Safe Return Doubtful

    I spent five days on Fetlar in the end, the van not moving from its wonderful setting just above he beach, and in that time probably met most of the islanders. Each day I wandered past the cafe, which acts as a shop, post office, and information centre…

  The ferry over to Fetlar takes half an hour. They run twice a day from Unst, and also from Yell at this time of year. There was one other car on the boat I was on, a family going over just for the day. With a big smile, the…

  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…

The RAF have had a military presence at Saxa Vord, on the opposite side of the inlet or voe, to Hermaness, since the Second World War, with a Radar Station on the hill, symbolised by its radar tracking huge golf ball, similar to Great Dunn Fell. It closed in 2006…

  Just over 600 people live on Unst though as many tourists will be around in the summer months. Few of those tourists stay on the island though. Now, in Unst Fest week, most visitors are here for the day from Brae or Lerwick.   Hermaness is the destination of…

  Just across the hill from Mu Ness Castle is Easting Beach. Parking is at Hannigarth, a spectacularly situated holiday rental property. From there it is just a kilometre’s walk across the field to the sands of Easting.   My exploits today began here. These days are with a strong,…

  In July 1881 ten of twenty six haaf fishing boats were lost in a storm just a few miles northwest of Gloup. 58 fishermen lost their lives, all from small communities, with Gloup being hit the heaviest. Haaf fishing already had a name for being dangerous, using just 30…

  Not everyone relishes a nine hour Atlantic storm and 60 mile per hour winds and torrential rain, but I do. To take pleasure in the van rocking around and the rain drumming on the roof will seem strange to many. Skill is required to position the van so as…

  The border in question is the strait between Mainland and Yell which I crossed on Wednesday evening, after a calm in some squally weather. A rainy morning had led to little physical activity other than a journey on foot up to the renovated house that I had admired for…

  Sand Voe was recommended to me as a good starting point for the trek up to Fethaland, which though it may sound like a pillow outlet, is actually a stark and beautiful part of the Shetland coastline. The usual starting place for the hike is just over the hill…