Scalloway Shetland

Scalloway Guide, Shetland Islands

Scalloway

Scalloway is a thriving port on the "mainland" of the Shetland Islands. It was once the island's capital in the seventeenth century.

Now a picturesque town of 1,200 people, Scalloway is overlooked by Scalloway Castle, built by forced labour between 1599 and 1607 on the orders of the harsh Earl Patrick Stewart.

It was carefully positioned to control the safe anchorage and the fertile farmlands to the north. It was occupied for less than a century and is now roofless, although the stark ruins still dominate the skyline.

It remains one of only two castles built in Shetland. The other is Muness Castle on Unst.

Scalloway harbour, Shetlands, Scotland — Scalloway harbour, Shetland Islands, Scotland

Scalloway Castle, Shetland Islands, Scotland

Attractions

Besides the castle, Scalloway's main attraction is Scalloway Museum, a modern building adjacent now to the castle.

The museum commemorates the "Shetland Bus" - a secret mission that ferried Norwegian resistance fighters from Scotland into Nazi-occupied Norway.

There are tributes to the 44 men who sacrificed their lives for their country including photographs, maps and wall panels illustrating this dangerous and clandestine activity.

Other exhibits in the museum are dedicated to the history, culture and crafts of the area.

Scalloway Museum

Fishing for cod and herring, whaling and boat building were long the main industries on the island and these are all represented in the museum.

There are models of ships in the fishing fleet, mannequins representing people engaged in local crafts and examples of their work such as the seaskin rivlins below.

Scalloway Museum, Shetland Islands, Scotland

Access

Closer to the Arctic Circle than London, the islands of Shetland have been a vital staging post for Vikings, Hanseatic traders, merchant sailors and itinerant fishermen from faraway lands. Yet somehow, this same archipelago remains off the map of British consciousness.

Those who with the adventurous spirit to journey this far, however, will discover an archipelago that remains vivid in the memory long after any visit.

The fastest route to Shetland is to fly in to Sumburgh Airport about 30 kilometres to the south of Lerwick (FlyBe has regular flights from a range of Scottish cities), although there is also an overnight ferry to Lerwick from Aberdeen (www.northlinkferries.co.uk).

Scalloway harbour, Shetland Islands, Scotland, UK — Scalloway Harbour, Shetland Islands, Scotland

It's definitely worth renting a car on arrival - more than any other place in Scotland you'll need it to get the most out of your exploration. Both FlyBe and Easyjet fly routes up to Scotland from London airports. The Shetland Islands are 80 km north east of Orkney.