Scalloway Castle & Museum
Scalloway Castle
A 17th-century tower castle in Shetland's former capital, with a museum beside it telling the legendary story of the wartime Shetland Bus.
Scalloway was Shetland's former capital. The castle by the harbour was built in 1600 by the 'tyrant' Earl Patrick Stewart, who forced local people to labour on its construction. Its four-storey tower shell is well preserved, and it can be entered free of charge (keys can be borrowed from nearby hotels or the museum). Next door, Scalloway Museum focuses on the Shetland Bus operation of World War II, in which the Norwegian resistance used the town as a base and fishing boats crossed the North Sea to and from Norway. Museum admission is about £5. Scalloway is about 10 kilometers from Lerwick.
Opening hours
Castle about 09:30–17:00; museum about Apr–Sep
Nearby sights
- Broch of Clickimin
- Weisdale Mill & Bonhoga Gallery
- Shetland Museum and Archives
- Up Helly Aa
- Fort Charlotte
- Lerwick Old Town & Commercial Street
- Broch of Mousa
- St Ninian's Isle