Are you a twitcher? I’m not but I do like watching birds….the feather variety. In summer many migratory birds visit the Shetlands especially the cute puffins. Today we are off to do a little bird watching.
The birds settle in their own areas on the cliff. Guillemots at the bottom near the water, different gull species next and then puffins.The puffins burrow towards the top and may burrow up to 1.5m into the cliff. The noise is deafening.
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Sumburgh was the site of the oldest lighthouse in Scotland. This has been replaced and moved down the hill. The new , 1900’S , lighthouse was designed by Robert Louis Stevenson’s family.Apart from Robert, they were engineers into trains, bridges and lighthouses. In fact they built the first brick ones,
Now if you like quirky accomodation, you can stay here in the lighthouse keepers cottage. A bit annoying to have your peace shattered by tourists walking around but that is not all day. Rain and mist will soon get rid of them. During the war, it was a radio base for the Air Force.
Just down the road is an archeological site. Storms ( they have spectacular storms here- buildings and sheep get blown away,) exposed some rocks . You are taking a walk after the storm and you trip over the rocks. Would you recognise they were part of a building? Not me but a farmer started to dig and found a settlement built on another and another. It is called Jarlshof. The first buildings were from the Neolithic period, then bronze,iron, and so on until the 1800s.
Now in between the Wheelhouse and the longhouse was the Pict period. Remember them, very artistic ,warlike but we’re happy to have a quiet life. Their houses were based on the wheelhouse design but they also built Brochs. Archeologists don’t know their purpose but they were substantial round buildings with no windows.Stay tuned cause you are going to one later.
Sleeping area at the end, cosy sitting area and then the barn. It would slope away from the living area for cleaning. Later period Croft’s were based on this traditional Norse style
Huge structures built built on top of others. It was a beautiful site beside the ocean.
You may need a brain rest from all of these facts but there is a mill down the road that’s been restored. It has a collection showing a crofters lot.
Is your brain in overload mode.Guess what, you can have a break. I know a place down the road that is doing Sunday teas. Local organisations raise money by hosting a tea. Everyone contributes and for a mere £4 you can eat as many sandwiches and cakes washed down with copious cups of tea or coffee. It reminded me of a CWA do in the country.
You need a nap? Just because you are on holiday doesn’t mean you have time to sleep. There is a choice of retail therapy in a wool shop or a heritage centre before we catch the ferry to the Broch.
I now have a beautiful cardigan.😀
Its a two kilometre walk to the Broch. It is the most complete one in Scotland complete with internal stairs.Now stay on the path, avoid the sheep calling cards and watch out for birds.
Now don’t whinge. I know it’s raining and you are just a wee bit wet. Look at that Artic tern. It’s travelled 9000km. 
You are going to the hotel now,..shower,,.dinner …..bed.
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