Lerwick - Shetland Islands

Lerwick is the only burgh and main port of the Shetland Islands in Scotland, found more than 100 miles (160 km) off the north coast of mainland Great Britain. Lerwick has a population (2001) of approximately 6,830 residents and is by far the northernmost town in Scotland, as well as in the entirety of the United Kingdom. Lerwick is about 210 miles from Aberdeen and 230 miles from both Bergen in Norway and Tórshavn in the Faroe Islands. Lerwick lies on the east coast of the Shetland Mainland. It was founded in the seventeenth century as a herring and white fish seaport, and still thrives as a fishing and ferry port. The harbour is also busy with vessels supporting the offshore oil industry. Ferries from Lerwick sail to Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands, Aberdeen, Fair Isle, Out Skerries and Bressay. Lerwick is the focus of most events in Shetland, including the largest of the annual Up Helly-Aa fire festivals. Significant buildings in Lerwick include Fort Charlotte, Lerwick Town Hall, the Böd of Gremista and Clickimin Broch. Local independent radio station SIBC broadcasts daily from Lerwick. Shetland College, a constituent partner institution of the University of the Highlands & Islands (UHI) Millennium Institute, is also based in the town, offering degree-level education (amongst several other courses) to locals who unsurprisingly find it difficult to study further afield. In the village of Scalloway, another UHI institution, the North Atlantic Fisheries College, offers courses with a marine bias. The next closest university-level institution is the University of Aberdeen, a twelve hour boat journey away. The Gilbert Bain Hospital provides secondary care services to all of Shetland. Lerwick is a name with roots in Old Norse and its local descendant, Norn that was spoken in Shetland until the mid-19th century. The words Ler Wick mean Bay of Mud. The corresponding Norwegian name is Leirvik. Leir means Mud and vik means bay or inlet.