The village had a population of roughly 900, at the 2011 census. This was a covert boat operation between shetland and norway during world war two. I think the problem is the author is telling parts of the story from his own perspective and parts from others, and he isnt enough of a journalist or writer to give full voice to the tales of the others. Now it is used for servicing fishing boats and salmon farm vessels. They stayed in scalloway after the war and had three daughters. This is a great account by someone who was part of it. Members of the special forces club tour sites associated with the shetland bus a top secret wwii operation carried out between shetland and norway.
Next door to the castle is scalloway museum, which details the history of the shetland bus. Skalavagr, bay with the large houses is the largest settlement on the north atlantic coast of mainland, the largest island of the shetland islands, scotland. Book a hotel near shetland bus memorial, scalloway travelocity. Surrounded by bare, rolling hills, scalloway scallowah shetlands former capital is a busy fishing and yachting harbour with a thriving seafoodprocessing industry. We are open every day until sunday for shetland wool week. Discover shetland is owned and managed by local shetland resident david malcolm. Fascinating story about a rescue in wwii between norway and shetland. Acknowledgements are gratefully given to shetland museum, scalloway museum and the local history group, the imperial war museum, the norwegian resistance museum, and the north sea traffic museum nordsjofart museet, the scottish media group, the partner schools comenius project, shetland times ltd, shetland litho, and shetland life. The shetland bus the shetland bus was a world war ii resistance movement taking wireless operators, armaments and combatants into nazi occupied norway and returning with refugees and members of the resistance.
The shetland bus was a wartime resistance movement taking wireless operators, armaments and combatants into nazi occupied norway and returning with refugees and resistance operatives during world war ii. David can take small groups 24 persons, and is ideally placed to give you a. This video provides an introduction to the shetland bus story, the experiences of those involved with this ww2 operation and how this operation is remembered in shetland and norway today. This is his tribute to the bravery of the norwegian sailors who manned the boats for the dangerous crossing. A lot of interesting detail of the workings of the organization, their problems, deaths, and later solutions. They started with using fishing boats, and later admiral nimitz heard of their. Scalloway is also notable for its contribution to the second world war and the shetland bus, more information can be found about the shetland bus at the scalloway museum, which is just a short walk less than five. Scalloways first museum was opened in 1985 by the scalloway history group and it ran successfully for 20 years. Wartime link marked by return of shetland bus vessel. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Small museum covering the history of scalloway, including the shetland bus, a clandestine operation during world war ii to land agents and arms in nazioccupied norway and to smuggle people out.
Shetland travel information provided by zettrans and promote shetland. Scalloway, or skalavagr literally bay with the large houses as it was known in old norse, is the largest settlement on the atlantic coast of the mainland island of shetland. One of its main themes was the shetland bus the nickname given to a clandestine and dangerous operation carried out across the north sea between. Explore scalloway holidays and discover the best time and places to visit. Among the open events, there were open days on both the historic vessels. Discover shetland aims to offer you a personal, informal and intimate experience of our beautiful islands. Shetland bus memorial scalloway 2020 all you need to know. The scalloway museum tells the story of scalloway and its people from the earliest settlers right up.
Scalloway castle public body for scotlands historic. Two golf courses are within five miles and there are many lochs for trout fishing nearby. The museum is housed in a former knitwear factory which has been completely refurbished to provide a modern museum facility. So in 1942, as the project grew, the shetland bus was moved to shetlands old capital, scalloway, where there was a bigger harbor. Discover the ancient history, the wildlife, geology and simply stunning landscapes and live an amazing scottish experience, that will be the beginning o.
I was hoping to get the same thrills from the shetland bus, but came away mildly disappointed. The shetland bus is the amazing truelife account of storms, attacks, danger, and the heroic efforts of brave men. The author was an officer who helped organize and operate the shetland bus, which was the british supply organization for the norwegian underground. This view changes in all the varied conditions of light and weather that shetland offers daily, and concurrently varies with large, traditional or historic vessels that use the port daily. As well as being a fishing port scalloway is now a base for the supply boats for the oil industry on the west side of shetland. Scalloway lies on the north side of its sheltered harbour, and at the foot of the valley leading north to tingwall, the traditional home since norse times of the parliament for orkney and shetland.
