Skaw, Unst facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Skaw |
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 The beach of Skaw |
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 Skaw
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| OS grid reference | HP657163 |
| • Edinburgh | 348 mi (560 km) |
| • London | 644 mi (1,036 km) |
| Civil parish | |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SHETLAND |
| Postcode district | ZE2 |
| Dialling code | 01806 |
| Police | Northern |
| Fire | Highlands and Islands |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament |
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Skaw is a small settlement located in the Scottish islands of Shetland. You can find it on the island of Unst.
What makes Skaw special? It's the most northerly place where people live in the entire United Kingdom. It sits on a piece of land that sticks out into the sea, called a peninsula, in the northeast part of Unst. Right now, only one person lives in Skaw, and they work as a sheep farmer.
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What's in the Name?
The name "Skaw" comes from an old language called Old Norse. The word "Skagi" in Old Norse meant a cape, a headland, or a piece of land that sticks out into the sea. This name fits Skaw perfectly because it's located on a peninsula!
Skaw's Location and Landscape
A small stream, known as the Burn of Skaw, flows from the hills in the west. It passes through the few small farms, called crofts, that make up Skaw. Then, it flows east into the Wick of Skaw, which is a bay connected to the North Sea.
The Wick of Skaw has a lovely, sheltered sandy beach along its coast. The road that leads to Skaw, called Holsens Road, is also very special. It's the most northerly road in the whole UK road network. It's also the most northern road in the world where cars drive on the left side!
A Look Back in Time
Skaw has some interesting history.
The Last Norn Speaker
A man named Walter Sutherland lived in Skaw around the 1800s. He lived in the most northern cottage in Britain. People say he was the very last person to speak the Norn language as his native language. Norn was an old language spoken in the Shetland and Orkney islands.
World War II and Radar
During World War II, the Royal Air Force (RAF) built a special station at Skaw. This was a Chain Home radar station. Radar uses radio waves to detect aircraft and ships. The station was built in 1941 and helped protect the RAF's flying boat base at Sullom Voe. It closed down in 1947 after the war ended.
Another radar station was built nearby at Saxa Vord during the war. After the war, this became a ROTOR radar station. RAF Saxa Vord continued to be a radar station for many years.
The SaxaVord Spaceport
Today, Skaw is also close to the SaxaVord Spaceport. This is a new place where rockets can be launched into space!
