Saturday 3 August 2013

Shetland isles

While the rest of Scotland was sweltering in hot weather mid July, a bank of low cloud hung over these most northern isles! This necessitated a few tweaks to our planned walks but we still enjoyed a pretty packed programme, walking on Muckle Roe, Papa Stour and St Ninian's Isle.
Sadly our flight to Fair Isle was cancelled (only 1 flight went out that week!) but we substituted a long circular walk to Fethaland, visiting the old haaf fishing station instead (photo attached). A real treat!
The cliffs of Hermaness proved unwalkable due to high winds, heavy rain and bad visibility, but there were plenty of photogenic puffins at Sumburgh Head the next morning to compensate.
Eventually the sun shone on our last day on Mousa, where we had the island to ourselves, and continued to shine as our ferry home passed Fair Isle which was looking splendid in the evening light.