Events / FestivalsUp Helly Aa

out of 100 points
based on 2 reviews
No. 1 out of 4 Events / Festivals in Lerwick

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Close to a hotel that is good value for money. Deals Hotel Kveldsro House Double Room (per night) 10.03. - 11.03.

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£130

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£149

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£160

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ReviewAll reviews

out of 100
Overall rating includes:
90
Accessibility
95
"Must See"-Factor
100
Ambiance
80
Suitable for Children

Address Shetland Island Tourism Market Cross
Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland
ZE1 0LU

Telephone: +44(8701)999440

Fax: +44(1595)69587

Websites

Official Homepage
Hotels nearby

Surroundings

Shetland Crofthouse Museum
(0.2 miles)
Smyril Line
(0.4 miles)
Northlink Ferries
(0.4 miles)
Shetland Folk Festival
(0.4 miles)
Clickimin Broch
(0.4 miles)
Monty's Bistro
(0.4 miles)
Flavour of Shetland
(0.4 miles)
See Shetland Tours
(0.7 miles)
Tingwall Airport
(3.9 miles)
Scalloway Castle
(4.4 miles)

External reviews Events / Festivals Up Helly AaAll external reviews

_Other online-newspape r

80%

excellent

According to the author, even the obligatory Burns supper pales in comparison to Up Helly Aa in Shetland, so when they happen to fall on the same day, "theres no contest". For one night Shetland stops being Scottish and "goes Norse, big style". Originally, this festival had the goal to "spook the spooks", that is to say to frighten evil spirits, and disguises were used to protect participants from the "trows (trolls)" taking revenge. The current festivals are fairly true to the original intention and "all manner of devils" are mocked and "embarrassed", but for the last century or so, "lon [more]

Rough Guide Guide

80%

perfection!

The Up Helly-Ha festival that takes place in the streets of Lerwick maybe one of several, but it is "the largest" and "the most spectacular". Regardless of the weather, it involves around "nine hundred torchbearing participants", all of them male, who dress up in "extraordinary costumes". The procession follows a "grand Viking longship". Each year, one of the participants is appointed "Guizer Jarl" and along with his "squad" he dresses as a Viking wielding "shields and silver axes". The other squads dress up in a variety of costumes, from "space invaders" to "ballet dancers". At the end [more]