Lerwick, on the Shetland Islands, Scotland, is often nicknamed “Little Norway” due to its historical ties to the Scandinavian country. The town was part of the Kingdom of Norway until 1469, and the name “Lerwick” actually means “bay of clay” in Norwegian.
During World War 2, Lerwick served as an operational hub for the “Shetland bus – Little Norway” operation, where small Norwegian fishing boats arrived in the town to run clandestine missions and rescue refugees from Nazi-occupied Norway. The village looks very similar to Norwegian coastal towns, featuring the distinctive Scandinavian architecture and colourful timber-framed houses. Lerwick is a beautiful, picturesque little town and the perfect winter getaway for those who want to experience idyllic Norwegian scenery without leaving the country.
On Facebook, some visitors said that “the landscape looks much more like Norway than Scotland”.
Another visitor said on Tripadvisor that Lerwick has “numerous fascinating buildings including old warehouses which go right down to the edge of the water”.
Another one commented that Shetland is “a fantastic set of islands with wonderful scenery”. And a third one added: “Shetland is wonderful. It’s all about scenery. Along with Orkney, it has a completely different feel to the rest of Scotland with its Norse heritage. (They both belonged to Norway until 1472.) The Shetland Museum in Lerwick is excellent.”
“Lerwick is a stunning town full of history and beautiful buildings, all telling a story. Some of the most interesting buildings are the Lodberries overlooking Lerwick Harbour.
“Lerwick offers many opportunities for beautiful walks, exploring fascinating historical attractions and enjoying fun family activities.”