Want a stylish Scandi break – but don’t fancy the faff of schlepping overseas?
The tiny Scottish town of Lerwick has been dubbed ‘Little Norway’, and promises all of the Nordic fun, without requiring a flight.
Located on the island of Mainland, Lerwick has a small population of around 7,500 and is the capital of Shetland but its roots tie the town back to Norway.
The islands were once part of the Scandinavian country and Lerwick remained under the Kingdom of Norway until 1469.
Lerwick’s Nordic past is still visible today – from signs like King Harald Street to teenagers nicknaming each other names such as Thorfinn or Magnus, according to NorthLink Ferries.
Even the town’s name originates from Old Norse, and translates to muddy or clay bay.
In fact, the majority of Lerwick’s placenames trace back to the medieval Nordic language.
Lerwick, a Shetland town on Mainland, has historic links to Norway
The town celebrates the world-famous Up Helly Aa fire festival each year on the last Tuesday of January.
The festival sees people dressed as Vikings march through the streets of the town to recreate its ancient Viking past, in a tradition dating back to the 19th century.
The walk is led by the Guizer Jarl, or chief guizer, and culminates in a torchlit procession and the burning of a replica longboat.
More than 40 groups, locally known as ‘squads’, march through the streets of Lerwick during the evening torchlit procession at Europe’s biggest fire festival.
Volunteers are responsible for building the galley boat and the production of more than 1,000 torches.
At dusk, those taking part in the festival attend a host of celebrations in halls around the town.
Travellers hoping to experience Little Norway for themselves can reach it by NorthLink ferry from Aberdeen or Kirkwall.
Single adult tickets departing from Aberdeen start from £29 each way in low season and go up to £44.50 in peak.
Each year the town celebrates the Up Helly Aa fire festival where people dress as Vikings
If you want to bring your car, a low season ticket costs from £117, up to £157 in peak.
Alternatively, it’s also possible to fly in to Sumburgh Airport which is a 24-mile car journey away from the town.
One-way flights from Aberdeen to the hub are priced from £120 in January with Loganair.
Meanwhile, a night at a hotel in Lerwick can cost from around £80 for two guests during the same time period.
Getting a pint won’t set you back too much – a beer averages at £3.80 according to pintprice.com, while one in Norway’s capital of Oslo comes to around 110 kr (£8.70).
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