This is not so much a route in itself, but a linking section of shetlands cycle network that is likely to be added to one of the northsouth routes, particularly if you are taking a meandering route through the islands. This 9 night trip aboard our traditional wooden sail boat will take you from scalloway in shetland to bergen in norway, with stops in between. Buy the shetland bus new edition by howarth, david j. His first trip was with leif larsen on board the arthur. The museum is divided into five sections covering an introduction to the area. Book your stay shetland bus memorial hotels with us at travelocity and enjoy the trip of a lifetime. Shetland bus inspired voyage shetland to norway the. The scalloway museum is located next to scalloway castle, very close to the harbour. Scalloway holiday lets holiday rental, vacation rental.
Scalloway museum is one of twelve essential historical places to visit in shetland. The video was produced and is used by courtesy of 60n productions. Scalloway at war, the main feature of which is a shetland bus. Lunna lunna house was the original hq of the shetland. Shetlands bus services are specified and financed by zettrans and are operated by a number of different bus companies buses provide a lifeline service to shetlands many rural communities and essential access to work, healthcare, retail and leisure. Scalloway lies some six miles west of lerwick and is the largest settlement on shetland s atlantic coast. The andholmen, a fully restored shetland bus boat revisiting scalloway in 2007. Scalloway castle, built by earl patrick stewart, dominates the skyline. The shetland bus is a standout example of a world war ii memoir penned shortly after the events by one of the participants. Scalloway is charming, and off the beaten path from the busy. There is a regular bus between scalloway and lerwick. Shetland bus memorial scalloway 2020 all you need to. Scalloway to lerwick 2 ways to travel via line 4 bus. It was originally based in lunna but later moved to scalloway.
The first base, at a village called lunna ness, was a good place to begin. Until 1708 it was the capital of the shetland islands now lerwick, on the east coast of the shetland mainland. This memorial was finally unveiled in 2003 by barbara melkevik of scalloway and norway, one of several shetland women who married norwegians during the war. Most parts of shetland are accessible by bus from lerwick. You must experience the culture and see the sights. The facility will be officially opened by jens stoltenberg, prime minister of norway on 17th may 2012.
Free wifi is available throughout, and guests can be in the midst of shetlands stunning wilderness in 10 minutes on foot. The shetland bus book by david howarth thriftbooks. There are 3 ways to get from shetland islands to scalloway by bus, taxi or car. Shetland bus inspired voyage shetland to norway the swan. On 6 december 1944, he married the scalloway girl christine cissie slater. One of its main themes was the shetland bus the nickname given to a clandestine and dangerous operation carried out across the north sea between shetland and occupied norway during world war 2.
Welcome to what is thought to be the only website specifically commemorating what became known as the shetland bus, a shetland based boat operation to and from norway, that took place during the second world war 1939 1945 this website is dedicated to all those who gave of their lives in the extremely hazardous boat trips between shetland and norway, to assist the norwegian resistance. The scalloway museum features a permanent shetland bus exhibition and more recently, in 2001, the scalloway community council decided that a permanent memorial was long overdue. The shetland bus was a rescue operation during wwii between shetland and norway. By then, the shetland bus was suffering increasing losses. Finally, you can stay near the sites youve only read about in books. A north sea voyage, inspired by the shetland bus, a boat operation between shetland and norway during wwii which assisted the norwegian resistance. The other no stranger to scalloway was the restored subchaser hitra, which was one of three such ships the others being the hessa and the vigra that took over the operation from 1943, a year that was pivotal in the service. The affairs, business and property of the company are being managed by the joint administrators. The shetland bus friendship society, the group based in scalloway that owns and operates the scalloway museum, hosted the norwegians throughout their visit. When visiting the scalloway area, expedia can provide you with extensive shetland bus memorial information, as well as great savings on nearby hotels and flights. But to take the shetland bus meant escape when capture became the only other option. The story of that trip, in one of the worst storms for 70 years, is told by david howarth in his book the shetland bus. Kare stayed with larsen for the remainder of 1941 until the end of spring 1942.
