Shetland - The Rough Guide to Scotland - page 558

Böd of Gremista
May-Sept Tues-Sat noon-4pm • £2 • T 01595 694386, W shetlandtextilemuseum.wordpress.com
Just beyond Lerwick's main ferry terminal, a mile and a half north of the town centre,
stands the Böd of Gremista , the birthplace of Arthur Anderson (1792-1868), naval
seaman, philanthropist, Shetland's first native MP and founder of Shetland's first
newspaper, the Shetland Journal . he building has been completely restored and now
houses the Shetland Textile Museum which puts on special exhibitions on the heritage
of the islands' knitting culture.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE LERWICK

By plane Flights from outside Shetland land at Sumburgh
airport, 25 miles to the south. Flights within Shetland
depart from Tingwall airport.
Destinations within Shetland Fair Isle (Mon, Wed & Fri 2
daily, 1 on Sat; 25min); Foula (Mon & Tues 1 daily, Wed & Fri
2 daily; 15min); Out Skerries, calling at Whalsay on request
(Mon & Wed 1 daily, Thurs 2 daily; 20min); Papa Stour (Tues
2 daily; 10min).
By ferry See T 0845 600 0449, W northlinkferries.co.uk.
Ferries from Aberdeen (daily; 12hr) and Orkney (3-4
weekly; 6hr) arrive at Lerwick's ferry terminal, about a mile
north of the town centre. Ferries to other islands within
Shetland leave from the town harbour.
Destinations Bressay (every 30min-1hr; 7min); Fair Isle

(alternate Thurs; 5hr); Skerries (Tues & Thurs; 2hr 30min).
By bus Buses stop on the Esplanade, close to the old
harbour, or at the Viking Bus Station on Commercial Rd,
north of the town centre.
Destinations Brae (Mon-Fri 5 daily, 3 on Sat; 45min);
Hamnavoe (2-3 daily; 30min); Hillswick (Mon-Sat 1-2
daily; 1hr 40min); Laxo (Mon-Sat 1 daily; 40min);
Levenwick (Mon-Sat 6-8 daily, 4 on Sun; 30min);
Scalloway (Mon-Sat hourly, 2 on Sun; 25min); Sumburgh
airport (Mon-Sat 5-6 daily, 4 on Sun; 45min); Tingwall
(Mon-Fri 7 daily, Sat 4 daily; 10min); Toft (Mon-Sat 3-4
daily; 45-55min); Vidlin (Mon-Sat 2 daily; 45min); Voe
(Mon-Fri 5 daily, 3 on Sat; 35min); Walls (Mon-Sat 4 daily;
45min).

16

INFORMATION
Tourist office The tourist office is at Cross, Commercial
St (April-Oct Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat & Sun 10am-4pm;
Nov-March Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; T 01595 693434,
W visitshetland.com).

Radio station/newspaper For what's on, listen to BBC
Radio Shetland, 92.7 FM (Mon-Fri 5.30pm), visit
W shetland-music.com, or buy the Shetland Times on
Fridays ( W shetlandtoday.co.uk).

ACCOMMODATION
Alder Lodge 6 Clairmont Place T 01595 695705,
W alderlodgeguesthouse.com. Alder Lodge is a solid,
dependable choice, with eleven rooms, all en suite except
the single. Breakfasts are good, with local smoked had dock
an option and free wi-fi throughout the building. £70
Brentham House 7 Harbour St T 01950 460201,
W brenthamhouse.com. Spacious, newly furnished
rooms in a Victorian, bay-fronted terrace; no reception, and
no proper breakfast - you pick the keys up from Baroc , the

bar a couple of doors down. £75
Fort Charlotte Guest House 1 Charlotte St T 01595
692140, W fortcharlotte.co.uk. Small guesthouse with
great central location (on the south si de of the fort),
spacious rooms and a friendly proprietor. £65
SYHA hostel Islesburgh House, King Harald St T 01595
692114. Spacious Victorian building offering unusually
comfortable surroundings, family rooms, a café, internet
and laundry facilities. April-Sept. Dorms £17.50

LERWICK'S FESTIVALS
On the last Tuesday in January, Lerwick plays host to Up Helly-Aa ( W uphellyaa.org), the
largest of the winter fire festivals held in Shetland. In late April/early May, the Shetland Folk
Festival ( T 01595 694757, W shetlandfolkfestival.com) features four days of musical
mayhem, spread across the archipelago, with everything from local groups to international
folk bands; book early as gigs sell out. Held over a week at Mareel, Lerwick, in early August,
Fiddle Frenzy ( T 01595 743843, W shetlandarts.org) shows how fiddling is central to
Shetland's musical culture. It's curated by different musicians each year and includes classes
for budding fiddlers. The Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival ( T 01595 693162,
W shetlandaccordionandfiddle.com) is organized by the local accordion and fiddle club over
a long weekend in mid-October.