Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland

Lerwick is the only burgh and main port of the Shetland Islands, found more than 160 km (100 miles) off the north coast of mainland Scotland. It is by far the UK's northernmost town, being closer to Bergen in Norway than to the northern Scottish city of Aberdeen.

Lerwick lies on the east coast of the Shetland Mainland. It was founded in the seventeenth century as a herring and white fish seaport, and still thrives as a fishing and ferry port. The harbour is also busy with vessels supporting the offshore oil industry.

Lerwick is a fascinating place at any time of year. In summer, its waterfront is brightened by yachts and cruise liners from ports around the North Atlantic. In winter, the harbour is a refuge for all kinds of craft and the twists and turns of Commercial Street defeat the wildest weather.

There's a wide choice of good places to eat, pubs and clubs to suit most tastes and some of the most advanced indoor leisure facilities in Britain. Lerwick is also an excellent place to sample Shetland's internationally celebrated musical heritage. The islands are best known for their fiddle music, but there's a wealth of talent embracing a wide range of styles.

Things to see and do

* Loch of Clickimin
* Broch of Clickimin - one of Shetland's major archaeological sites.
* Fort Charlotte
* Gorgeous scenery

General information

Cruise Season - March to Nov
Currency - Pound Sterling (£)
Language - English and Gaelic
Land Area - 78,782 km² (Scotland)
Population - 7,600
Electricity - British-style plug with two flat blades and one flat grounding blade
Time -GMT/UTC plus zero hours
International Country Telephone Code - + 44

Port Location - The town of Lerwick is only about a 20-minute walk from the Port of Lerwick.

Transport Links - Buses and taxis are readily available for transport to Lerwick, hotels and other mainland destinations. A scheduled bus service operates to destinations around the island and makes the journey into central Lerwick in five minutes.

British Airways provide the only scheduled passenger air service to the Scottish Mainland. This operates from Sumburgh Airport which is located 30 miles south of Lerwick. Flights operate to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Kirkwall and Wick.

Northlink Ferries provide a daily passenger and vehicle service to Aberdeen which also calls in at Kirkwall in Orkney up to twice a week depending on the time of year.