Things you didn't know about... the Shetland Islands

There are more than 100 Shetland Islands

Although only 15 are inhabited. The largest is called the Mainland and contains the Shetlands' capital Lerwick, which was originally built by smugglers.

The Shetland Islands have a catty history

The earliest recorded name for the Shetland Islands was Inse Catt, which means Islands Of The Cat People.

The UK's fastest wind speed was recorded on the Shetlands

On 1 January 1992 the wind in the Shetlands was measured at 194 miles per hour.

The Shetland Islands were a wedding gift

The Shetland Islands were part of Denmark until 1469 when they were given to Scotland as part of the dowry for the King Of Denmark's daughter. Quite a present.

Beware the legendary Njuggle

It's an evil water creature that's said to entice Shetland Islands people into the lochs and burns. It appears in many forms, although its favourite is a gentle-looking horse. When people try to ride it, it plunges into the water to drown its rider. The legend of the Njuggle helped to deter young children from playing near water after dark.

There be monsters off the Shetland Islands (apparently)

On 30 May 1903 the crew of a Shetland fishing boat allegedly witnessed a shocking sight near Burra Isle—a 30-ft monster rising out of the water. Crew and boat were undamaged, but ten nets were destroyed.

Our Up-Helly-Aa festival banishes the January Blues

This Shetland festival is held on the last Tuesday in January. It's the largest fire festival in the world and ends with a long procession through the streets of Lerwick and the burning of a replica Viking galley. Only men can take an active part in the celebrations.

When in the Shetland Islands, try a haggamuggie

This unusual dish is a Shetland Islands speciality that resembles haggis. It consists of the stomach (muggie) of a large fish, stuffed with chopped fish liver and oatmeal. The ends are tied and it's boiled in salted water.

The Shetland Islands have their own breed of dog

The Sheltie is a minature Border Collie. Its exact origins are unknown, though it's thought to be the result of crossing Scandinavian herding dogs with the ancestors of the Border Collie and Rough Collie. The Sheltie became a pedigree in 1909.

Shetland ponies were here before people

The Shetland Islands were once physically connected to Scandinavia up until the end of the last Ice Age, approximately 8000 BC. It's believed that the Shetland pony is related to ancient Scandinavian ponies. The ponies were domesticated back in the Iron Age.

The Shetland Islands are inspirational

Robert Louis Stevenson's father designed the lighthouse on the Shetland Island of Sumburgh, one of 97 his family built around Scotland. The author allegedly got the idea for Treasure Island after staying in the lighthouse.