Car Hire Lerwick - Mini guide to Lerwick

Beautifully located on the island of Mainland, Shetland Islands, Lerwick overlooks the Bressay Sound and is the most northerly town in Great Britain. A mix of old and new, the town offers visitors a range of things to do and see.

Fort Charlotte is the highlight of the town. Built in 1665, the fortress is a five sided Artillery Fort design, with bastions projecting from each corner. The walls are high and massive, and there are some stunning views to be had from the gunports. The fort was built to protect the Sound of Bressay from the Dutch, but was taken by them and burned in 1673. The fort was rebuilt in 1781.

Other places of interest include Clickimin Broch - an outstanding example of Bronze Age and Iron Age architecture; the Bod of Gremista - an 18th century fishing booth; and the picture-postcard Lodberries - old merchants' houses with their own piers. The Shetland Museum has a fascinating collection of artifacts illustrating Shetland's history, providing an interesting insight into island life past and present. It has extensive displays of archaeology, folk life, social history and maritime, also exhibitions of contemporary art. Elsewhere special exhibitions depict Shetland tradition and crafts - knitting, spinning, lace-making and fiddle music.

The Shetland Islands exert a powerful magic on their visitors. Few places in Britain still have such completely unspoilt scenery and coastline. It is said that nowhere in Shetland is more than 3 miles from the sea, and every bend in the road reveals yet another enchanting view as heather-clad moorland unfolds on to peaty streams and lochs or white sandy beaches and towering cliffs, and overhead the vast dramatic sky is changing constantly - brilliantly blue in sunshine or drenched with stormclouds and rainbows.

Air travel offers a fast and efficient method of transportation allowing the maximum time to enjoy the Shetland Islands. In addition to the UK network, Aberdeen International Airport has connections with many other destinations including Amsterdam, Bergen, Brussels, Esbjerg and Stavanger. Charter flights can be arranged to the Shetlands, and there are regular and reliable ferry services to Lerwick.