Shetland - The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands and Islands - page 375

LERWICK'S OTHER FESTIVALS
After the antics of Up Helly-Aa (see box, p.376), the Shetland Folk Festival ( T 01595 694757,
W shetlandfolkfestival.com) features four days of musical mayhem in late April/early May,
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 shetlandaccordion
andfiddle.com) is organized by the local accordion and fiddle club over a long weekend
in mid-October.

Ì Westhall Lower Sound T 01595 694247, W bedand
breakfastlerwick.co.uk. A splendid Victorian mansion,
known as the “Sheriff 's Hoose”, set in its own grounds a mile
southwest of town with fabulous views over to Bressay.
Rooms ar e spac ious, the breakfasts are immense and there's
free wi-fi. £110

Woosung 43 St Olaf St T 01595 693687, W visit
.shetland.org/woosung. Family-run B&B, up on the hill
above the harbour, run by a genuinely friendly local
landlady. The whole place is kept spo tlessly clean, but not
all rooms are en suite. Free wi-fi. £60

EATING AND DRINKING
Fort Café 2 Commercial St T 01595 693125. Lerwick's
best fish-and-chip shop, situated below Fort Charlotte:
takeaway or eat inside in the small café (closes 8pm).
Mon-Fri 11am-10pm, Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 4-10pm.
Ì Hay's Dock Shetland Museum, Hay's Dock T 01595
741569, W haysdock.co.uk. Bright, modern, licensed
café-restaurant in the museum, with a great view over the
north bay. Sandwiches, bagels and simple lunch dishes,
from chowder to burgers are all under £10; the more
adventurous evening menu features local salmon and
lamb dishes (mains £13-20). Mon-Thurs 10.30am-
4.30pm, Fri & Sat 10.30am-4.30pm & 6.30-9pm, Sun
noon-4.30pm.
Mareel North Ness T 01595 745555, W mareel.org.
If you've missed breakfast at your B&B, come to the
café-bar in Lerwick's new cultural complex. Sandwiches
or baked tatties are available until 4pm and hummus or
mackerel ciabatta and nachos after that. Mon-Wed & Sun

9am-11pm, Thurs-Sat 9am-1am.
Monty's Bistro 5 Mounthooly St T 01595 696555,
W montys-shetland.co.uk. Unpretentious place serving
sandwiches, pasta and spicy curry dishes, and snacks at
lunchtimes (under £10); and the likes of pot-roasted local
lamb and reestit mutton in the evening (mains £14-22).
Tues-Sat noon-2pm & 5-9pm.
Peerie Shop Café Esplanade T 01595 692816,
W peerieshopcafe.com. Designer shop/gallery/café in an
old lodberry, with a good range of cakes, soup and sand-
wiches, and what is probably Britain's northernmost latte.
Mon-Sat 9am-6pm.
Raba Indian Restaurant 26 Commercial Rd T 01595
690805. Reliably good curry house, with cheerful, e cient
service and reasonable prices - try the jalfreezi and mop
it up with some garlic naan (mains under £10), or go for
the all-day Sunday buffet (£10 per person). Mon-Sat
noon-2pm & 5-11pm, Sun 1-10pm.

8

NIGHTLIFE AND ENTERTAINMENT
The Lounge 4 Mounthooly St T 01595 692231.
Lerwick's friendliest pub is the upstairs bar where local
musicians often gather for a session - Thursday night is
quiz night. Daily 11am-1am.

Mareel North Ness T 01595 745555, W mareel.org.
Lerwick's new cultural hub is primarily the local cinema,
but also puts on regular gigs. Mon-Wed & Sun 9am-
11pm, Thurs-Sat 9am-1am.

Bressay and Noss
Shielding Lerwick from the full force of the North Sea is the island of Bressay ,
dominated at its southern end by the conical Ward Hill (744ft) - “da Wart” - and
accessible on an hourly car and passenger ferry from Lerwick (takes 5min). The chief
reason for visiting Bressay is the tiny but spectacular island of Noss , of the east coast,
whose high cliffs support a huge seabird colony in breeding season.