Land Of Legends

From benevolent wolf-men to storm-tossed sea spirits, Shetland's folklore is a reflection of its history

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SHETLAND is home to a rich and distinctive body of folklore shaped by wild seas and shifting skies. Tales of trolls, spirits and gentle wolf-men have flourished across 6,000 years of human occupation.

The Picts once ruled these treeless lands. Then came the Vikings in the 8th and 9th centuries, sweeping across northern Europe with ruthless efficiency. In 1472, Shetland was pledged as security for the dowry of Norway’s Princess Margaret, who married King James III of Scotland. The islands became Scottish, though Norse roots remained.

For centuries, wool and fishing fuelled thriving trade with Europe, yet isolation encouraged stories of darker forces. Neighbours gathered by firelight to whisper tales of creatures not found in mainland Scottish myth, woven from Norse, Gaelic and Faroese threads.

The Wulver

At first glance, the Wulver sounds like a creature of nightmares: a man with the head of a wolf, wandering the hills alone. Yet legend paints him not as a killer, but a kindly recluse.

A skilled fisherman, he would leave surplus catch on the windowsills of the poor - an unexpected helper from the shadows.