Minn Beach - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

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.

A beautiful island which was within Shetland Islands and is northeast of Little Havra Island, northwest of Holm of Maywick and southeast of Kettla Ness. South Havra was once home to eight families, whose houses were built on the edge of the precipice, to enable them to use all the good land. The island had no running water, and had Shetland’s only windmill but alas this was ineffective in grinding corn and the grain was sent to the mill at Weisdale.

Trondra is a small, narrow island that is sparsely populated. Both islands are very green and the scenery is gentler than much of Shetland. It was made up of steeply inclined dalradian rocks; mainly quartz and mica rich schists but with some crystalline limestone in the north which provide fertile soils around Cauldhame and Cutts.

Hoswick is a settlement in Sandwick in the south mainland of Shetland, Scotland, on the eastern part of the Dunrossness civil parish. Hoswick Visitors Centre is a convenient stop for visitors, located halfway between Lerwick and Sumburgh. They have a popular café, a large range of information to help visitors planning their visit to Shetland.

Scalloway Castle was the home of Patrick Stewart, earl of Orkney and Shetland. ‘Black Patie’, as he became known in Shetland, was notorious for his oppression of the Shetland people. The L-shaped tower was the main block although there would have been other domestic buildings and stores in the grounds. It stands three storeys high above a vaulted ground floor containing the kitchen and store.

The Shetland Bus memorial in Scalloway celebrates the bravery of the men who ran the Shetland based boat operation to and from occupied Norway. This is a moving tribute on the waterfront, built with stones from both countries. The Norwegian stones are from the home areas of 44 Norwegians who died running the gauntlet between Norway and Scalloway.