CLICKIMIN
Lerwick's largest
open public space is around the Loch of Clickimin. The Clickimin Centre has
superb sports facilities, an excellent leisure pool and a well equipped
camping and caravan site. The loch is notable for its waterfowl. Mallard and
teal can be seen all year round; goldeneye, wigeon, pochard, tufted duck and
whooper swans use the loch as a migration stopover. At the southern end of
the loch is the Broch of Clickimin, one of Shetland's major archaeological
sites.
It seems that the
earliest structure, a Bronze Age house, was built on this small holm in
the loch around 600BC. In the Iron Age, further houses, a defensive ring
wall, an impressive block house and the Broch tower perhaps 12-15m high
were constructed. Later, wheelhouses were added. A guide booklet is
available from the Tourist Office.
UP
HELLY AA
On
the last Tuesday in January, nearly a thousand torchbearing guizers march
behind a Viking galley, which is burnt with great ceremony as the prelude to
a long night of revelry.
The Up Helly Aa exhibition in the St. Sunniva Street Galley Shed, open
during the summer months, catches the mood with displays of Up Helly Aa
memorabilia, photographs arid videos.
