Aith


Aith,, is a village on the Northern coast of the West Shetland Mainland, Scotland at the southern end of Aith Voe, some 21 miles west of Lerwick.
Aith lies on the B9071 that runs south to the junction with the A971 at the village of Bixter and North East via East Burrafirth to the junction with the A970 at the village of Voe. A single track road leads north from Aith along the west shoreline of Aith Voe to Vementry.
Every year in early June the Aith Lifeboat Gala is held to raise money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, featuring a jarl squad and displays by the Shetland Coastguard among other activities.

History

The modern settlement occupies an area originally named Aithsting during the period of Norse occupation. The surrounding parish is still known as Aithsting.

Buildings and structures

John Nicolson was a late 19th/early 20th century writer and political activist. His first book was entitled Sprigs o' Aithstin Heather was published in Lerwick in 1898. He wrote the words for The Galley Song which is sung annually at Up-Helly-Aa.

Notable events

On 20 February 2008 several houses in Aith were evacuated due to a fire in the local garage prompting fears that oxyacetylene canisters stored there might explode. The garage was destroyed and the site later cleared.