This beautiful island was the real-life inspiration behind Treasure Island (Picture: Getty Images)
With all the chaos and calamity in the world right now, escaping to an idyllic island might sound like just the tonic.
On the north coast of Scotland, you’ll find Unst – which famously has more sheep than people, just one pub, and is miles from the hustle and bustle of any big cities.
The third largest island in the Shetland Islands after Mainland and Yell, and with an area of just 46 square miles, it could fit into London 13 times over. What’s more, the nearest city, Lerwick, is over two hours by car (55 miles) away.
As the UK’s most northerly inhabited place, Unst is often referred to as the ‘real life’ Treasure Island because the location heavily inspired the book’s author, Robert Louis Stevenson, who famously visited in 1869.
Puffins are known to frequent the area (Picture: Getty Images)
He even signed the visitors’ book at Muckle Flugga Lighthouse, which was designed and constructed by both his father and uncle.
Striped with white and yellow, the same colours appear on the lighthouse in Treasure Island. What’s more, the book describes Treasure Island as having an appearance like ‘a fat dragon standing up,’ which no doubt echoes the island’s shape and rugged landscape.
But the man who wrote the historic tale was keen to preserve the sanctity of the island, as the BBC notes that in 1893, he told the Sydney Morning Herald: ‘I only wish myself that I knew where it was.’
He added that he wanted to be ‘careful to give no indication as to its whereabouts for fear that there might be an undue rush towards it,’ even directing readers towards the ‘West Indies.’
@shetland2023
The view from the house in Baltasound Unst Shetland where I stayed for 12 days. The sky and sea were a constantly changing work of art. #shetland #unst #ocean #northsea #beauty #farm #nature #vacation #peace #scotland
♬ Maggie Robertson’s Reel / Cosgrave’s Sound / Hurlock’s Reel – Maggie Adamson
But Unst isn’t just known as the inspiration behind Treasure Island. Interestingly, it became the first place in the UK to introduce a space port for vertical rockets.
Located on a former Royal Air Force military station that closed in 2006, Frank Strang bought it up and started constructing the spaceport. He ended up spending $61 million (£47,093,337.42) on the project.
The radar station, SaxaVord, was intended to warn the mainland of any incoming aircraft.
Where to stay on Unst
If you’re looking to visit Unst, there are a few options in terms of accommodation. One of the most notable is Belmont House, which is (you guessed it), …read more
Source:: Metro
