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Mon 1 June 2009
Shetland Marilyns
From the anchorage at Sumburgh we climbed Fitful Head, near the cliffs of which the oil tanker Braer came ashore some years ago. The main road crosses the end of the recently extended airport runway, and we were briefly held there on our return as a plane took off. A S4-5 gave us a fine sail north, passing inside Mousa to view the Broch, and out to Noss Head to see the bird cliffs towering above us. A sizeable sea had built up there which added to the dramatic situation. In contrast, it was peaceful in Lerwick where we berthed in the Small Boat Harbour, meeting up again with Willie in Quaver. We were the only two Brits among the Norwegians, Finns, Danes and Dutch. A short ferry crossing took us over to Bressay, where we climbed the Ward, groaning at yet another set of hilltop communications masts. A better walk the next day was from Cunningsburgh to Royl Field (photo of Foula from there) and along the hills forming the spine of the south mainland to Scrae Field. This part of the island is so narrow that we had views of both east and west coasts. Andrew left us at the end of his trip and we made the short trip north in perfect weather to Whalsay and took a visitor's berth in Symbister, a harbour busy with inter-island ferries and inshore fishing boats.
Posted by skipper at June 1, 2009 10:03 AM
Comments
Sadly, if the groan-worthy hilltop communications masts weren't there, you mightn't be able to blog about them (or anything else)!
Fin
Posted by: Fin at June 1, 2009 08:15 PM
Hi there Brian and Maggie. I've just cought up with your blog again and am interested to read about your time in Orkney, especially that you managed to get to the wee island of Rousay, the island on which my mother was born. I have fond memories of Orkney holidays. I hear Jim is joining you soon. Have fun. moira
Posted by: Moira at June 3, 2009 05:21 PM