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Lerwick,
main town and seaport of the Shetland Isles,
has the kind of history that begs investigating for this is where the
Viking heritage of these islands, that make up Britain, is at its strongest.
Lerwick is, needless to say, 'the' place to be for the young
and old alike with the nightlife, shopping and business facilities it
has to offer. The harbour is a busy place with boats of all shapes and
sizes coming and going especially in the summer period.
In previous days
the Vikings held sway over not just the Shetlands but the Orkneys
and Hebrides as well using them as
safe harbours for their deeper incursions into the Scottish mainland
and of course down into England itself. Their escapades are legend and
even today when listening to the stories of the barbarity attributed
to them, young schoolchildren can reveal fear at just the thought of
these wild warriors. Today the islanders are proud of the heritage they
have and still happily indulge in the Viking festivals celebrated annually
over much of the north of Scotland.
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In the year 1665
a fort was built to protect the town and harbour from the Dutch with
whom we were at war and down through the years this has been upgraded
to what can be seen today. It's an impressive structure now used by
the Territorial Army as their base but tourists can browse over it and
take in the magnificent panoramic view across the harbour from the battlements.
Much of the town is built of Victorian design making for some great
architecture such as the town hall and the Shetland Library and Museum,
which by the way, is a must for a visit.
Around the town
is some wonderful countryside with some excellent walks on offer, like
out to the South Ness Headland for the breathtaking views of
the Bressay Sound. Bressay Island which sits to the east of Lerwick
shelters the capital from the rages of the North Sea. The island was
once a thriving place but the ravages of time have changed that. It's
a good place for wildlife and has some exhilarating walks so, reaching
the island is by ferry from Lerwick. To the east of Bressay
is the small island of Noss where there is a birdlife sanctuary
and to reach it a ferry service from Bressay is provided.
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