SCALLOWAY

Imagine making your way from Shetland to Norway in a little boat being tossed around on heavy seas in the dead of night with no lights. Now add to the mix the risk of being discovered and shot at, and you will have an idea of the level of bravery of those who took part in the "Shetland Bus", a boat operation that took part during World War II with the aim of assisting the Norwegian Resistance movement. The Scalloway Museum includes a display telling the story of the Shetland Bus among its fascinating exhibits.  As a nod to the area's fishing industry, Scalloway is the base for the North Atlantic Fisheries College.

Scalloway used to be the capital of the Shetlands until Lerwick muscled in on the act in 1708. The most prominent reminder of the settlement's past is Scalloway Castle, built in 1600 by Patrick Stewart, 2nd Earl of Orkney. What is left of it is located near the quay, on a piece of land sticking out into the East Voe of Scalloway, so that the castle is surrounded by water on three sides. Back in its heyday Scalloway had close trading links with the Hanseatic merchants from Bremen and Hamburg, who knew it as Schaldewage. Just across the water from the port are the Scalloway Islands.

Webcam view of Port Arthur, Scalloway.  

Map of the area.

Scalloway Waterfront - geograph.org.uk - 101432. Photo by Colin Park, via Wikimedia Commons.