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Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
Inside Scotland's 'cleanest town' that's home to Iron Age homestead and 17th Century fort
Home to around 7,000 people, town is packed with history and nature. While major cities like Dundee and Glasgow continue to struggle with growing levels of litter, studies have found that Shetland is setting an example for the rest of Scotland in cleanliness. A report from environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful last year highlighted that 98.7 per cent of public spaces in Shetland are predominantly litter-free, the highest rate in the country. This remarkable achievement has earned Lerwick, Shetland's capital and main port town, the title of Scotland's cleanest town. It is home to around 7,000 people and serves as the largest settlement in UK's most northerly archipelago. Lerwick offers a perfect base for exploring the remote island chain. Situated almost equidistant between Aberdeen and Bergen in Norway, the town boasts a unique blend of Scottish and Nordic culture, historic charm and natural beauty. Visitors to Lerwick can explore some of the town's standout attractions, including Clickimin Broch, one of Scotland's best-preserved Iron Age structures. Located on the shore of Clickimin Loch, the broch complex showcases over a thousand years of settlement history. The broch tower itself still stands impressively tall, while the site is surrounded by a thick stone wall. A particularly intriguing feature is a sculpted stone on the causeway bearing a pair of human feet, believed to date back to the late Iron Age or early historic period. Experts suggest it may have been linked to ancient kingship or inauguration rituals. Another major landmark is Fort Charlotte, one of just three 17th and 18th century military bases in Scotland that still serve a military role, alongside Edinburgh Castle and Fort George near Inverness. Built between 1652 and 1653, its first incarnation was destroyed 20 years later during the Third Anglo-Dutch War. It was built in its current form in 1781 and named after Queen Charlotte. Though it never saw active combat following its reconstruction, it housed a garrison during the Napoleonic Wars and later served as a Royal Naval Reserve base. Between 1837 and 1875, it functioned as Lerwick's jail and courthouse, and was later used as a custom house and coastguard station. Despite now being surrounded by homes and streets in the centre of Lerwick, Fort Charlotte remains an important historical site, connected to the Anglo-Dutch Wars and the town's early development. Beyond its historic sites, Lerwick also offers an abundance of natural beauty and wildlife experiences. Visitors can go orca spotting in the surrounding seas or stay onshore to explore the island's diverse marine life. Lerwick even has its own beach, Bain's, just a short walk from the town centre. It has featured heavily in BBC crime drama Shetland, as it sits beside main character Jimmy Perez's home. Those seeking solitude can venture further to explore more remote beaches scattered across Shetland's mainland. Sumburgh, located at the southern tip of the island, is famed for its sweeping white sands - and you can also spot puffins there at certain times of the year. Spiggie Beach, also in the south, is praised for its crystal-clear waters, often compared to those of a Greek island, albeit with a cooler climate. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. St Ninian's Isle beach is one of the most iconic and beautiful places in Shetland. The sand causeway that links the mainland to the uninhabited St Ninian's Isle is the largest tombolo in the UK. Another popular Shetland bay is Skaw Beach, which takes you away from the mainland to the island of Unst. The beach, which is famous for being the most northerly in the UK, is backed by a meadow of wild flowers during spring and summer. After a day of sightseeing, visitors can enjoy a meal or drink in one of Lerwick's welcoming pubs and restaurants. The Lounge Bar, rated the top spot on TripAdvisor, is popular for its live music and relaxed atmosphere. For a bite to eat, No 88 Kitchen and Bar comes highly recommended, offering a unique fusion of Scottish, British and Philippine cuisine.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Inside 'cleanest town in Scotland' that's home to beautiful beaches and whale watching
