Shetland: Scalloway
The sleepy fishing village of Scalloway actually used to be the capital of Shetland until 1708. The ruined Scalloway Castle attests to the old grandeur, it was built in 1600 by Patrick Stewart, the Second Earl of Orkney, a period when Orkney earls ruled Shetland. The castle stands on high ground in the center of Scalloway offering panoramic views of the harbor and beyond. Scalloway was also a major shipbuilding place in the Middle ages, with pre-fab boat parts shipped from Norway and then Norwegian masters assembling them here. The views across the loch are absolutely stunning and it was my first encounter with diminutive Shetland ponies!
