Seven things to do in Scalloway with bairns

Scalloway is the island’s former capital, and the harbour area is still dominated by the roofless ruin of Earl Patrick Stewart’s grand castle.

This is an excellent place to see Shetland Ponies, which are kept in the fields around Berry. Shetland ponies are native to the islands and are thought to have been here since at least the Bronze Age – that’s some 4,000 years!

Today, Scalloway is a lively village, home to about 1,200 people, six miles west of Lerwick.

Scalloway is an unmissable experience when you visit Shetland, and here are some ideas for things to do if you’re visiting with children – many of these can be done all year round.

Visit the Scalloway Museum & the Shetland Bus Memorial

Discover Scalloway’s rich history at the Scalloway Museum (open from May to September) and uncover stories about Pictish brochs, heartbreaking witch trials, fishing, whaling and more. Feed their young minds with stories of some of Scalloway’s inspiring inventors, like Jim o’ Berry, who built his own aeroplane that now hangs in the museum!

Scalloway Museum also tells the brave stories of the Shetland Bus operation, which took place during the Second World War following the Nazi’s invasion of Norway in 1940. The missions involving small wooden fishing boats that plied across the North Sea took place in the wild winter months under the cover of darkness and were a crucial part of the Resistance Movement.

These daring voyages ensured that refugees could escape occupied Norway and that weapons, supplies and agents could be brought in. By 1943, America gave three sub-chasers to the operation, making it much safer for those who crewed these top-secret missions. The Scalloway Museum has excellent displays about the operation; visitors can see many of the buildings and Slipway used as part of the operation.

The Shetland Bus Memorial on the waterfront commemorates the 44 men who were lost to the Nazis and the North Sea. For more information, check out their website.

Make a splash at the Scalloway Swimming Pool

Shetland has excellent sports and leisure facilities managed by the Shetland Recreational Trust, with eight superb public swimming pools open all year round. The Scalloway Pool sits beside the school and opened in 1993. The pool comprises a four-lane, 16.7m main pool, a shallow toddler lagoon, a whirlpool, and a steam room.

For opening hours and a complete list of activities, check their website for details.

Burn off some energy at the Fraser Park

Scalloway’s Fraser Park is home to the local team, Scalloway Football Club, with their distinctive yellow and black ‘bumblebee striped’ strip. The sheltered park in the heart of the village has excellent play equipment, including swings, climbing frames and picnic benches. A cabinet outside the pavilion is full of toys, including footballs and rackets, available for anyone.

If you enjoy play parks, the Sycamore playpark (located up a little lane in Sycamore Avenue) is also worth a visit!

Enjoy the first fire festival of the year!

Scalloway kicks off Shetland’s season of fire with the annual Scalloway Fire Festival, which is usually held on the second Friday of January. Children may not make it all the way through the night as the celebrations go on until the early morning. However the best bit, which involves a fiery procession and a Viking longship being set alight in the sea, runs from a very child friendly 7pm to 8.30pm.

Stroll up Berry and visit the ponies

From Scalloway, walk up Berry Road, passing the Berry Farm where Jim o’ Berry built his aeroplane. Berry is a beautiful walk, particularly in the early evening as the sun sets, and has gorgeous views down the Tingwall Valley and back towards the village.

This is an excellent place to see Shetland Ponies, which are kept in the fields around Berry. Shetland ponies are native to the islands and are thought to have been here since at least the Bronze Age – that’s some 4,000 years! They’re very small, extremely hardy, and kept outside year-round. They are also very friendly and have been known to participate in selfies – but make sure they don’t try to give little fingers a nibble, as their bite can be sore!

Hike to the lighthouse

From Port Arthur, it’s worth walking out the track beyond Maa Ness towards Pund Voe and the lighthouse (HU 38761 38976) that guards the harbour approaches. This is a beautiful walk – around 1.5 miles there are back – with fantastic views across the small isles. From here, you’ll get great views of the Green Holm, Burra, Trondra, Oxna, Papa and Hildasay, to name just a few! There’s a lovely little stone beach at Pund Voe, so why not do a little beachcombing?

Fuel up

After a walk to the lighthouse, bellies are sure to be rumbling. You can either have lunch at Da Haaf Restaurant in the Fisheries College at Port Arthur or head back to Main Street, where you’ll find a lovely family-friendly cafe, The Cornerstone, where you’ll get a warm welcome and leave with a full belly!

Learn all about the villain Earl Patrick Stewart

Although closed for restoration work, Scalloway Castle will surely capture the imaginations of both young and old. Sited beside the Museum, the castle was built by Shetland’s most notorious tyrant, Earl Patrick Stewart. Scalloway Castle was completed around 1600 by Earl Patrick, known as ‘Black Patie’. Despite spending much of his reign in Orkney, he retained residences in Shetland, including Scalloway Castle. This was a time of great suffering, punctuated by oppression and harsh, iron-fisted rule. Many of the stories of Black Patie are veiled with sinister speculations, and it isn’t easy to decipher what’s true and what’s legend. The Castle now stands as a roofless ruin, dominating the skyline as a reminder of the village’s darker past. Earl Patrick was arrested in 1609 for his misdeeds against the people of Shetland and Orkney and eventually beheaded in Edinburgh in 1615.

However you spend your day in Scalloway, ensure you allow enough time to soak in and absorb this beautiful ‘haven under the hill’.

Tag #NorthLinkFerries in your adventures!

By Laurie Goodlad
Born and raised in Shetland, Laurie loves the unique history and culture there so much that she started her own tour company offering visitors the chance to see the isles through the eyes of an islander. Find out more at www.shetlandwithlaurie.com

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