Shetland has been named the cleanest place in Scotland, with almost 99 per cent of public spaces across the archipelago being litter-free - and the main town has plenty to offer tourists Scotland is battling a significant litter issue, reportedly worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic. Urban areas have been hit hardest, with Dundee and Glasgow topping the list of Scotland's most littered cities, as per a recent report from Keep Scotland Beautiful featured in The Herald. However, other parts of Scotland are being praised for their cleanliness. Shetland has earned the title of Scotland's cleanest place. The new data reveals that an impressive 98.7% of public spaces on the archipelago are predominantly free of litter - the highest percentage in the country. This honour allows Lerwick, Shetland's main port, to boast the title of Scotland's cleanest town. As the largest settlement on the island group, housing around 7,000 residents, it serves as the perfect starting point to discover this remote part of Scotland. Situated almost halfway between Bergen in Norway and Aberdeen, Lerwick offers a unique culture. Its quaint lanes and laid-back atmosphere make it an ideal holiday destination - with top attractions including the Iron Age broch of Clickimin and the Shetland Museum, reports the Daily Record. Visitors can also enjoy orca watching in the nearby seas or stay on land to explore the captivating marine life around the islands. Lerwick even boasts its own beach, Bain's, just a stone's throw from the town centre. If you fancy a bit of solitude, there are plenty of beaches scattered around the Shetland Mainland. Sumburgh, situated at the southernmost point of the island and just a half-hour drive away, is famed for its breathtaking white sands. Also nestled in the southern region of the island is Spiggie Beach. Its pristine waters have been likened to those of a Greek island, albeit with a cooler climate. After a day of adventuring, unwind with some grub or a drink at one of Lerwick's pubs or restaurants. The Lounge Bar, which holds the top spot on TripAdvisor, provides live music for its guests. For a bite to eat, No 88 Kitchen and Bar comes highly recommended. This local gem dishes up an intriguing blend of Scottish, British and Philippine cuisine.
Scotsman
15-07-2025
- General
- Scotsman
37 beautiful parks and green spaces handed Green Flag Awards
Almost 40 parks and green spaces in Edinburgh have been recognised with Green Flag Awards. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The award encourages councils and green space owners to take great care in making their spaces clean, safe and well-maintained in hopes to be recognised among the most beautiful parks in Scotland and the UK as a whole. Green Flag Awards are administered by Keep Scotland Beautiful in Scotland and their aim is to ensure suitable green spaces and parks that the public can use for free to improve mental wellbeing and provide safe spaces for play and exercise. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Keep Scotland Beautiful encourages the public not to take Scotland's beauty for granted and hopes to inspire action to keep Scotland beautiful. Thirty-seven green spaces, including Princes Street Gardens, in Edinburgh will be receiving a Green Flag Award this year. | National World This year 88 parks and green spaces across Scotland have been presented with a Green Flag Award, with Edinburgh's beauty spots accounting for 37 of those awards. Thirty-five of the 37 awards in Edinburgh go to City of Edinburgh Council, with one going to NHS Lothian for Royal Edinburgh Hospital. Corstorphine Hill Community Walled Garden, managed by Friends of Corstorphine Hill within the Local Nature Reserve, has also won a Community Award for the 14th successive year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Here's the full list of Edinburgh's 37 green spaces receiving a Green Flag Ward this year - Bloomiehall Park - Braidburn Valley Park - Burdiehouse Burn Valley Park - Corstorphine Hill - Craigmillar Castle Park - Easter Craiglockhart Hill Local Nature Reserve - Fairmilehead Park - Ferniehill Community Park - Ferry Glen and Back Braes - Figgate Park - Hailes Quarry Park - Harrison Park - Hermitage and Blackford Hill Local Nature Reserve - Hopetoun Crescent Garden - Inverleith Park - King George V Park - Lauriston Castle Park - Lochend Park - London Road Gardens - Morningside Park - Muir Wood Park - Pentland Hills Regional Park - Portobello Community Garden - Prestonfield Park - Princes Street Gardens - Ravelston Woods Local Nature Reserve and Park - Rosefield Park - Saughton Park - Seven Acre Park - Spylaw Park - St Katharine's Park - St Margaret's Park - Starbank Park - Station Road Park - Victoria Park - Royal Edinburgh Hospital - Corstorphine Hill Local Nature Reserve Community Walled Garden
Glasgow Times
15-07-2025
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow parks and open space win 2025 Green Flag Awards
