Viking Shetland Islands Scotland

Viking Shetland Islands, Scotland

Norse Heritage | History | Brookpoint Longhouse | Up Helly Aa Festival

The Shetland Islands, off the north coast of Scotland, have a long Viking history and heritage.

Viking raiding party

Norse Heritage

The Shetland Islands were ruled by the Vikings for over 500 years, and many locals claim descent from Scandinavian raiders.

In fact, the Shetland Islands are closer to Norway than the Scottish capital of Edinburgh and did not become part of Scotland until the 15th century.

Viking Longhouse, Shetland Islands, Scotland

History

The Vikings colonised the Shetland Islands in the 8th and 9th centuries with the Norwegian king Harald Fair Hair taking over the Orkney and Shetland Islands in 875.

The local Picts were both absorbed and annihilated by the Scandinavian invaders. Recent archaeological excavations on the islands have unearthed evidence that wholesale slaughter or ethnic cleansing in today’s parlance may be nearer the mark.

The northern islands were also used as a base for raids on the British mainland to the south. The Shetlands Islands did not become Christian until as late as the 10th century. They later became part of Scotland in 1469 when they were mortgaged to Scotland as part of the dowry payment from Christian I of Norway to James III of Scotland when his daughter Margaret married the Scottish monarch.

Viking Longhouse, Shetland Islands, Scotland

Brookpoint Longhouse

The faithfully reconstructed Viking longhouse at Brookpoint is based on excavations carried out on Unst. The timber for the building was shipped from the Scottish mainland and assembled using traditional methods by local artisans.

Skidbladner Viking Ship

The adjacent Skidbladner is a full-size replica of the Gokstad. This was a 24 meter-long, 5 meter-wide ship discovered in a Viking burial mound in Vestfold, Norway in 1880. This too was built using Scottish oak and assembled using traditional methods.

Skidbladner Viking Ship

Both the Skidbladner and the Viking longhouse can be entered and they are also the focus of various Viking-related events in the summer months. Unst is the northernmost part of the British Isles and has around 50 sites of Viking longhouses.

Skidbladner Viking Ship

Up Helly Aa Festival

The annual Up Helly Aa fire festival in Lerwick celebrates the Shetland Islands’ Norse heritage. It then culminates with the ritual burning of a replica Viking ship on the last Tuesday in January. The dramatic event draws visitors from around the world.

Further information on the Viking heritage of the Shetland Islands can be found at www.shetlandamenity.org and www.uphellyaa.org.

Viking Shetland Islands

Accommodation

Hotels and guest houses in the Shetland Islands include the following: the four star Moorfield Hotel in Brae, the three star Lerwick Hotel and the Shetland Hotel, also three stars.

See here for a complete listing of hotels, guest houses and private lets on the Shetland Islands in Scotland.