# The 5 most difficult locations to deliver parcels to this Christmas Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2021-12-03 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Top 5 Hardest UK Locations for Christmas Parcel Delivery Meta Description: Find out which remote locations, including the Orkney Islands and Isles of Scilly, require advanced planning and extra costs for parcels to reach loved ones URL: https://financedigest.com/the-5-most-difficult-locations-to-deliver-parcels-to-this-christmashtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/outer-hebrides-1736836716448-compressed.jpg) Recent research by [Quote Goat](https://www.quotegoat.com/), an insurance, finance, and energy comparison site for consumers and businesses, has revealed the [24 most difficult locations](https://www.quotegoat.com/business-insurance/courier-insurance/hard-to-reach-locations/) to deliver parcels to just in time for Christmas. The list not only highlights the ‘hard to reach’ postcodes under each region, but also details the time and cost sanctions that apply – which range from an additional £21.50 in courier fees plus 5 extra working days in [delivery](https://www.financedigest.com/delivery-hero-terminates-talks-on-potential-sale-of-foodpanda-business-in-southeast-asia.html) time through to zero added time and costs. The following five locations not only topped the charts, but also require individuals to plan further in advance and fork out additional fees should they want presents to reach their remote loved ones on time this Christmas… With the added help of a drone or two! **The Orkney Islands** Admittedly, it’s not the most surprising reveal in the [world to find that Orkney ranks at number](https://www.financedigest.com/tennis-williams-retirement-on-hold-after-win-over-world-number-two.html "Tennis-Williams retirement on hold after win over world number two") eight on the list of difficult-to-reach locations: a collection of islands off the northern coast of Scotland is, after all, about as remote as it gets. In fact, delivery difficulties in Orkney have led the [Royal Mail](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-royal-mail-workers-to-strike-in-run-up-to-christmas.html "UK’s Royal Mail workers to strike in run-up to Christmas") to take drastic new steps – including, in October, the trial of a drone-based postal service, allowing flying robots to deliver up to 100kg of post to some of the island’s reclusive residents. **Isles of Scilly** The remote Orkney Islands might be lonely places, but they’re in good company on this list! The Isles of Scilly rank at number one on the list of most difficult-to-reach delivery locations – and, like Orkney, the Royal Mail has been resorting to drones to carry vital supplies like [COVID tests](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-not-planning-covid-testing-for-travellers-from-china.html "UK not planning COVID testing for travellers from China") and PPE to residents. For those who need to use couriers, however, [time and expense will quickly mount up with all delivery services](https://www.financedigest.com/how-can-financial-services-companies-compete-more-effectively-in-times-of-uncertainty.html "How can Financial Services Companies compete more effectively in times of uncertainty?") charging additional fees. **Outer Hebrides** It’s not all surprises, of course, and the Outer Hebrides rockets us [back up the list](https://www.financedigest.com/crh-shareholders-back-primary-listing-switch-to-new-york-from-london.html "CRH shareholders back primary listing switch to New York from London") to number two. In fact, Scottish islands like this have been historically associated with the ‘Postcode Penalty,’ whereby around a million Scots face additional fees for deliveries – with island communities in particular [facing a 500 per cent mark up compared to standard delivery prices](https://www.financedigest.com/bristol-myers-pfizer-abbvie-drugs-likely-to-face-u-s-price-negotiation.html "Bristol Myers, Pfizer, AbbVie drugs likely to face U.S. price negotiation"), according to Citizens Advice Scotland. **Shetland Isles** When you [consider the fact the Shetland Isles are actually closer to Norway than they are the Scottish Capital](https://www.financedigest.com/investors-often-ignore-capital-gains-tax-but-should-consider-selling-now-to-avoid-a-higher-future-tax.html "Investors often ignore capital gains tax, but should consider selling now to avoid a higher future tax") of Edinburgh, it probably comes as no surprise that they were ranked as ‘6th’ most difficult location for delivery this Christmas. What’s more interesting is that a recent report by the [Royal Mail revealed](https://www.financedigest.com/spains-king-felipe-reveals-2-6-million-euros-in-wealth-in-bid-to-make-royal-house-more-transparent.html "Spain’s King Felipe reveals 2.6 million euros in wealth in bid to make Royal House more transparent") that individuals living in Shetland’s main town of Lerwick received more mail and parcel deliveries than anywhere else in the country on an annual basis – even beating [locations](https://www.financedigest.com/hermes-extends-parcelshop-network-with-doddle-locations.html) like Central London. **Highlands** So, what do these prices and timescales look like? Let’s take number four on our list (the highlands) as an example. If you wanted to send a parcel to – for the sake of argument – Invergarry via courier, you could face delivery [charges of £21.50 and between three and five working days](https://www.financedigest.com/man-charged-under-britains-treason-act-over-christmas-day-incident-at-queens-home.html "Man charged under Britain’s Treason Act over Christmas Day incident at queen’s home") of additional delivery time. So, if you’re the kind of person who likes to save your [shopping for Christmas](https://www.financedigest.com/scam-special-how-to-avoid-christmas-shopping-fraud-this-year.html "Scam Special: How to Avoid Christmas Shopping Fraud this Year") Eve, maybe spare a thought for your remote or island-bound relatives – who may otherwise find a surprise package dropped off by drones sometime in the New Year! **Brought to you by Quote Goat** --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---