The Glasgow Botanic Gardens and the Southern Necropolis were among the 88 parks and green spaces recognised by environmental charity, Keep Scotland Beautiful. The Green Flag awards are designed to celebrate clean, safe, and well-maintained parks and green spaces across Scotland. Read more: 'It's an incredible honour': Glasgow woman makes history at major UK port These awards recognise areas managed by local authorities, community groups, universities, and other organisations. The Botanic Gardens, managed by Glasgow City Council, received the Green Flag Award for the 15th consecutive year. Meanwhile, the Southern Necropolis, managed by Friends of Southern Necropolis, won the Green Flag Community Award for the sixth year running. The Green Flag Awards serve as an international benchmark for quality outdoor spaces. This year, a total of 88 parks and gardens were recognised in Scotland, eight more than in 2024. A further 2,251 parks across the UK also received awards, up by 23 from the previous year. Read more: 'We were so impressed': Glasgow communities achieve five-star environmental rating Jamie Ormiston, training and accreditation co-ordinator at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: "We're delighted to announce the winners of the 2025 Green Flag Awards and even more so at the increase in numbers from last year's total. "It's fantastic to see our stalwart parks across the country recognised once again for their commitment to environmental excellence and a desire to offer visitors a safe and enjoyable place to visit." 'Our new winners have shown a similar desire, and their journey is only just beginning, but I look forward to many more wins in the future. 'Parks across Scotland are vital spaces for people of all ages to reconnect with nature, and I'm delighted we once again have winners all over the country – including plenty of new areas – for people to enjoy during the summer months.' The full list of Scottish winners is available to view on the Keep Scotland Beautiful website.
Daily Record
15-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Social landlord's communities across West Lothian gets top marks in report from leading environmental charity
Wheatley Homes communities were assessed by Keep Scotland Beautiful, the national environmental charity helping create cleaner and greener local environments. A social landlord's communities across West Lothian have received top marks in a report from a leading environmental charity. Wheatley Homes communities were assessed by Keep Scotland Beautiful, the national environmental charity helping create cleaner and greener local environments. Keep Scotland Beautiful (KSB) staff joined Wheatley Homes staff and tenants to assess neighbourhoods, inspecting back courts and open spaces as well as foyers and stairwells across West Lothian. Wheatley Homes communities in West Lothian has now been awarded five stars – the highest grade possible – and a score of 88%. Laura Henderson, Managing Director of Wheatley Homes East, said: 'We want our communities to be places people are proud to live in and this award from Keep Scotland Beautiful is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of our environmental staff across West Lothian. 'They work hard to make sure our neighbourhoods always look their best for our customers.' The report recognised Wheatley's efforts in a number of streets in West Lothian. It stated: 'The tenement property scoring benefited from the overall excellent condition of the external grounds of the properties; including the physical condition of the building walls, absence of obstructions in the guttering, and cleanliness and condition of the access paths and back court hard standing. 'Whilst some of these facilities have been built by design for the tenants, of greater merit was the presence of spaces which have been created by the tenants, to enhance the appearance of the gardens, and create a sense of community within the properties. 'This was demonstrative of an interest from tenants in improving their local area.' Wheatley Group, Scotland's leading housing, care and property-management group, teamed up with Keep Scotland Beautiful in 2016 to help improve neighbourhoods. Paul Wallace, Head of Operations with Keep Scotland Beautiful, added: 'I'd like to congratulate Wheatley Homes for achieving such high standards in our recent assessment. 'We were so impressed to see excellent commitment and pride of all the staff and tenants involved who are working hard to improve and make their communities better. 'Our work with Wheatley, through a bespoke version of our National Award for Environmental Excellence® has spanned a number of years. It provides a framework for continual improvement, recognising and awarding best practice in environmental management, maintenance, waste management and community engagement. 'Our assessors supported Keep Scotland Beautiful Customer Assessor Days in Edinburgh and joined Wheatley Homes East staff on site visits. The properties were presented well and scored highly, and it was clear there was a real sense of pride from the staff.' It was previously reported that more than 1200 tonnes of waste were lifted from Wheatley Homes communities, and 13,600 stairwells cleaned, by NETs staff in 2024. Wheatley's NETs have trained 14 Wheatley Homes customers, in partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful, to assess green spaces and identify any areas where improvement can be made.
