Roger's Walkabout : Shetland 06/06/25

Lerwick to Unst Friday 6th June.

The overnight ferry to Lerwick was excellent, it was a nearly smooth crossing and I managed to sleep well in what they call a Pod which is really just a fancy reclining seat.

First sight of Lerwick

An early morning arrival into Lerwick gave me a chance to look round and see what was worth going to look at when it opened.

Nice Shetland skiff by the museum

The old castle walls with its cannon, that were never used in anger, were interesting and a walk out to the Horse of the Nab for the view down Bressay Sound well worth while.

Defence against passing yacht

Back to the Shetland museum then which was a bit of a disappointment as the boat sheds were closed. The rest of the museum was good with excellent displays of artifacts from Neolithic to modern times and an interesting section on the geology of the islands.

Model fishing boat

Lunch then a long bus ride via two ferries to Haroldswick in Unst. There is a massive wind farm on mainland Shetland with a forest of overhead power lines connecting them to Lerwick, very unsightly.

Shetland from the bus

I walked from Haroldswick along a tiny road to Burrafirth and then onto the National Nature Reserve at Hermaness.

Burrafirth

The walk out to the top of the hill across the bog is easy as there is a new boardwalk that takes you most of the way, no wet feet!

Boardwalk across the bog

I had hoped to camp overlooking Muckle Fluga, the most northerly lighthouse in the British Isles, but the ground was either too steep or too wet so I continued the loop down and south above the cliffs.

Muckle Fluga lighthouse

There are spectacular numbers of Gannets nesting on the cliffs and offshore rocks here, a birdwatchers paradise.

Out Skerry on the right, the most northerly bit of the British Isles

I thought that I might have to go back to Burrafirth to camp near the beach but then I came across some beautifully rabbit nibbled turf with a flat bit just above the cliffs, perfect.