# Aith

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Human settlement in Scotland

Aith Aith Marina, shop & lifeboat Aith Location within Shetland OS grid reference HU344557 Civil parish Sandsting Council area Shetland Lieutenancy area Shetland Country Scotland Sovereign state United Kingdom Post town SHETLAND Postcode district ZE2 Dialling code 01595 Police Scotland Fire Scottish Ambulance Scottish UK Parliament Orkney and Shetland Scottish Parliament Shetland List of places UK Scotland 60°17′02″N 1°22′44″W / 60.284°N 1.379°W / 60.284; -1.379

**Aith** ([Shetland dialect](/source/Shetland_dialect): Eid (Shaetlan pronunciation: [\[eːd\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA) [*AYD*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Pronunciation_respelling_key)), [Old Norse](/source/Old_Norse): *Eið*, meaning Isthmus, cf [Eday](/source/Eday)), is a village on the Northern coast of the West [Shetland Mainland](/source/Shetland_Mainland), Scotland at the southern end of Aith Voe, some 21 miles (34 kilometres) west of [Lerwick](/source/Lerwick).[1][2]

Aith lies on the B9071 that runs south to the junction with the A971 (which links Lerwick to the west of Shetland) at the village of [Bixter](/source/Bixter) and North East via [East Burrafirth](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=East_Burrafirth&action=edit&redlink=1) to the junction with the [A970](/source/A970_road) (which links Lerwick to the North) at the village of [Voe](/source/Voe%2C_Delting). A single track road leads north from Aith along the west shoreline of Aith Voe to [Vementry](/source/Vementry).[3]

Every year in early June the Aith Lifeboat Gala is held to raise money for the [Royal National Lifeboat Institution](/source/Royal_National_Lifeboat_Institution), featuring a jarl squad and displays by the Shetland Coastguard among other activities.[4][5]

## History

Aith village

The modern settlement occupies an area originally named Aithsting during the period of [Norse](/source/Norsemen) occupation. The surrounding [parish](/source/Parish) is still known as Aithsting.[6][7]

## Buildings and structures

- [Aith Lifeboat Station](/source/Aith_Lifeboat_Station) is the most northerly in Britain, established in 1933.[8]

- [Aith Junior High School](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aith_Junior_High_School&action=edit&redlink=1) is situated in the centre of the village. The school has [nursery](/source/Nursery_school), [primary](/source/Primary_school), and [secondary](/source/Secondary_school) departments with a combined roll of around 190–200. The secondary roll includes pupils from [Sandness](/source/Sandness), [Skeld](/source/Skeld), [Happyhansel](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Happyhansel&action=edit&redlink=1) and Aith primary schools. The original school building, which opened in 1922 and became a [Junior High](/source/Junior_High) in 1970, was located on the east of the main settlement, below the junction of the B9071 and Whitelaw Road. The school relocated to a new building in the more central location in 1982[3][9][10] [60°17′02″N 1°22′39″W / 60.28389°N 1.37750°W / 60.28389; -1.37750](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Aith&params=60_17_02_N_1_22_39_W_type:landmark_region:GB)

- [West Mainland Leisure Centre](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=West_Mainland_Leisure_Centre&action=edit&redlink=1), opened on 7 September 2002 and is operated by [Shetland Recreational Trust](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shetland_Recreational_Trust&action=edit&redlink=1). Facilities include a main hall, squash court, swimming pool with paddling pool, fitness suite and health suite.[11]

- Aith Marina

- Aith Community Hall, incorporating the Rankin Lounge.

