Haroldswick


Shetland

Unst Boat Haven Museum, Haroldswick
©2022 Gazetteer for Scotland

Unst Boat Haven Museum, Haroldswick

A settlement on the island of Unst in the Shetland Islands, Haroldswick lies 2 miles (3 km) north of Baltasound at the head of Harold's Wick, a southeast-facing bay that opens out into the North Sea. Described as the heart of Viking Unst and named after King Harald of Norway (also known as 'Harald Fairhair'), who landed here in 875 to annexe the Shetland islands, it is now Scotland's most northerly village. An early-warning RADAR station, RAF Saxa Vord, was established to the north in 1957 but was moth-balled in 2006. Haroldswick Primary School closed in 1997 but the building is now home to Unst Heritage Centre. This, together with Unst Boat Haven - a nearby fishing boat museum - and the replica Viking ship and longhouse at Brookpoint, have been created by the community.


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