Safe Return Doubtful

I was hesitant to walk the bit of coast south of Norwick, enticingly called the Horns of Hagmark, as it’s summit, a trigg point at 167 metres, is right on the edge of the cliff. But it was a much calmer day today, and the walk up over moorland was attractive and rewarding in itself. Less wind, but heavy rain showers, made loitering less appealing.

On return I moved on from Norwick beach, south through the hub of Unst at Baltasound, using the shop on the way, to Westing beach on the south west coast. I was there alone, though a couple of locals came during the evening to walk their dogs. The rain of the morning gave way to clear skies for the rest of the day.

Though I have seen plenty of Shetland ponies, I had yet to see a Shetland Sheep dog. My mother has one, and we have had them in the family for many years. I was just about to head out for an evening perambulation when an older lady arrived with such a dog. By chance, she was the same age as my mum. We walked together and chatted, as we had both been teachers earlier in life, she, an art teacher in the three primary schools on the island. She told me that she still worked in ceramics, and each year attended the Fife Art Festival representing the islands, showing her own work, as well as other artists from the island. Our conversation continued over a cup of tea back at the van. She told me that in Shetland news today, workers constructing the new space port had discovered some Iron Age artefacts, so work had been halted, and would need special attention from now on. While we were talking Roja kept himself busy by finding a whale’s carcass on the beach, and rubbing his shoulder into it. Unpleasant, and it took some time to get him clean.

Westing Beach is another incredible stopover, with otters easily visible from the van, less than 30 metres away, with the right eye, while the left was watching the cricket.