A busy day starting with parkrun on Bressay, a visit to Sumburgh Head Lighthouse visitor centre, the remarkable prehistoric archaeological site of Jarlshof, and St Ninian’s Isle.
The RD and Lucy coming off the ferry with most of the rest being parkrunners too.Bressay parkrun – most northerly in the UKAnd now our most northern too as it’s a little further north than Tøyen in OsloI believe it’s the only UK parkrun on public roads, albeit very quiet ones.A fabulous breakfast afterwards too, at the community cafe run entirely by volunteersLater, a visit to Sumburgh Head – part of the skull of a sperm whaleThe obligatory puffin photoThe engine room at the lighthouseA former lens from Cape Wrath lighthouseThe East radar hut, instrumental in thwarting what could have been a catastrophic raid on the Home Fleet in April 1940.The fog horn, no longer in use, was so loud it could be heard on Fair Isle.Later we visited Jarlshof, a fascinating place with overlapping buildings from the Bronze Age right through to the 17th century, many very well preserved.
A Pictish wheelhousePart of the site from the top of the manor houseThe main road crossing the runway of Sumburgh AirportSeals in the Bay of ScousburghThe tombolo linking the mainland to St Ninian’s IsleSt Ninian’s chapel dates from the 12th centuryHeading north back to LerwickViking longship outside our hotel
11 June – The North
Last day on Shetland and we took two ferries across Yell to Unst, visiting Hermaness nature reserve, at the northernmost point of the UK.
Our two north-bound ferries, from Mainland to Yell and onwards to UnstHeading to the top of Hermaness HillThe semaphore station which was used to transmit messages between the lighthouse and the roadFrom the summit, the lighthouse and Out StackMuckleflugga LighthouseOut Stack, northernmost point of the country100,000 sea birds live on the cliffs hereA spaceport is under construction at the most northern village in the country. Watch out aliens.A replica Viking longhouseNext to the longhouse is this replica longship, built in Sweden with the intention of sailing to Newfoundland but only making it as far as Shetland
The White Wife as we explored the east coast of Yell on the way back to Lerwick
And so we wended our way back to Lerwick, and took the overnight ferry to Aberdeen, after two fascinating and enjoyable days on Shetland (three counting Fair Isle).
12 June – Falkirk Wheel and the Kelpies
Our last trip together to the Falkirk Wheel had been before it opened, though Lucy had been alone, so it was a good opportunity for a fresh visit, including a boat trip on the rotating wheel.And never pass up the opportunity for a game of crazy golf.
Afterward we went for a short, if very hot, visit to see the Kelpies – previously glanced from the road at high speed, but much better appreciated on foot.
13 June – Shap
We stayed overnight at the Shap Wells Hotel, somewhere I’ve stayed a number of times with work, and always come away having seen red squirrels in the neighbouring woodland, so Lucy was very keen to pay a visit, and the squirrels did not disappoint.
Before setting off decisively homewards, we paid a visit to Shap Abbey – somewhere I’ve been near on a number of occasions, and regularly seen signs and seen it on a map, but never visited, so just time to put that right.
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