The Shetland Islands
The Shetland Islands Norse heritage is celebrated every year, on the last Tuesday in January, with the Up-Helly-Aa festival. The climax of this is a torch-lit procession and the burning of a reproduction Viking Longship.
More pre-historic sites have been found in Shetland than in any other part of Britain of similar size. Jarlshof is famous for the remains of three settlements dating from different periods in history - the bronze age, the iron age and the Viking period.
Of the 100 islands which make up Shetland, less than 20 are inhabited. The islands were owned by Norway up until the 15th century, when they were given as part of the dowry of Margaret of Norway, for her marriage to James III of Scotland.
The islands can be reached by air or ferry from Aberdeen or Orkney.The islands now serve as supply base for many of the North Sea oil platforms to the east, and much of the oil comes ashore to the terminal at Sullom Voe. Unfortunately, thousands of tons of oil also came ashore two years ago when the 'Braer' tanker ran aground and broke up on the rocks of Quendale bay at the extreme south of the islands, after suffering engine failure in a storm. Happily, the oil dispersed with much less damaging effects than first feared, and although some local fish farmers and other inhabitants are still fighting for compensation, no signs of the disaster would now be noticed by the visitor. Economy accommodation is available at Shetland Camping Böds.
For more detailed information about Shetland, see Shetland Islands Tourism web site or the Shetland News web site.
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