## Notable events

On 20 February 2008 several houses in Aith were evacuated due to a fire in the local garage prompting fears that [oxyacetylene](/source/Oxyacetylene) canisters stored there might explode. The garage was destroyed and the site later cleared.[12]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Groome, Francis Hindes, ed. (1901) [1901]. ["Ordnance gazetteer of Scotland : a graphic and accurate description of every place in Scotland"](http://digital.nls.uk/97393798). *National Library of Scotland*. Edinburgh: [National Library of Scotland](/source/National_Library_of_Scotland). pp. 38–39. Retrieved 23 January 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Ordnance Survey. ["View: Sheet 2, Shetland Islands (North Mainland) - Ordnance Survey One-inch to the mile maps of Great Britain, Seventh Series, 1952-1961"](http://maps.nls.uk/view/91549018#zoom=6&lat=4495&lon=6970&layers=BT). *National Library of Scotland*. [National Library of Scotland](/source/National_Library_of_Scotland). Retrieved 23 January 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-shetland.gov.uk_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-shetland.gov.uk_3-1) ["Aith Junior High School - Travel Plan"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120219160442/http://www.shetland.gov.uk/safetyandrisk/documents/Aith1.pdf) (PDF). [Shetland Islands Council](/source/Shetland_Islands_Council). Archived from [the original](http://www.shetland.gov.uk/safetyandrisk/documents/Aith1.pdf) (PDF) on 19 February 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Lifeboat Gala day a huge success in Aith"](http://rnli.org/NewsCentre/Pages/Lifeboat-Gala-day-a-huge-success-in-Aith.aspx). [RNLI](/source/Royal_National_Lifeboat_Institution). Retrieved 27 August 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Sun shines on Aith lifeboat gala"](http://www.shetnews.co.uk/news/6906-sun-shines-on-aith-lifeboat-gala). *Shetland News*. [Shetland News](/source/Shetland_News). 3 June 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Holman, Katherine (2007). *The Northern Conquest: Vikings in Britain and Ireland*. Signal Books. p. 169. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781904955344](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781904955344).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Sandsting & Aithsting Proposals Map"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110410173200/http://www.shetland.gov.uk/developmentplans/localplan/maps/PDFs/Sandsting%20%26%20Aithsting.pdf) (PDF). [Shetland Islands Council](/source/Shetland_Islands_Council). Archived from [the original](http://www.shetland.gov.uk/developmentplans/localplan/maps/PDFs/Sandsting%20%26%20Aithsting.pdf) (PDF) on 10 April 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Lifeboat Station: Aith"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090103105415/http://www.rnli.org.uk/rnli_near_you/scotland/stations/AithShetland/). [RNLI](/source/Royal_National_Lifeboat_Institution). Archived from [the original](http://www.rnli.org.uk/rnli_near_you/scotland/stations/aithshetland) on 3 January 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Welcome to Aith Junior High School"](http://www.aith.shetland.sch.uk/). Aith Junior High School. Retrieved 6 April 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Aith Junior High School, Bixter"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110716015617/http://www.schoolsnet.com/uk-schools/school-details-reviews/shetland-islands/aith-junior-high-school/16180339/0/213426.html). Schoolsnet. Archived from [the original](http://www.schoolsnet.com/uk-schools/school-details-reviews/shetland-islands/aith-junior-high-school/16180339/0/213426.html) on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["West Mainland Leisure centre"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090303053454/http://www.srt.org.uk/west-mainland.html). Shetland Recreational Trust. Archived from [the original](http://www.srt.org.uk/west-mainland.html) on 3 March 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-STV_12-0)** ["Aith citizens forced to evacuate village"](https://web.archive.org/web/20081025060652/http://www.stv.tv/content/news/local/north/display.html?id=opencms%3A%2Fnews%2Fnorth_scotland%2FAith_citizens_forced_to_evacuate_village_2008022). [STV](/source/STV_(TV_network)). Archived from [the original](http://www.stv.tv/content/news/local/north/display.html?id=opencms:/news/north_scotland/Aith_citizens_forced_to_evacuate_village_2008022) on 25 October 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2008.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Aith](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Aith).

- [Undiscovered Scotland - Aith](http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/shetland/aith/)

v t e Shetland Inhabited islands Mainland Bressay Burra East Burra West Burra Fair Isle Fetlar Foula Muckle Roe North Isles Out Skerries Papa Stour Trondra Unst Vaila Whalsay Yell Other islands Balta Bigga Brother Isle Colsay Hascosay Hildasay Lamba Linga, Bluemull Sound Linga, Busta Voe Linga (near Vementry) Linga, Vaila Sound Linga, Yell Sound Mousa Noss Oxna Papa Papa Little Samphrey South Havra St Ninian's Isle Uyea, Northmavine Uyea, Unst Vementry Ve Skerries West Linga Towns and villages Lerwick Aith Baltasound Bigton Bixter Brae Cunningsburgh Grutness Gulberwick Gutcher Haroldswick Hillswick Levenwick Mid Yell Mossbank North Roe Ollaberry Quarff Sandwick Scalloway Symbister Toab Toft Ulsta Uyeasound Vidlin Voe Walls Weisdale Whiteness Mainland Parishes Delting Dunrossness Lerwick Nesting Northmavine Sandsting Tingwall Walls and Sandness Insular Parishes Bressay Fetlar Unst Yell Maritime features Balta Sound Bluemull Sound Burra Voe Busta Voe Calder's Geo Kettla Ness Ronas Voe St Magnus Bay Sullom Voe West Voe of Sumburgh Yell Sound Extreme points (N S E W) Out Stack The Skerry, off Fair Isle Bound Skerry Waster Hoevda, Foula Related topics Animal breeds Etymology History Prehistory Museums and other sights Shetland Museum Tangwick Haa Muness Castle Scalloway Castle

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Aith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aith) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aith?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.