North Sea Cruise: Lerwick
In this sixth post of a multi-part series, Bethany explores Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland on her North Sea cruise on Crystal Serenity.
Today was another wonderful day in the UK! I spent the day in the gorgeous Shetland Islands. Follow along as I do an adventurous coastal hike and then spend some time exploring the town of Lerwick.
North Sea Full Itinerary
Below is the full itinerary for the trip. This post includes details about Lerwick. Looking for info on other stops? Check out the ‘Links’ section at the end of this post!
- August 5-6: Copenhagen, Denmark
- August 7: North Denmark
- August 8: Kristiansand, Norway
- August 9: Sandnes, Norway
- August 10: Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland
- August 11: Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland
- August 12-13: Tórshavn, Faroe Islands and a sea day
- August 14-17: Reykjavik, Iceland
- August 16: South Coast of Iceland
Lovely Lerwick
This morning we arrived at the second of two islands in the north part of the UK on this itinerary: Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland. Rolling green hills and a few clouds greeted us this morning as we arrived into the port of Lerwick.
Broch of Mousa
My excursion today started with a bus ride from the cruise port through the countryside of Shetland. We drove south along Shetland’s eastern coastline, passing the fertile limestone community of Fladdabister. We stopped for a brief photo opportunity of Mousa, home to the world’s most well-preserved Iron Age Broch, standing for over 2,000 years. After our brief stop at the scenic overlook, we continued on the bus ride and crossed the 60-degree north latitude, entering into one of the world’s northernmost inhabited regions.
St. Ninian’s Isle
My excursion continued as we reached Shetland’s rugged Atlantic coastline. A walk across the striking shell sand tombolo (Ayre) lead to St. Ninian’s Isle. This is a remote and windswept landscape rich in legend. Our guide led us on a gorgeous hike around the lush green island, where we met lots of friendly local sheep and other wildlife. The views here are breathtaking!
Click through the slideshow below to see more of the stunning scenery at St. Ninian’s Isle:
We also explored the ruins of a 12th-century church. In 1958, a local schoolboy uncovered a hoard of Pictish silver treasure buried here beneath its floor.
We ended our amazing hike by walking back across the sandy beach to return to the bus.
Rerwick Beach
As we drove back to Lerwick we made one last stop at Rerwick Beach. This is a secluded stretch of coastline where seals are often seen resting along the shore. We spotted several seals, both on the beach and in the water, today!
An Afternoon In Lerwick
After my excursion ended I had some free time to explore a bit of Lerwick on my own. My first stop was for some fish and chips for lunch…because I am pretty sure it is illegal to visit the U.K. without having fish and chips! The lunch was delicious, and I enjoyed it out on a nice, sunny patio by the waterfront. I then wandered through the pretty town. I really enjoyed all of the sights, including the many narrow alleyways and all of the charming architecture.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a complete day without some ice cream! So I stopped at the local ice cream parlor for some delicious raspberry gelato before heading back to the tender dock.
Back on the Ship
Once back on the ship, I headed for The Bistro for a nice cup of tea with a gorgeous view of Lerwick.
We had a gorgeous sail-away from Lerwick this afternoon. I thoroughly enjoyed my day in Lerwick and the greater Shetland Islands. It is stunningly beautiful here!
Dinner at Osteria D’Ovidio
I enjoyed a wonderful dinner tonight at one of the specialty restaurants on the ship, Osteria D’Ovidio. Crystal has recently revamped the menu here, in collaboration with the Michelin-rated Alajmo brothers. The attention to detail, from the unique stemware (the stem of the champagne flute, for example, is ridged to allow for a tactile experience) and table decorations (each table has a uniquely decorated glass bowl filled with fresh produce – mine had some peppers) to the delightful menu, makes for a great evening.
- Carpaccio di tonno (smoked tuna carpaccio with caviar and beluga sauce)
- Ravioli di burrata con frutti di mare (burrata ravioli with mixed seafood guazzetto and tomato fillets)
- Parmigiana di melanzane (eggplant, tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil)
- Gran gelato al pistachio (homemade pistachio gelato with toppings)
Conclusion
It was a lovely day in Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland. The coastal hike was absolutely beautiful, with breathtaking views and stunning scenery. I also really enjoyed a relaxing afternoon in Lerwick, wandering through the quaint cobblestoned town. This is a really beautiful part of the world, with a laid-back atmosphere and very friendly people.
Links
Check the main page for this cruise to read more about my adventures:
Click the button below for more information about Crystal Cruises:
