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Human settlement in Scotland
Photo: Bob Embleton, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Sumburgh is a village near the southern tip of Mainland in the Shetland Islands, with a population in 2011 of about 100. Its main attraction is Jarlshof, continuously inhabited for 4000 years. For convenience other visitor sights and amenities in the bottom ten miles of Mainland are also described here, up as far as Sandwick which is the access for Mousa Broch.
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A site with over 4000 years of human habitation, with structures from the Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Viking and Medieval eras.
The Head has a lighthouse and visitor centre open in summer, and Nature Reserve open all year. Take care near the east cliffs, which not for nothing are called "The Slithers".
An Iron Age Broch and village, discovered when the main road was built in the 1970s. It was re-used in the Pictish, Viking, medieval and early modern eras.
Restored corn mill, built in 1867.
Small museum in a traditional croft house, restored as for 1870.
Baronial-style small hotel with decent bar and restaurant. Very near Jarlshof and airport.
Bus 6 runs from Lerwick daily every 90 min or so, stopping at the airport, Jarlshof and hotel.
Read in the guideThe airport, hotel and Jarlshof are a short walk apart. You need wheels to reach the further sights.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Lerwick, Shetland · Regional · LSI
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