Scalloway is another castle created by the infamous Earl, Patrick Stewart. Free to enter it is in the usual gorgeous Shetland setting.
Visiting Scalloway Castle
Other than a small car park there are no facilities at the castle.
My Experience
We parked just outside the castle and had a wander around the outside. The castle is set on a small isthmus in the bay, now surrounded by industrial buildings which spoils the mood a bit. Scalloway is the old capital of the islands, hence the castle being there, and is an easy visit from Lerwick – there are great views of the castle as you come down the hill.
We didn’t realise, but this but you can actually go inside, info from the Historic Scotland site:
“Scalloway Castle is free to visit.
The key for the castle is available from the Scalloway Museum during its opening hours.
Telephone 01856 841 815 for details.”
Scalloway Castle Photo Gallery
History
The castle was built by Patrick Stewart, Earl of Orkney and Lord of Shetland, in 1600. He was known as ‘Black Patie’ and was unpopular with both the Orcadians and the folk of Shetland, forcing local people to work on the castle and taxing them to pay for materials. Earl Patrick and his son Robert were both executed for treason in 1615. The property went to the Sinclairs, and John Sinclair of Scalloway had a ratification in his favour in 1641. A form of the guillotine was in use to execute wrongdoers in Scalloway in the 1640s.
The castle was occupied by Cromwell’s forces in the 1650s, and was abandoned by the end of the 17th century. In 1908 the castle was given over to the State, the vaults were repaired or rebuilt, and is in the care of HES.
Materials from Scalloway were used in the building of Haa of Sand [HU 344471] in the middle of the 18th century, including two doorways.
References
The Historic Scotland site is here.
The history above is copied from the Castles of Scotland site here.
Undiscovered Scotland has a great feature on the castle here.