North Mainland in Brae, South Mainland Pool in Sandwick, Yell in Mid Yell, Whalsay in Symbister and Unst in Baltasound. Classes, gym and pool sessions can be booked up to 14 days ahead.

Where can I swim in Shetland?

Every Shetland Recreational Trust centre has a pool. Clickimin in Lerwick has the main one. The West Mainland, North Mainland and South Mainland pools are 16.7 m long, and Unst has a 12.5 m pool with a lagoon. Aith, Brae and Sandwick also have steam rooms.

Where can I train outdoors for free in Shetland?

Shetland has 2,702 km of coastline and Ronas Hill, its highest point at 450 m. The council's core paths network covers routes for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and canoeists across the islands, and Scotland's right of responsible access covers most land and inland water.

How do I get to Shetland and around the islands?

NorthLink Ferries sail from Aberdeen to Lerwick in about 12 hours, some calling at Kirkwall. Loganair flies from Sumburgh Airport to Kirkwall, Aberdeen, Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Shetland Islands Council runs the inter-island ferries, and bus travel is free for everyone in Scotland aged 5 to 21.

How do I find a gym buddy in Shetland?

Join Gymist free, add your leisure centre and when you train, and browse members across Shetland. If there isn't a group for your kind of training yet, start one.

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