Lerwick Cultural Tours: Top 5 Experiences You Won’t Want To Miss

Okay, so you’re thinking about visiting Lerwick, the main town in Shetland? Pretty good choice! You know, Shetland has an amazing character, and really getting a feel for its culture means hopping on one of the local tours. It really is that straightforward. And look, finding a decent tour can feel like a bit of work, so to help you out, here’s a breakdown of five cracking cultural tours that’ll give you a good look at what makes Lerwick pretty special. Expect stories, music, and maybe even a laugh or two while in Lerwick.

1. Shetland Museum and Archives Tour

The Shetland Museum and Archives? It’s almost certainly the spot to start when you want to get to know the Shetland Islands. This is it. Located right there on Hay’s Dock in Lerwick, the building is, well, pretty stylish, and really, inside is a treasure trove that covers everything from Shetland’s geologic origins to its Viking days, its fishing industry archives in Shetland and much more. They offer guided tours which do add another level of depth to the visit. As I was saying, you’ll hear tales about the sea, about island life, and maybe even get a better understanding of Shetland’s famous knitwear.

It might be a simple thing, yet don’t dash through. Budget at least a couple of hours – or maybe even a half-day if you want to take a really good look at every single exhibit. So, it is more than just looking at artefacts; you’re getting stories and a sense of identity. That truly is the long and short of it!

2. Lerwick Walking Tour with a Local Guide

You can have some amazing luck exploring Lerwick by yourself, and really you’ll get something special when you walk with somebody who knows the lanes and stories like the back of their hand. Plenty of local guides offer walking tours that lead you through the old town. So, expect to pass the Lodberries – these are the old waterfront buildings which you maybe know from the TV series “Shetland”. Anyway, you might stroll down Commercial Street, which they refer to locally as “Da Street”. Pretty quaint! The guide will probably regale you with old yarns about merchants, the fishing industry, and life on the island a Local guide to Lerwick.

A Lerwick walking tour? Typically, it lasts about two to three hours, yet those hours can offer more insight than days of wandering aimlessly. The tours tend to be rather personal. A local can really give you an appreciation for Lerwick’s character and its people. You will have your money’s worth.

3. Shetland Crofting and Rural Life Tour

Now, getting outside Lerwick gives you something very special to explore Shetland’s rural side, and arguably it offers the opportunity to get closer to the essence of the islands. A lot of tours go beyond the town. It might be that they take you to working crofts, these are small farms unique to the Scottish Highlands and Islands. I mean, these visits? Often, they include seeing Shetland ponies, which are surprisingly cute, and learning about how crofters farm in what is usually a quite tough environment. In short, the stories behind those hardy folks really grab you Rural life Tours.

You do also see the scenery, and this tour typically includes photo opportunities along rugged coastlines and expansive moorland. That said, the tours aren’t simply about admiring views; they offer insights into how people adapted their lives to suit the island environment. Tours usually run for a full day, plus the chances are very good you’ll have tea and homemade scones somewhere along the route.

4. Shetland Music and Traditional Arts Tour

Did you know that music runs deep in Shetland? It is so. Plenty of tours celebrate the islands’ heritage, especially in fiddle music and traditional crafts. You might even attend a local music session, which is really just a relaxed jam session where musicians play together informally. Very simple! Crafts are usually demonstrated: the famous Fair Isle knitting techniques. It really is something to witness Shetland Music.

Usually, the charm of these tours is in their spontaneity. It’s that kind of trip! Each session seems to give you something different. You get to encounter local talent and maybe carry with you something from their creative energy.

5. “Shetland” TV Series Filming Locations Tour

If you’re a follower of the BBC crime drama “Shetland,” that actually might be of interest for you in exploring the actual locations featured in the series. Tours typically bring you to spots in and around Lerwick and across Shetland where some scenes were recorded. That, anyway, lets you see the “Shetland” TV drama locations. It’s really good fun for a fan of the show! Expect to visit the waterfront, certain buildings, and isolated spots that appeared onscreen on TV shows.

This kind of tour offers two sides. On one side you get entertainment and fun as you track detective Jimmy Perez. More or less. Then, it offers perspectives regarding how the real landscape affected what goes into crime drama. Plus, viewing these gorgeous locations and listening as tour guides tell entertaining tales from behind scenes can enrich viewing experiences, I swear!