Lerwick, Shetland | Britain's most northerly town

In this video in our Shetland series, we visit Lerwick, the capital of the Shetland Islands, learning something of its history and seeing its streets, lanes and buildings.
Music from 'The Authentic Sound of Shetland' CD (produced by Shetland Islands Council)

[@goldenchild4835]

My grandfather left Shetland in the 1890's, while in his late teens to become a seafarer. He would eventually settle in Sydney, Australia. I have walked Lerwick's streets, wondering if we might have shared a particular place, albeit separated by a century.

[@hencytjoe]

In contemporary Swedish, the word for muddy bay would be "Lervik" which is almost identical to the name. Lera meaning mud, vik meaning bay, linguistic syntax making the A disappear and it's LERVIK. I. Love. It.

[@hencytjoe]

PS. Lervik could also mean "Smiling Bay", Le (smile) Ler (smiling)

[@vide-yo3336]

In modern English, it means: No one cares because it is not a Swedish town and its name is not Swedish. The current name is derived from a Norn term, and both Norn and Swedish derive from the same language, which is Old Norse. So, no direct link between Lerwick's name and the Swedish language. The same was, the city of Lyon's name has no direct relationship with the Italian language. Its name derives from a Latin word and Italian is a language that is derived from Latin, but both have nothing to do with each other. London's name is also of Latin origins, but it doesn't mean that it has anything to do with Italy or the Italian or French language, for example.

[@whatwhat3432523]

​​​​@@vide-yo3336never heard about norn before, but looked it up. As someone who live in Western norway, it was easier for me to read norn then old norse. Understood everything written in Norn easily word for word, with no problems whatsover. Pretty cool 😁 since there are two norns: Shetland norn was easier then orkney norn, strange they are so different. Lerwick means mudbay, or leirvik. And is cleary a norwegian name, that probably changed a bit over time as the language changed. There are multiple towns called Leirvik, Larvik in norway and farao islands aswell.

[@hamstsorkxxor]

​@@vide-yo3336 Well I care, and I think it's awesome how the meaning of the name "Lervik" is still easily understandable in nordic languages like Swedish and Norwegian. Shows the living heritage of the etymology and stuff, really cool. The fact that it isn't a Swedish or Norwegian town is a non sequitur, I don't understand why you even brought that up. You sounded downright insulted, the way you said it, like why be mad about something interesting?

[@brucemackenzie4952]

Beautiful, must make the trip to Shetland. Love the Shetland theme.

[@susanallsopp4730]

Really enjoyed this, looking forward to more x

[@leslaw210]

Excellent. Well filmed and a nice, natural presentation.

[@Whitby_Abbeys_Ghost]

I need to visit this place! Too beautiful!!

[@stewartmathers9831]

Worked there in 1979 painting the school at the time as a teenager remembered her going to the queens the lounge and the jubilee 77 great memories

[@Is..4110]

I'm an American subscriber to Britbox and Shetland has quickly become one of my favorite shows.

[@Enbix]

This is so relaxing. Great video.

[@lubamoscarda]

Very interesting videos, thank you for making them.

[@raymondsawyer8626]

I thoroughly enjoyed my holiday in the Shetland Islands,I hope too visit again

[@damonturnbull5903]

Can't wait to go! Come on Feb 2022

[@lindaking9222]

Beautiful place...been there...🇨🇦

[@perdizes1954]

I would like very much to visit this so remote island

[@brunkerj]

Thank you. Like so many, I will just spend a day visiting Lerwick from a cruise ship. Wet or dry, my plan is to walk about the town and that which surrounds it. Here in California the landscape is very different. I look forward to 'feeling' this part of Scotland. Such a delightful and informative video.

[@philmorr]

Many thanks. I hope you enjoy your day in Lerwick. Don't miss the Shetland Museum, but depending when you are coming you may have to book on-line in advance at www.shetlandmuseumandarchives.org.uk

[@stephencostin2616]

Superb video, very enjoyable

[@thecelt471]

Loved visiting there a couple years ago.

[@craigslotsalot]

I miss shetland. used to live there

[@Sonnyboy346]

Tell us what you liked about living there, please.

[@patrickpat4931]

Very nice place to live and visit

[@soriaguerrero5799]

Muy bellisimoooo que precioso todo cuanto cuidado y prolijidad la musica el mar divinoos graciaas por su video Sonia Guerrero de Argentina 💝💝💝🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋

[@philmorr]

Muchas gracias Sonia

[@blackfield1885]

looks so calm and peaceful, would like to visit and explore one day

[@bobby6743]

its wank

[@mariapierce2707]

@@bobby6743 really? 😁you mean boring?

[@NoraLexie]

I absolutely adore Lerwick. What is the name of the song that plays at the beginning of this video? I remember listening to it while in the Shetlands.

