A visit to Whalsay; the knitwear, Heritage Centre, fishing and community of an island

Every great adventure starts with a boat, surely? It certainly feels like that as you dart north, rushing to make the ferry on time, watching the clock anxiously and praying you don't meet a tractor en route. The Whalsay ferry has an altogether different feel to the North Isles ferries; the journey is longer, and booking is strongly recommended if you want to ensure you arrive – and depart – on the ferry you've chosen. It also has a more 'Shetland' feel, as locals make up the bulk of the people who use the ferry. The island, in many ways, feels removed from the hustle and bustle of the tourist trail that can make much of Mainland Shetland feel like an adventure playground for busy holidaymakers. Accommodation options are limited, and the island is often overlooked in marketing material relating to Shetland. We'd come across from the mainland primarily to visit the new displays at the Whalsay Heritage Centre, tucked away in the old stable and farm buildings behind the impressive Georgian manor house that now houses the island's secondary school. Volunteers Susan and David welcomed us to The Heritage Centre. They invited us for a cup of tea, a yarn, and the opportunity to look through the displays and extensive archive of old photos the centre holds. Whalsay is a tight-knit community of around 1,000 – a number that has remained unchanged over the years as the island enjoys relative prosperity brought in by the nets of the local fishing fleet, comprising eight pelagic boats and a handful of whitefish and other inshore vessels. The Heritage Centre is the community's heritage hub, a veritable treasure trove of trinkets, treasures and all the accumulated stories and artefacts of life from over 5,000 years of habitation on the island. Following a visit to the Heritage Centre, we went on a tour of the isle with Donna Polson, who was kind enough to volunteer as our guide for the day.