12 Old Ruins to Explore in Shetland Islands

Bobby’s Bus Shelter in Unst has become a Shetland attractionin recent years, and arguably one of the most visited and photographed attractions on Shetland’s most northerly island. It might be the only bust stop in the world that is visited by bus loads of tourists every day during the summer. The shelter is equipped with a sofa and a television. It is furnished and redecorated periodically.

The Bressay Heritage Centre, situated at the Bressay ferry terminal, is a local exhibition space, which shows Bressay life and history, as well as information about the mysterious Bronze Age mound that has been relocated alongside. Current displays include information and photographs documenting Bressay’s role in WW1, photographs of Bressay’s flora and a lovely ‘ben end’, a 1960’s living room – Bressay style.

Brochs are a kind of Iron Age roundhouse found only in Scotland, and Mousa is the best-preserved of them all. It is the tallest broch still standing and amongst the best-preserved prehistoric buildings in Europe. It is thought to have been constructed c. 100 BC, and is one of more than 500 brochs built in Scotland. The site is managed by Historic Environment Scotland as a scheduled monument.

Clumlie Broch is an Iron Age broch standing on the Mainland of Shetland. The broch is to be found on Dunrossness, on the southern part of the island, about five miles north of Sumburgh Airport. It stands on a low rise on flat arable ground. The broch is at the centre of an abandoned croft, which encroaches upon the ruins.

The Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse settlements in Shetland are one of the most important and inspirational archaeological sites in Scotland. This extraordinary site has a complex of ancient settlements which cover more than 4,000 years of human history. You will be amazed to find such a range of archaeological treasures in one place, including late Neolithic houses, a Bronze Age village, an Iron Age broch and wheelhouses, a Norse longhouse, a medieval farmstead and a 16th century laird’s house.

A beautiful narrow peninsula that stretches to the south from the Scat Ness headland of Mainland, Shetland island. Shetland has a rich and accessible archaeological record, spanning the period from Neolithic settlement to remains from the 20th century’s wars. The Ness of Burgi fort, probably built around 100 BC in the Iron Age, lies on the Ness. The fort is isolated by a rampart and had a ditch on either side.

Old Scatness is an archeological site on the Ness of Burgi, parish of Dunrossness in the south end of Mainland, Shetland, near Sumburgh Airport and consists of medieval, Viking, Pictish, and Iron Age remains. It has been a settlement for thousands of years, each new generation adding buildings, and leveling off old ones. Enter Iron Age houses, learn ancient crafts and games or dress up like a Pict or Viking. Visitor centre, workshops, tours, reconstructions and events throughout the summer.

In the Bronze and Iron Age houses at Jarlshof, visitors can see saddle querns. These hand powered mills were large versions of a pestle and mortar. Later in Shetland, small ‘Norse’ water mills with vertical axis wheels were built next to a running burn. Examples can be seen at Huxter, Burland, Mousa and at the Croft House Museum at Boddam.

The Quendale Watermill is a beautifully restored 19th century overshot watermill complete with visitor centre and hot and cold drinks facilities. It was located in a rural location with historical locations and also scenic views too. Visitors to the mill are invited to watch a short professional video of the mill, with local people operating the machinery.

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.

Stanydale ‘Temple’ is the only truly megalithic structure surviving from prehistoric Shetland. It comprises a wall of large boulders enclosing a wide oval area, which would have originally been enclosed by a great timber roof. There is uncertainty about the original purpose of the building, but its unusual size indicates some communal purpose, or that it was possibly the home of an important person.

The Lodberries were merchant's private wharfs, extending out into the Bressay Sound, and represent some of the oldest buildings in the town. The name is thought to derive from the Old Norse hlaðberg meaning a natural quay. The most notable Lodberrie, at 20 Commercial Street, dates from the later 18th century and has been A-listed since 1971. Previously lodberries were also found along the northern continuation of Commercial Street.