Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland

Lerwick is the capital and main port of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, located more than 100 miles (160 km) off the north coast of mainland Scotland on the east coast of the Shetland Mainland. At the crossroads of the North Sea and North-east Atlantic, Lerwick Harbour is Britain’s “Top Port” – the most northerly commercial harbour in the country. Lerwick takes its name from the Old Norse Leirvík, meaning muddy bay.

Lerwick, Shetland’s only burgh, had a population of about 7,500 residents in 2010 (although about half of the islands’ 22,000 people live within 10 miles of the burgh. 

Lerwick took a long time to grow. Most of the sandstone buildings on the waterfront date from the 18th century, although a few, such as 10 Commercial Street, are older.