5 days ago
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.
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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.
