Fishing and crofting have always been the mainstays of Shetland life, though much has changed since the not so distant past when the sea was the highway and the engine unknown. The old way of life continued almost unchanged until World War II announced itself with the first bomb to be dropped on British soil landing in Sullom. The sole casualty was a rabbit, allegedly inspiring the famous wartime song "Run Rabbit Run". Many fine examples of times past can be seen in Northmavine.

Easily accessible are the shore front at Hillswick where the man made beach was used for drying fish. Here The Booth, a former Hanseatic trading post, has stayed in business for more than 300 years. Since the turn of this century it has been overlooked by the large, wooden pavilion from Norway, displayed at Glasgow's Great Exhibition, in 1899, and now a hotel.

Further afield on Stenness beach stand the ruins of fishing lodges, reminding us of the "far haaf" open sea fishing which flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries. Men would set out to sea for days on end in open rowing boats called "sixareens" not returning until they were laden with fish. Fethaland was once Shetland's busiest haaf fishing station. Sixty sixareens were based here and the ruins of twenty lodges still stand, retaining the atmosphere of the time. Close by, a circular mound is believed to be the remains of a 4000 year old homestead.

The Vikings left their mark on a nearby soapstone cliff where it is possible to distinguish the shapes of urns and bowls where they were carved from the cliff face. Fethaland is some distance to walk, as are the green pastures of Uyea where a crofting community thrived until early this century. The well-preserved buildings are still used by crofters today.

Crofting continues throughout the parish. Some crofts invite visitors to come and look around on open days during the summer (see local press for details).

The fishing industry lives on at Collafirth pier, built it 1988 on the site of an old Norwegian whaling station and now home to one of Britain's largest fishing boats. Smaller inshore boats work from Hamnavoe and Hillswick as well as Collafirth. The picture of the modern Shetland economy is completed with salmon farms in several of Northmavine's voes, and the best view of Europe's largest oil terminal, at Sullom Voe, from Ollaberry.

All aspects of life in Northmavine over the years are well illustrated at Tangwick Haa Museum. The Haa was built in the late 17th Century for the Cheyne family, lairds of the Tangwick Estate and elsewhere in Shetland.

The museum has many fascinating artefacts and photographs. Part of the display has a new theme every year.