Red-throated Diver

The aim today was to visit the Granite Broch at Culswick, on the way we diverted to see the Haa of Sand, and C18 manor house built in 1754 for Sir Andrew Mitchell using stone from Scalloway Castle (including coats of arms which were lost when the ship carrying them sank). I particularly liked the hairy gatepost finials covered in lichen like a woolly hat - the owner told me they were due for cleaning, which seemed a shame.

Our route took us past Easter Skeld where we saw a group of Terns sitting around and this Red-throated Diver swimming in the loch. Not the clearest of photos but a positive sighting.

We found the starting point to the broch by the Methodist Chapel, which we explored with interest.
The sign to the broch clearly stated 1.5kms but after plodding on for quite some time with no sign of the broch we concluded that there had been a serious mistake but, having committed so long to the walk and the weather being fair for a change, decided to continue. As a compensation we were lucky enough to watch a pair of Red-throated Divers on one of the small lochs on the way.The broch is unusual in being constructed of granite, sadly much of the stone has disappeared but there are wonderful coastal views from there.

We returned by the same path to the car (short-cuts are not possible, according to our neighbours who tried and failed), sought refreshments at Walls Bakehouse then crossed the Walls peninsular with its peat workings to Melby where we pottered around the beach hoping, in vain, for sight of an otter, before returning to the cottage.

Backblipped after return from holiday.