Lerwick Explorer

Summary

Lerwick is the capital of Shetland and by far the largest settlement. This route explores the older part of the town and harbour and passes round the headland of the Knab with some fine coastal scenery and views. There is also the chance to see a well-preserved and restored broch.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Rating

Terrain

Pavements and good footpaths.

Public Transport

Lerwick is the main hub for buses on Shetland with links around the islands. The main ferry terminal for boats from Aberdeen is around 1km north.

Start

Victoria Pier car park, Lerwick. Open in Google Maps.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 6km / 3.75 miles
Time: 2 hours
Ascent: 80m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: HU477413

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Walk Description

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Stage 1

The walk is described from Victoria car park on the front in Lerwick; there is a parking charge. Begin the walk by heading out of the car park and turning left along the front, with the Bressay Sound on your left. The town's origins were in the seventeenth century with the herring fishing industry, largely worked by the Dutch; concern about Dutch influence led to the building of a fort and the town then grew up around it; some of the fine older buildings you see date back to the 1700s. Keep along the front and then head up an alley between the RNLI building and the Queen's Hotel.

Stage 2

Turn left along the pedestrian street beyond. This becomes a back road and leads past several old buildings that back right onto the water; this area is known as the Lodberries and is the home of Detective Jimmy Perez in BBC TV's hit Shetland drama. Keep ahead at a junction to stay on the road that stays closest to the sea, passing garage that utilises the old Foula mailboat as its roof. The route is signed for the Knab.

Stage 3

Go left onto a tarmac path before the road reaches a cemetery. The path keeps close to the coastline and gives superb views of some second world war defences and across the Sound to the Ward of Bressay. Soon the walled path climbs and leads up to a fine viewpoint overlooking the rocky promontory of the Knab.

Stage 4

Beyond the Knab a tarmac lane is reached that leads inland - turn left immediately through a gate to continue the walk along a tarred pathway along the left edge of the golf course, still keeping near the coastline. Eventually the path reaches Breiwick Road near a bench. Turn left along the road. Note the second road on the right - King Harold Street; from here the walk is a detour out to Clickimin Broch and returns to this point (so the next stage can be omitted).

Stage 5

To visit the broch, continue along Breiwick Road until it swings right, go through the gate straight ahead here to follow a path that keeps beside the coast. The path emerges on South Road - keep left along this to the busy roundabout. You want to leave this roundabout along the pavement on the north side of the A970 towards Sumburgh; it is probably best to cross to the otherside of South Road before the roundabout and then cross South Lochside to get on this pavement. Continue along this for a short distance until a signed path heads right to reach the 2,000 year old Clickimin broch. This is a very fine example with many ancilliary structures; it has been heavily restored and is probably second in Shetland only to the broch on Mousa.

Stage 6

Retrace your steps back to Breiwick Road and turn left up King Harald Street. When this meets the main A969 Scalloway Road turn right to head back towards the town centre. When a mini roundabout is reached turn left but keep left of the road to head down a narrow paved alleyway. This emerges on Commercial Street - the pedestrianised main shopping street of the town. Turn left along this, keeping straight ahead at the Merkat Cross. Keep along Commercial Street until just before it becomes open to traffic once more - turn left immediately before this up a lane, signed for Fort Charlotte.

Stage 7

Turn right through an archway to enter the fort which the town originally grew up around. Inside the fort go straight across the parking area, keeping the grassy area to your right, to leave via the arch at the far end. This emerges at a road junction - go right then immediately left and immediately right again to end up on the main road that leads back to the right along Lerwick's seafront. There are a couple of commercial buildings on the left side before the Bressay ferry terminal is past. It is off to the left here that the Viking Squad gathers with its wooden galley for photos at the start of each year's Up Helly Aa celebration - which is Europe's largest fire festival. Up Helly Aa is an amazing event and still very much for locals. Continue along the front to return to the car park at the start.

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