Double tombolo at Ness of Sound

The last stop on this afternoon’s last trip on Yell. The double tombolo joins the island of Ness of Sound to the mainland. The first double tombolo I’ve seen. I didn’t know there was such a landform!

Wet weather this morning meant we had a relaxing g time. Some knitting and chatting was done but Susan and Rosemary, just as it would have been and still is in these islands. I caught up with journals on blip and had a strum in the Uke.

Earlier I’d achieved another Shetland ambition, a swim in the sea at 60deg 35 min N. Well I say swim, I immersed myself for over a minute. A year of morning of cold water showers helped. It felt better than a cold water shower.

Come the afternoon the weather improved so we embarked on a tour of West Yell, calling first at the nearby Windhouse, a derelict building on top of the remains of a broch and reputed to be the most haunted place in Shetland if not the UK. A red shawled lady was seen flitting past doors and a ghostly arm appearing from behind walls.

From there it was a short ride to the Herra area alongside Whalefirth to see the beach, search for more birds and spot a settlement made derelict by one of the 19c clearances. It came on to rain sharply as we arrived back at the car.

The third destination was West Sandwick to view its fine beach and walk to the site of another broch on The Brough. It was a bit of a scramble to get into the Brough but worth the effort. The rock structures around the coast here are amazing.

Finally to Ness of Sound for this double tombolo which has created the North and South Wicks (bays) of Sound. They are two very definite separated bars of rock and sand which have trapped a brackish lagoon between the banks.

Another bird was added to the list when a pair of red breasted mergansers were spotted in South Ness Wick. It took some time to properly identify them. We thought they were divers to begin with.

That’s a wrap for Shetland really. What an adventure, too many highlights to list. The Noss Boat tour must be No1, followed by Hermaness on Unst. If I came again, I’d like to study the geology of the islands in greater detail. What I’ve seen so far has been so fascinating.

Thank you for coming along on this trip with us. I’ve appreciated your time and comments. You seemed to have enjoyed the place as much as we have!

It’s the start of the journey home tomorrow. The ferry from Lerwick to Aberdeen overnight and back to the Lakes on Wednesday for a few days then on to Kent on Friday.

A day for remembering all fathers, especially those who are not with us. I chatted to my two lads, one in Kent and the other in California.