Scalloway, Sumburgh and the otter!

The last week or so has been a very busy time indeed...

All starting last Friday when we arrived in Scalloway to spend the weekend with our dear friends Brian and Madeline that we first met back on Unst at the Baltasound Regatta.  It all kicked off with a fishing competition in the evening about 3 miles out just off the island of Hildasay. It was bright and sunny with a good stiff breeze and the fish were biting well.  Mine was the tiny catch of about seven mackerel and a cod which had to go back as it was so peerie! 

Heading out and back in again!

Saturday morning saw the start of the sailing regatta with some very fine Shetland Maids on the water.

After a brilliant weekend at Scalloway, we headed south and spent a couple of days at the delightful St Ninian's Island. The sun shone through and produced some wonderful warm days and superb sunsets.

Looking out over Bigton Wick.

The colours seem at their very best about half an hour after the sun has set.

The famous tombolo leading to St Ninian's Isle.  The finest and largest example in the British Isles

Then it was off to Sumburgh Headt to see the puffins and do some whale spotting...puffins a plenty but sadly no cry of 'tha she blows'. The puffins are so fascinating... we could sit and watch for hours...I think we did!

A gathering of puffins!

Goodness me they're hard to capture in flight!

Our last day was spent on the east side at Lunna Ness, famous for being the hub of The Shetland Bus.  After a good walk around the headland, we headed back inland to have a spot of supper. As we sat beside a ferry terminal eating, suddenly right beside us in the water, splashed an otter!  It was manic as we rushed to grab the camera to capture the moment, but the little fellow obliged accordingly as he swam and dipped before settling on a rock.  He posed beautifully for us!  

What fascinating and wonderful creatures and despite a white hide of a motorhome, it was unfazed!

All in a day at Lerwick

We went out at about lunchtime for a stroll into Lerwick,  the weather slowly improving as we made our way around the southern headland known as The Knab and back towards the harbour.  As we started heading north again we were taken back somewhat to see looming above the rooftops a huge cruise ship. It was the 90,000 ton Brilliance of the Seas making a short stop-over in Lerwick.  As we got nearer the harbour, we started to come across dozens of tourists of varying nationality all wandering about and clicking away with their cameras.

Ok I guess if you like that sort of thing...personally we prefer the comfort of a good motorhome! 

Top of the range Maid on the jetty in Lerwick Harbour. Although I much prefer the older boats, I cannot deny that this is one pretty and fast looking little ship!

As much go faster gear as you would expect to get on any top of the range racing dinghy!

Now that's not something you would expect to see very often

By about 7pm  the day had turned into the most lovely Shetland evening, the sun shining through and that quiet and stillness that you only can get in Shetland, even in the capital of Lerwick.

Skeld to Sandness

A wonderful sunset at Sandness on west mainland yesterday evening, but then the mist started rolling in and we thought it would be ruined. Instead of that however it simply looked stunning, rolling in over Papa Stour.  

We went to bed on a drizzly but very still  Sunday evening, quite close to the water by the pier at West Burrafirth but we woke in the morning, beside this bus stop which was about 5 miles away!  During the night, it blew up a howler so in fear of our lives we decided to 'up anchor' and relocate to somewhere more sheltered. Ah, the perils of wild camping!

Our new location might not be so scenic but at least it was safe!

One of the lovely old water mills at Sandness, used to grind flour

A shot almost into the sun but I still like it!

Enjoying some lovely late afternoon sunshine at Sandness

I think this could be an Otter's creek, as we found a 'haul out' spot with broken sea urchins, close by.

Yell to West Mainland

After the trauma of Harry's breakdown...which really turned out to be

nothing at all to be concerned about, we spent a peaceful night beside the beach at West Sand Wick and it was just the ticket! The sight waiting to meet us in the morning was just wonderful; the sun was shining through and the wind just blew a calm north easterly.  Some early morning photography was just the order of the day.  We had the place to ourselves all morning until a lady we now know as Anne turned up on her bike.  We sat chatting for some time whilst she waited for her husband David, who had been out fishing, to arrive.  Some time passed and Anne was a little concerned that David was taking a little longer than she expected to arrive so we offered her the use of a mobile phone and she called him.  Half an hour later he turned up with a load of fresh filleted mackerel for us!

