Lerwick Walking Tour with Island Vista

We meet at Victoria Pier in the heart of Lerwick, opposite the Market Cross. A leisurely stroll takes us into the heart of the Old Town, where we see the old Tolbooth, which now houses the RNLI Lifeboat station, and the Lodberries, picturesque buildings on the seafront which were used for the landing and storage of goods. One of the Lodberries is one of the most photographed houses in Lerwick thanks to featuring in BBC’s Shetland TV series as the home of Jimmy Perez, based on the books by Anne Cleeves.

We then wander uphill and past various churches to the steep and intricate web of narrow lanes that take you from the waterfront up to Lerwick’s Hillhead. The Lerwick Lanes were built between the 1640s and 1840s, housing rich and poor residents of the town. They give a fascinating glimpse into what life must have been like centuries ago.

We then reach Lerwick’s Town Hall, an iconic building built in 1883 with beautiful views across Shetland. On the first floor you’ll find beautiful stained glass windows, which depict various events in the islands’ history. Opposite the Town Hall is the County Buildings, including the police station, which also feature in BBC’s Shetland series.

Next to the Town Hall is Lerwick’s Garrison Theatre, which then leads you to Fort Charlotte. This 18th century fort was named after Queen Charlotte, wife of George III, and offers panoramic views across Lerwick Harbour towards the island of Bressay.

At this point, we can either make our way back to Victoria Pier, or you can spend an additional hour exploring Shetland’s Museum and Archives. We highly recommend a trip to this waterfront museum, which tells the story of Shetland’s past and its people. There’s also an excellent gift shop and three-storey boat hall.

Please note: Walking tour groups will be kept to a maximum of 8 people. If you would prefer a private tour, please contact us to discuss.