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Scotland Travel Search Engine: Scotland Travel and Tourism Directory

Scotland > The Outer Islands > Shetlands

Shetland, the Crossroads of the Northern Seas, is unlike anywhere else in Scotland. The islands lie 112 miles (180km) from the Scottish mainland and their culture and dialect is strongly Scandinavian.

Scalloway Castle is a fine mansion built in 1600 by Patrick Stewart, Earl of Orkney, who was noted for his cruelty. At the Shetland Museum (in the main town of Lerwick) you can discover the island's seafaring history and even take a harbour trip in the replica Viking longship, the Dim Riv.


Crofting life in the area comes alive at the Shetland Crofting Museum, a traditional dwelling with a corn-drying kiln. A little further south is Jarlshof where excavations show various dwellings from Stone Age earth houses to Bronze Age houses, Iron Age broch and wheel-houses to Viking long louses, a medieval farmstead to a 16th century laird's mansion.


The most northerly castle in Scotland is Muness Castle on the isle of Unst. The finest example of a broch surviving today is on the island of Mousa (south of Lerwick) and Old Scatness Broch is meant to be the world's best-preserved Iron Age village.


Shetland's seabird colonies are spectacular with gannets and puffins dotted like periwinkles on the cliffs and the skuas performing acrobatics (Noss, Hermaness and Sumburgh are excellent viewing sites.)


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