Nestled on the remote Shetland archipelago, the town of Lerwick has earned an impressive accolade: it is officially Scotland's cleanest place. With a near-perfect 98.7% cleanliness score awarded by Keep Scotland Beautiful, this northernmost major settlement in the UK combines pristine streets with dramatic, often overlooked natural beauty.
A Journey to the Remote North
Reaching Lerwick is an adventure in itself. The town of 7,000 residents is situated further north than Saint Petersburg and on a similar latitude to Anchorage, Alaska. Visitors can opt for a flight to Sumburgh Airport or embark on the more atmospheric, though lengthy, Northlink ferry from Aberdeen. The ferry journey across the North Sea is renowned for its formidable swell, a test of even the hardiest traveller's stomach.
Arriving by sea as the morning light breaks reveals a scene more reminiscent of coastal Norway than traditional Britain. The seafront is lined with rows of dark grey stone houses and a charming jumble of 18th-century buildings, interconnected by narrow cobblestone lanes.
Life in a Tidy, Temperate Climate
Life in Lerwick is shaped by its isolation and subpolar oceanic climate. The community has a long history of self-sufficiency; the town's first major electricity supply was only switched on in 1953. The weather is unforgiving, with sunshine present just 13% of the year and a record high temperature of only 25.8°C. Winter brings less than six hours of daylight and frequent storms that can disrupt shipping for days.
Yet, this climate fosters a stunning environment. The beaches near Lerwick are breathtaking, with bright blue waters and long sandy arcs often shared with hundreds of basking seals. The landscape is dotted with sheep, particularly in spring when lambs frolic across the hills.
Traditions and Meticulous Maintenance
To combat the long winter darkness, Shetlanders created the famous Up Helly Aa festival. This spectacular January event involves a torchlit parade of guizers in costume and culminates in the burning of a replica Viking longship. True to the community's character, the deliberate mayhem is swiftly followed by a thorough, efficient clean-up operation.
This commitment to tidiness is a point of local pride. Brian Rae, operations manager at Keep Scotland Beautiful, praised the efforts of Shetland Islands Council and the hundreds of volunteers who participate in the annual 'Da Voar Redd Up' clean-up campaign, which helps maintain the exceptional standards.
Despite its cleanliness award, stunning coastal scenery, and rich cultural heritage, Lerwick remains one of the UK's least visited destinations. In 2024, only 89,000 visitors made the trip—a figure that, while 9,000 higher than in 2019, still seems modest for a location offering such unique intrigue and a spotlessly clean environment.
