Shetland is the most remote part of the UK, and the unique Shetland dialect, the islands' norse history, and cultural mix of Scottish and Scandinavian influence make it stand out against other parts of Scotland or the UK. In this video, we examine Shetland history, the Shetland language & dialect, and Shetland culture.

The Shetland dialect is so different from other UK dialects that some view it as a Shetland language, called Shetlandic, Broad Shetland, or Auld Shetland. It’s heavily influenced by an old norse language called Norn, and previous Scandinavian rulers left an indelible mark on Shetland's identity. The traditional Up Helly Aa festival, in which a viking longboat is burned, Shetland’s flag, which follows the nordic cross design with the blue and white of the Scottish flag, and the old Norse signs dotted around Shetland are clear reminders of the island’s Norse heritage. Norn was spoken in Shetland until the late 1800s, and today, the Shetland dialect is a mix of Scots and Norn.

Shetland’s fortunes have always been close the sea, through, traditionally through fishing and whaling, and more recently through North Sea Oil. That, combined with the infamously stormy weather and long, dark winters, means you have to be hardy to live in Shetland. We spoke to local Shetlanders in Lerwick and Vidlin to learn Shetland’s culure.

From sweeping coastlines to windswept cliffs, Shetland is stunning, and is the closest you can get to wilderness in the UK. Seals, whales, and sea otters swim in its often stormy waters, and the nature here made the freezing weather worthwhile.

00:0001:38 Welcome to Shetland
01:3903:27 Arriving in Shetland for the Storm of the Decade
03:2805:08 How Shetland Became part of Scotland
05:0905:54 Shetland's Scandinavian Heritage
05:5506:42 Norn: Shetland's Old Norse Language
06:4307:29 The Shetland Dialect
07:3007:58 Knapping: Shetlanders Changing how they Speak
07:5908:59 Norn, Scots, Gaelic, & the Decline of Shetland Dialect
09:0009:55 How the Sea has Shaped Shetland Culture
09:5610:22 Soothmoothers & Shetland's Attitude to Outsiders
10:2311:30 Shetland's Box on the Map
11:3112:57 Do Shetlanders Feel Scottish, British, or Shetland?
12:5813:50 Hardiness in Shetland Some People Can't Handle the Weather
13:5116:10 Shetland's Scandinavian Influence & Community Spirit