Named by the Vikings as the ‘island of whales’, Whalsay has been known since the 19th century as ‘The Bonnie Isle,’ thanks to its wildflowers, coastal walks and dramatic clifftop scenery. At 393 feet above sea level, the Wart of Clett, the highest point on the island, offers an unbeatable panorama of the east coast of mainland Shetland.
One of the most densely populated of all the Shetland Isles, Whalsay is home to a thriving fishing industry. The harbour at Symbister is filled with vessels of all sizes, from Viking-inspired ‘Shetland model’ pleasure boats to some of Europe’s largest deep-sea trawlers. In the far north of the island, Skaw is home to an 18-hole golf course – the most northerly in the UK.
A community focused on the sea and fishing
Part of the Shetland parish of Nesting, the island of Whalsay has been inhabited for at least 4,000 years and traces of prehistoric field boundaries can still be seen today. The remnants of Neolithic structures have been found at Benie Hoose and Yoxie as well as the burial site of Pettigarths Field Cairns, all located in northeastern Whalsay. It is unknown whether the structures at Benie Hoose and Yoxie were dwellings or perhaps some of the earliest temples found anywhere in the British Isles.
Whalsay was a trading port of the Hanseatic League between the 15th and 17th centuries, trading fish for the seeds, cloth, iron tools, spirits and luxury goods brought back from long summer sailings to Hamburg, Bremen and Lübeck. In the Pier House Museum in Symbister, the trader’s stories are told in a restored Hanseatic Trading Boot. Permanent displays on the island’s fishing legacy and historical lairds, as well as temporary exhibitions, are housed in the Whalsay Heritage and Community Centre close to the harbour.
Angling is a popular activity on this fishing-focused island, at sea, from the shore and on inland lochs, with permits available locally. At five miles long and two miles wide, Whalsay is the ideal setting for appealing clifftop walks and striking coastal scenery.