Anne and David told us of a newly constructed marina with  a small touring site at Burravaoe on the south west of the island, complete with a much-needed washing machine. Later in the day we headed in that direction just after I had caught sight of my first Shetland bumble bee!

The lovely beach at West Sand Wick

On the causeway at the Wick of Vatsetter

Cooking up the mackerel fillets kindly given to us the day before

The morning view over Vatsetter with mist rolling down from the Ness of Lussetter

The view on the Wednesday morning with the salmon farm in near distance

On our way to catch the ferry at Ulsta we once again pass The 'Windhouse' where Skeletons were found beneath the floor and walls. It is now believed by many to be haunted and I do not think we would argue over that possibility!

The lighthouse at Esha Ness on West Mainland where we spent the late afternoon, evening and night!

It was a lovely evening as we waited for the sun to set

It was not disappointing!

Next day, 'Kate Humble' up and ready to explore on Esha Ness

Seals a plenty near the 'Burro Stacks' at the headland on Esha Ness

The natural arch on 'Muckle Ossa'

 

Dore Holm

Stacks a plenty!

What pleasure when you can just pull up and enjoy!

Breakdown!

After leaving Unst we arrived on Yell at about 7pm in the evening and took advantage of the wifi at the Gutcher ferry terminal and any otter spotting opportunities as apparently the ferry terminals are a well known location for seeing them.  No luck though, so to date only David has watched one and that was at about 4am at Norwick following a 'call of nature visit'.

We headed north west towards Culivoe with a brief halt at the pier to pick up water and use the loo's.
Our stopover for the night was near the beach at Brekon beside another graveyard.  We sat here late into the evening enjoying a lovely sunset and looking out over the bay.

Needing to nip to the shops the next morning before a wander on the beach and Harry wont start! After a phone call to splendid SMC motorhomes in Newark who do our servicing, it turned out to be a slightly loose battery terminal. Panic now over, blown 50 amp fuse also, now with a temporary fix to it.  Perhaps one of the residents in the graveyard objected to us parking there!

Saturday was another fine day and we had a nice stroll along the beach before heading off the evening to West Sandwick beside another beach.

Breckon Beach

                                                                   The Gloup Memorial 

Erected in 1991 to commemorate the 58 men lost in a storm on 21st July 1881. Thirty four widows and eighty five children were left without husbands and fathers.  Gloup was one of the most important haaf (fishing) stations in Shetland and the men would go out some 30 to 40 miles in open boats known as 'sixareens', 

What a site to greet you first thing in the morning; the beach at West Sandwick.  

West Sandwick

Last day on Unst

Probably not the best day to choose to visit the old top site, in particular we wanted to see the old fire section. David is just about visible standing in the doorway!  900 feet (yes feet) below, the island was bathed in glorious sunshine. It made it all more like the 'ghost town' experience! 

  

Old top site fire section.

We walked up to what I remember was known as the 'Type 80' which you can just about make out through the gloomy low cloud

'

Then it was back to Norwick beech for one last look.  No wind today and the sun was gently shining through, could almost think this was in Cornwall except we virtually have it to ourselves!

Ginny standing almost exactly to on the spot where I have a picture of my Mum, Dad and Clare taken during a visit in 1976.

1976 and yet another visit by my Mum and Dad.  They really loved this place, as do I.

The rocks seen in the photo above are now below the sand, except for the sloping flat faced rock to my left.

It's such a popular place that Skegness is sign posted...southerly!

Oh well, all the tourists do it so here we are visiting that now famous bus shelter!

At the Uyeasound sailing club we had been told we would find 'Huney.'  She is probably the last surviving RAF Albacore and was on the water back in 1975/76 being sailed by my old pal Steve Dawson. Huney is the red boat suspended from the roof.

This is me at Muness Castle in 2013 and the picture below is of my Dad taken in 1975 at almost the same spot.  He was mad about castles and a visit here whilst on Unst would have been very high on his list of places to visit.  

The castle showing very little change over the past 38 years

All too soon it was time to say goodbye to Unst. We have had an absolutely fabulous time over the past two weeks and it was hard to leave and catch the ferry to Yell.  After a long day on Unst it was nice to settle and enjoy a beautiful sunset on Yell at 'The Wick of Breckon.'