LERWICK, SHETLAND ISLANDS

We shall embark on our tour to the island’s most southerly point. We shall travel directly to Jarlshof where we will walk through time. The archaeological remains at Jarlshof extend over a time span of more than 3,000 years from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages and can be seen as a microcosm of Shetland history.

Other than the Old House of Sumburgh the site remained largely hidden until a storm in the late 1800s washed away part of the shore, and revealed evidence of many ancient buildings. Formal archaeological excavation started in 1925 and Jarlshof was one of two broch sites, which were the first to be excavated using modern scientific techniques between 1949 and 1952. Although the deposits within the broch had been badly disturbed by earlier attempts, this work revealed a complex sequence of construction from different periods. Buildings on the site include the remains of a Bronze Age smithy, an Iron Age broch and roundhouses, a complex of Pictish wheelhouses, a Viking longhouse, and a mediaeval farmhouse. No further excavations have been undertaken since the early 1950s and no radiocarbon dating has been attempted.

After our time here, we can then look out for Shetland’s famous ponies on the return to our ship.

TOUR NOTES: This tour involves a moderate amount of walking over mainly even terrain and there are two steps at the entrance to the Visitor Centre, which is wheelchair accessible. All passengers must be able to board the coach unaided. We will spend approximately 60 minutes at Jarlshof and we will have a guided tour. Please note that the buses used may not have air conditioning or toilets. It should also be noted that our journey to and from Jarlshof will be a direct route, rather than a scenic one.