[@philmorr]

Its 'Golden Goals' by the Shetland folk band Fullsceilidh Spelemannslag.

[@jamesdunn922]

Very good video

[@robw7676]

I wish we knew more about Neolithic, bronze & iron age Britain. It is very intangible, full of snippets and mystery.

[@michaeltaylor1026]

Nice to see a natural view without all the hype, i live on Yell Shetland.

[@gorsmy]

I met 2 lovely ladies from lerwick on holiday in Benidorm

[@alsinclair5589]

Indeed🥳

[@Alom2007]

Is there any hotel to stay night by 10 pound per day?

[@LauraKayne-zt8dk]

I really want to move to shetland

[@pauls3204]

You mean Scotland's most northerly town, BBC don't even put it on the weather map half the time ! been there loads of times, nice town lots of lovely old buildings .

[@philmorr]

I took the words 'Britain's most northerly town' from the leaflet produced by the Shetland Amenity Trust and Shetland Islands Council.

[@AkshaySinghJamwal]

Scotland is part of Britain, along with Wales and England. The title isn't inaccurate.

[@markjackson2145]

morning

[@johnhenderson9257]

Ever heard of Kirkwall

[@inanordinaryway]

what?

[@jackincorporated8480]

Ever heard of a question mark?

[@daveboy1247]

Yup Orkney which is South of Shetland.

[@l.aw.t9727]

@@jackincorporated8480 calm down lol he's only asking a question wank

[@VoeShetlandLiveCamera]

you mean the town 121 miles south of Lerwick, that Kirkwall?

[@fionamclean5706]

Scotlands most northerly town🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿get it right!!!

[@captroft]

It’s part of Britain, you get that right. Did you even go to school?

[@jimmyj8415]

Not even the most northerly town

[@VoeShetlandLiveCamera]

Depends what you class as a town...

[@jimorr5580]

Its Scotland most Northern town

[@postscript67]

Do you Nats have to poison everything with your petty-minded claptrap?

[@jimorr5580]

@@postscript67 I am not a Nat stick that where the sun doesn't shine

[@skorrie3849]

@@jimorr5580 Well, they are giving that a second thought.

[@georgeasmundwiik6688]

@@jimorr5580 it is not Scotland's anything. Nothing to do with Scotland, it was given to The UK in a wedding Dowry, from the king of Norway, yeah.. Hyliiggi bra, takk.

[@jimorr5580]

@@georgeasmundwiik6688 Was never given to the UK it was given to SCOTLAND get that into you're head nothing to do with the UK

[@weefish12]

Scotland's most Northerly Town.

[@postscript67]

Do you Nats have to poison everything with your petty-minded claptrap?

[@Adam-gq7gk]

Pathetic

[@skorrie3849]

We are giving that a second thought.

[@daveboy1247]

@@postscript67 Independence is Normal

[@McGregor43]

Britain is a both a geographical and political term. If you Nats don't like this island being called Britain then come up with a new name or stop complaining.

[@johnwalker4089]

Nice video with one major mistake, in that Lerwick is not in Britain

[@philmorr]

Thanks for this. Have you contacted Shetland Islands Council, Shetland Amenity Trust, Shetland Heritage etc., because they use the appellation 'Britain's most northerly town' on their information leaflets etc., and I took the phrase from them? So its their 'major mistake'.

[@johnwalker4089]

@@philmorr no I’ve not contacted them, nor have I any intention of doing so , sad they don’t know their own geography

[@PerthTowne]

Great Britain is the large island that contains England, Scotland, and Wales. So geographically, I guess, none of the island groups like Shetland or the Orkneys are part of Britain. But given that Shetland is part of Scotland politically, and Scotland is part of Britain, I'm sure that's why they categorize it that way.

[@mrennie5158]

@@philmorr it's definitely their mistake. They should know Lerwick isn't on Britain, or Great Britain to give the beautiful island that's home to England, Scotland and Wales it's proper title.

[@Sheltie1001]

Shetland isn't on Great Britain but it is in Great Britain. I should know I live there.

[@annemoncrieff3875]

What is wrong with folk nowadays. Oh the play area looks a 'little steep'. Yeh well dear so r stairs, hills, sometimes pavements. Can't a child fall and learn something nowadays. As a younster I fell quite a lot when playing just part of life. U learn from it. Can't stand these over protective folk. This play area was put in quite recently so wld have been assessed. Gotta take accountability somewhere for úr child or grandchild otherwise don't have them. It is attitudes like this that have left us with a workforce of pple who cannot take criticism, cannot be told 'no' etc.it is always someone else's fault. Crazy!

[@Micazasdebandito79]

Calm down love.

[@bradleybradbradley11]

Full for slags this place!!

[@ceekay4109]

Worth a visit then? 🤣

[@defundthebbc8110]

I hope they get their independence from Scotland and take their oil with them, Shetlands oil, not Scotlands oil