Baltasound
Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia
| Shetland Settlements | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Baltasound |
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| UK Grid Reference: | HP620088 |
| Distance from Lerwick by road: | 54 miles plus 2 ferries |
| Community Council: | Unst |
| Google Street View: | |
Baltasound, ( Old Norse : Baltey = Balt's Isle ) is the main village on the island of Unst, in the bay of Balta Sound.
There are a school - Baltasound Junior High School[1], a leisure centre - Unst Leisure Centre, with a heated indoor swimming pool, a church - St John's Kirk, a post office and some shops. The Baltasound Hotel is located near the habour, which is a large and well sheltered harbour, with a marina for smaller boats.
The Valhalla Brewery, Britain's northernmost brewery is also located in Baltasound.
In the period around 1900, this was the main centre for the herring industry in northern Scotland. As many as 10000 people were based here in the season, and 600 fishing boats were operating from about 50 herring stations around Baltasound.
Baltasound was used by the whaling industry from as early as 1799, and seal curing and boat building has also taken place here.
Baltasound is the location of Bobby's Bus Shelter, with its ever changing decorations.
West of A968, as it leaves Baltasound towards Haroldswick, you can see Jessie Saxby's "Shetlanders Cairn" - a memorial to the the Shetlanders who fell in the First World War.
Businesses, Services, and Amenities
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