Viking talk

Maritime historian Graham Anthony will be visiting Shetland this week to give a talk about Vikings and their settlements in Unst. According to Mr Anthony, the Vikings found the isle very much to their liking.
His talk, which will have the title Vikings, Warriors on Land and Sea, will take place in Unst on Thursday.
Mr Anthony said: “As the Vikings headed westwards, the sight of the Shetland Islands would reassure them that they were on course. Their pilot book, the Hauksbok, told them to head due west, keep south of the Faroes and Iceland to reach Greenland. They were in fact following latitude 61ºN, which was to become a regular trade route for 300 years as they settled on Greenland and established Christianity. The Vikings soon found the hospitable island of Unst an ideal place, to settle and grow food, to assist ships in trouble, and to provide a base to subdue and plunder the wealthy monasteries and cities to the south.”
The talk is to be held at the Unst Heritage Centre.