Unst, Shetland | Part Three - Crofts and Crafts

In this final video about Britain's most northerly inhabited island, Unst, we look at the past way of life in the crofts, as the women engaged in crafts such as knitting and weaving while the men folk were at sea. We visit Saxa Vord, with its former RAF station and the most northerly church in Britain; then on to Skaw, the most northerly inhabited house and the beach of the Wick of Skaw.
Music from the CD 'The Authentic Sound of Shetland'

[@erlingleask1247]

These videos brought back good childhood memories living in Burrafirth. My late father Magnus Leask was senior principal keeper at Muckle Flugga,we were able to spend time at the lighthouse during water resupply trips by boat during the summer, weather permitting. Like many keepers my father was a Shetland man from Yell and a great many family members live in Shetland. Thank you .

[@johndublyoo2553]

Thank you for this video, brings back so many happy memories of living on Unst during the 70's whilst in the armed forces, home was beside Joey and Bill Sinclair at Anneslea Haroldswick.

[@osantiagues]

Really lovely videos about Unst, thank you.

[@michaelhuxford8227]

Just so enjoying the series, my Grandmothers Dad was from Unst, his surname was Harper. I believe 2 families left Unst and migrated to NZ. The other family were the Sinclairs. Just lovely to see some of my origins

[@lynnthomason6589]

Absolutely beautiful. I love your videos because they have so much history and local information. But especially your voice is so sweet and easy to hear and understand. Thanks so much for sharing your travels and research in such a nice way. Lynn in Naples FL 😎

[@philmorr]

Many thanks Lynn for this. We're glad you like our videos and appreciate your comments.

[@dangunn6961]

Those are superb videos. I'm sure my wife will enjoy them. Her mother was a Muckle and they talked about the lighthouse but I don't know if they were connected to it somehow.

[@robinhope-xg7vw]

Just come back from holidaying in Unst and must say what a beautiful island it is and look forward to our return soon.

[@daphnemorris7164]

Beautiful

[@MistressQueenBee]

Y'all did a great job on this series. Thanks for the story lines.

[@philmorr]

Many thanks for your kind comment

[@gazgrill3700]

Very informative video, that has helped me plan my visit to Unst.

[@johndewey6358]

What a fantastic series about Unst. Very informative. Thank you.

[@annonymous3948]

The Wicker Man 👤

[@piyakear6162]

Wonderful series! Thank you 💚

[@davidavery2629]

Fully agree.

[@gwendolynfish2102]

This has been wonderful. We have had to make the hard decision not to go to Shetland while we are in Scotland. We only have 7 weeks. But this filled a big hole! Thank you! Have thoroughly enjoyed all the history and scenery!

[@ruthmorgan1466]

I enjoyed your video very much, I would love to visit the Shetland Islands but the long ferry journey is a problem.

[@BMZimmermann]

Thanks for sharing! I hope to go to the Shetland Islands later this year and this really gave my travel bug a boost … 😅

[@philmorr]

Thanks for this. Have a good trip to these beautiful islands.

[@awpMusic1]

A really nice set of videos - just a pity there were no credits!

[@davidowen8496]

loved the music and poetry,would love to know where i could find them Greai videos, coming up in May

[@philmorr]

Thanks for this. I'm not sure where you can buy the CD 'The Authentic Sound of Shetland' from which the music in the Unst videos is taken, but I was given my copy at the Tourist Information Centre in Lerwick. The poem 'Relax sit here a peerie while' is inscribed on the bench overlooking Skaw Bay - I don't know who the author is.

[@janetturner7489]

I so enjoyed your Shetland videos. Informative and interesting. I have been to Scotland a lot, love it, but never the Northern Isles. Did you fly up there and hire a car? Maybe I will get there one day. Good choice of music too! Thank you for everything you shared

[@philmorr]

Many thanks for your kind comments - glad you enjoyed our videos. We took our own car on the Aberdeen - Lerwick ferry. We had hoped to go back to Shetland last year, but couldn't because of the Covid lockdown, but plan to this year for Simmer Dim, and to make more videos.

[@mickmchale1]

@@philmorr How Very wonderful , to watch this vidio Phillip, I lived here from Jan 1968--- March 1969. My husband was stationed at Saxa Vord. I shed many tears towards the end of Part 2 when you showed the old church . The house at the back was my home '' The Old Manse'' .This was without a doubt the happiest time of my life. I loved this island so much. All my life I planed to go back! Alas, my dream never materialized & now I feel I am too old,but this happy time in my life never leaves me. The R.A F. lads used to refer to their work place as '' Up the Hill'' . I think there was not a nook or cranny I did not explore. Unfortunately, I had to spend several weeks in Lerwick hospital during my time their ,and a sudden death in the family meant we got compassionate leave, and left prior to our time . What a place to spend ones 21st birthday ?? out sailing around Mocha Flugga,by day & a great birthday party in the mess in the evening. & not a patrol car in site !!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for a wonderful 75th birthday gift (very unlike my 21st!!!!!!!) '

[@mickmchale1]

Just reading some of the comments, Congrats to your very professional wife, I to assumed she was a journalist or a documentary maker. & ofcourse it goes without saying . Congrats to you Philip, You are also are very professional. Good Luck to you both with your passion for travel and documentary making

[@philmorr]

@@mickmchale1 Many thanks Beatrice for your kind comments. We live not far from a former RAF base in south Wales, and some retired personnel live in our village. A couple were based for a while at Saxa Vord and have told us about their life there. It was sad seeing the ruins of the Baltasound Free Church and the old manse; we were so pleased to find in the Shetland Museum at Lerwick the paintings of the church and the minister. Unst is dotted with the ruins of former houses and farmsteads, a sign of the depopulation of the island. Congratulations on your 75th birthday - we are only a couple of years off our 75th birthdays and are already planning to spend a week or two on Unst next year. So don't give up on returning!

[@otterlegjeff819]

Are these your videos? I had assumed you just uploaded something you captured off the television! They are very very good!

[@philmorr]

Many thanks for your kind comment - yes, all my own videos, filmed during a holiday in Shetland in May 2019. Hoped to have returned in 2020, but of course could not because of travel restrictions. Hope to do so this summer.

[@otterlegjeff819]

@@philmorr I don't know why your views are so low. I watch a lot of travel channels, and these are splendid. I used to work in regional government (in the states,) and your work is better than our own staff could do, or the contractors we could afford to hire. I honestly thought these were commissioned by the Shetland council, and that the presenter was some author or artist or other figure that people might know :)

[@philmorr]

@@otterlegjeff819 Thanks again for your encouraging comments and for taking the time to write them. I have always been a keen photographer, but took up video about ten years ago to document our holidays in a different way, and to be able to give talks to local clubs. My wife is very flattered that you should have thought she was someone famous! As we say in Wales, Diolch yn fawr iawn.

[@jerryscott8608]

Unst is far north of my border forefathers, but, Scotland forever.

[@forbesmeek6304]

Braw😊