Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom Scotland Baltasound Bobby's Bus Shelter
AO Edited

Bobby's Bus Shelter

This Shetland Islands bus shelter may be small, but it squeezes in a couch, a desk, some art, and even an old telly.

Baltasound, Scotland

Added By
Russell Arnott
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
2016’s theme: puffins!   R. Arnott
Cissie The Guard Puffin   R. Arnott
The plush interior   R. Arnott
The accommodations periodically change…   Ella Mullins on Flickr
… but are always cozy   Ella Mullins on Flickr
The shelter is a respite for sojourners on a quiet road   ㇹヮィㇳ on Flickr
  linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
  linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
  linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
puffin by the bus shelter 2020   mbeimer / Atlas Obscura User
bus shelter and honesty box   mbeimer / Atlas Obscura User
treats in the honesty box   mbeimer / Atlas Obscura User
  linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
The theme of the year was Vision 2020.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The Shetland Isle of Unst, the U.K.’s most northern inhabited island, may have only about 650 residents, but tourists venture far out into the North Sea to visit this beautiful and remote outpost. Most visitors make a beeline for the north coast, up to the historic Muckle Flugga Lighthouse. There you can briefly boast of being “Britain’s most northerly person.” But just outside Baltasound, Unst’s main settlement, is a small glass enclosure you might call “Britain’s most famous bus shelter.”

For a schoolchild in the Shetlands, waiting for a bus is an experience in its own right. With some of the harshest and most changeable weather in the British Isles, you need a decent structure to protect you from the elements. It was 20 years ago, when six-year-old Bobby McCauley and his two friends caught the bus to get to school. Their bus shelter was just a non-descript brown structure with a rusting iron chair, but it still provided the boys with a much-needed respite from the weather. But being exposed to the wind and rain, day-in and day-out takes its toll, and eventually, the shelter was deemed unsafe and duly demolished.

Bobby took umbrage with this and wrote a letter to the local newspaper asking for a new bus shelter. The paper, touched by the six-year old’s sentiments, petitioned the Council for a new shelter. Bobby eventually got his way and a shiny, new shelter was soon installed. Not long after, items began mysteriously appearing inside, starting with a small wicker table and sofa. Then a microwave, then a carpet, telephone, and curtains.

There is now a dedicated team that maintains the bus shelter, but originally all the additions and redecorating were done anonymously. Since 2002, the shelter has been transformed to celebrate an array of themes – from Van Gogh to Outer Space, from the Queen’s Jubilee to Sheep, Tall Ships, and Life Underwater. Eventually, that little boy grew up, and he moved to Swaziland. Bobby’s Bus Shelter was sure to honor that too.

Related Tags

Transportation Outsider Art Installations

Know Before You Go

Just outside of Baltasound on the A968. The bus stop seems to also act as an unmanned store. There are miscellaneous items for purchase such as sunglasses and jewelry. Price tags are on the merchandise and an honesty box is left where you can leave your payment.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Scotland: Beyond the Haggis

Smoked seafood, single malt whisky, and warm hospitality.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Russ Arno

Edited By

hrnick, mbeimer, linkogecko

  • hrnick
  • mbeimer
  • linkogecko

Published

February 10, 2016

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.amusingplanet.com/2010/06/curious-story-of-bobby-bus-shelter-at.html
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unst_Bus_Shelter
  • http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2013/04/03/website-for-unst-bus-shelter-is-essential-reading-for-future-generations
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unst
Bobby's Bus Shelter
A968
at Littlehamar Road End
Baltasound, Scotland, ZE2 9TW
United Kingdom
60.765395, -0.834831
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The Viking Unst Project and Skidbladner

Haroldswick, Scotland

miles away

The Gloup Disaster Memorial

Shetland Islands, Scotland

miles away

The Hjaltadans Stone Circle

Fetlar, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Scotland

Scotland

United Kingdom

Places 734
Stories 49

Nearby Places

The Viking Unst Project and Skidbladner

Haroldswick, Scotland

miles away

The Gloup Disaster Memorial

Shetland Islands, Scotland

miles away

The Hjaltadans Stone Circle

Fetlar, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Scotland

Scotland

United Kingdom

Places 734
Stories 49

Related Stories and Lists

A Remote Shetland Island Could Become a Spaceport

news

By Sarah Laskow

Related Places

  • The Glowquarium

    Grapevine, Texas

    The Real Unreal

    Fall through a crack in the seams of reality at this immersive art installation.

  • Denver, Colorado

    Meow Wolf Convergence Station

    A multiversal transit station located right below a highway interchange.

  • Akureyri, Iceland

    Akureyri Heart-Shaped Traffic Lights

    Instead of solid circles, the stoplights in this northern Icelandic town have glowing red hearts.

  • Toledo Art Station of the Naples Metro.

    Naples, Italy

    Toledo Art Station

    This shining multicolored metro station deep under Naples is said to be the most beautiful in Europe.

  • Racers create human-powered vehicles to compete in the annual race.

    Port Townsend, Washington

    Port Townsend Bay Kinetic Sculpture Race

    Quirky movable sculptures have been racing through the town since 1983.

  • School Bus Graveyard.

    Alto, Georgia

    The School Bus Graveyard

    Where school buses go to die and be reborn as whimsical works of art.

  • Baggage claim at Sacramento Airport

    Sacramento, California

    Samson Luggage Sculpture

    Pillars made of 700 pieces of luggage climb to the ceiling of Sacramento Airport's baggage claim.

  • Ribbon cutting at Door #6

    Atlanta, Georgia

    Tiny Doors ATL

    Scattered around Atlanta are little doors with big charm.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.