Bus timetables provided by zettrans and promote shetland. Friendly staff, and great exhibits, particularly on the shetland bus. Scalloway information website for scalloway, shetland. David can take small groups 24 persons, and is ideally placed to give you a personal, informal and intimate experience of the islands. The shetland bus memorial is definitely worth seeing on your trip to shetland, as is the scalloway museum. Once the ancient capital of shetland, the village is today a modern progressive community centred around the sheltered busy commercial harbour that plays host to traditional fishing vessels, modern aquaculture services and some of the most modern shipping in the oil industry working. Scalloway in ancient times including information relating to picts, vikings, scalloway castle and the witch trials. The book presents, rather drily at times, the stories of the men and ships who built the shetland bus operation from the time that they requisitioned and provisioned the ships and fishermensailors to the time when the wooden fishing ships were replaced with faster, more reliable submarine chasers. Scalloway is also notable for its contribution to the second world war and the shetland bus, more information can be found about the shetland bus at the scalloway museum, which is just a short walk less than five minutes from the cornerstone. Scalloway s first museum was opened in 1985 by the scalloway history group and it ran successfully for 20 years. The shetland bus continued until the end of the war in 1945, during which time 210 missions were carried out and over 400 tons of weaponry, explosives and other supplies, delivered, the shetland bus played a vital part in tying down almost 300,000 german troops in norway. He was accused of using forced labour in scalloways construction in 1599, and was eventually executed in edinburgh in 1615. After visiting scalloway in shetland this summer, i was keen to understand more about the brave norwegian fishermen who kept the shetland bus going during world war two.
Shetland islands to scalloway 2 ways to travel via bus. Mar 23, 2018 members of the special forces club tour sites associated with the shetland bus a top secret wwii operation carried out between shetland and norway. Looking for exceptional deals on shetland bus memorial, scalloway vacation packages. Skalavagr, bay with the large house s is the largest settlement on the north atlantic coast of mainland, the largest island of the shetland islands, scotland. The kids are out of school, you and the spouse have two weeks off, and its about time to get the heck out of dodge. There are 3 ways to get from scalloway to lerwick by bus, taxi or car. The shetland bus scalloway castle get in touch support us the story of the shetland bus. Located on scalloways waterfront with views of the harbour from the hotels 2 aa rosetteawarded restaurant, scalloway hotel provides modern en suite accommodation in the shetland mainland. Before the capital was moved to lerwick in 1708, scalloway was the capital of shetland islands. Dec 31, 2019 the shetland bus memorial is definitely worth seeing on your trip to shetland, as is the scalloway museum. Discover shetland scalloway 2020 all you need to know. Scalloway castle was the home of patrick stewart, earl of orkney and shetland. After leaving tingwall you will then visit scalloway, which was the former capital of shetland. Shetland has as rich an archaeological, historical and cultural heritage as you will find anywhere.
Scalloway also has a swimming pool, a football pitch, tennis court, childrens playgrounds, a museum, a castle built in the 1600s and numerous locations associated with the shetland bus operations from world war two. Scalloway is a village of approximately 1200 residents on the west central mainland of shetland. Select an option below to see stepbystep directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in rome2rios travel planner. Scalloway museum 2020 all you need to know before you go. Until 1708 it was the capital of the shetland islands now lerwick, on the east coast of the. Built in world war ii to service mtbs that went between shetland and norway, this slip was one of the links in the shetland bus. Scalloway hotels near shetland bus memorial hotels near shetland bus memorial, current page. The shetland islands are a naturalists dream and a photographers paradise. Fodors may use your email address to send you relevant information on site updates, account changes, and offers.
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