The Trows

Trows are supernatural beings of Norse origin, deeply rooted in Shetland folklore. They are often described as short, strong, and earth-coloured, blending easily into the rugged island landscape. Their faces may appear twisted or shadowed, and their clothing is usually grey or dull green — colours of stone, peat, and moss.

They are said to live inside hills, mounds, and ancient burial sites, known locally as trowie knowes. By day these places seem ordinary, but by night they are believed to open into hidden halls filled with music, feasting, and strange light.

A Legacy of Norse Myth

Shetland’s long Viking history heavily influenced the trow legend. The word trow is believed to derive from the Old Norse troll, and like their Scandinavian cousins, trows are not naturally evil — but never truly kind.

They exist by their own rules and are easily offended. Respect earns safety. Disrespect invites misfortune.

Trows and Humans

Trows are known for interfering in human affairs, often in subtle and unsettling ways. Common stories describe them:

Stealing livestock

Blighting crops

Leading travellers astray at night

Replacing human babies with changelings

Borrowing household items — and returning them broken

Music plays a central role in trow legends. They are said to be excellent fiddlers, and many old Shetland tunes are believed to have been learned from overhearing trow music drifting from the hills after dark.

The Danger of the Trow Dance

One of the most feared tales involves being invited to dance with the trows. Time moves strangely in their world. A single night of dancing may equal years in the human realm, and those who return are often aged, broken, or unable to speak of what they witnessed.

Some never return at all.

Protection from the Trows

Traditional Shetland belief held that certain things could ward off trows:

Iron or steel objects

The sound of church bells

Christian symbols

Turning clothing inside-out when lost at night

Even today, many ancient paths and mounds are treated with quiet respect — not out of fear alone, but tradition.

Trows in Shetland Culture Today

Though belief has faded, the trows remain a powerful symbol of Shetland’s identity. They appear in:

Oral storytelling

Poetry and island music

Local place names

Modern fantasy inspired by Northern folklore

They represent the old world, where nature was alive, watchful, and never fully understood.

Spirits of the Islands

The trows remind us that Shetland folklore is shaped by isolation, sea, and stone. These are not playful fairies — they are island spirits, born of long winters and longer memories.

To walk Shetland’s hills at night is to walk where stories still breathe — and where the trows may yet be listening.