Shetland - The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands and Islands - page 374

Clickimin Broch
A mile southwest of Lerwick town centre on the road leading to Sumburgh, the
much-restored Clickimin Broch stands on what was once a small island in Loch
Clickimin. The settlement here began as a small farmstead around 700 BC and was
later enclosed by a defensive wall. The main tower served as a castle and probably rose
to around 40ft, as at Mousa (see p.382), though the remains are now around 10ft high.
There are two small entrances, one at ground level and the other on the first floor,
carefully protected by outer defences and smaller walls. With the modern housing in
the middle distance, it's pretty hard to imagine the original setting.

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 (see p.382).
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 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);
Sandwick (Mon-Fri 8-10 daily, 6 on Sat, 4 on Sun; 25min);
Scalloway (Mon-Sat hourly, 2 on Sun; 25min); Skeld
(Mon-Sat 2 daily; 1hr); 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).

8

INFORMATION
Tourist o ce Market 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) from any newsagent or
the excellent Shetland Times bookshop on Commercial St.

TOURS AND ACTIVITIES
Another Shetland passion is boating and yachting , and regattas take place most summer weekends, throughout the
islands. The sport of yoal racing has a big following, too, and teams from different districts compete in sixareens, large six-
oared boats which replaced yoals as the backbone of Shetland's fishing fleet.

Swan T 01595 695193, W swantrust.com. If you plan
ahead, you could take a trip on the Swan , a restored
wooden sailing ship, which undertakes trips lasting from
one to nine days.

BOAT TOURS
Dim Riv T 07901 588168, W dimriv.co.uk. The replica
Viking longship, Dim Riv , takes passengers on regular trips
around Bressay Sound.

ACCOMMODATION
Alder Lodge 6 Clairmont Place T 01595 695705, W alder
lodgeguesthouse.com. A solid, dependable choice, with
eleven rooms, all en suite except the single. Breakfasts are
good, with local smoke d 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
a great central location (on the south side 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 room s, a café , internet
and laundry facilities. April-Sept. Dorms £17.50