Debkakes in the UK 2022

Again anticipating a mixed-weather day, I set out for Muckle Roe and a walk to the Hams. Enjoy the photos on the link, because you won’t see them here. I didn’t make it, as the weather turned, but no regrets on this walk! I found some hidden things.

As I hiked from my parking place, I passed a farm road that appeared to go to the Hams, but I thought I’d hike along the coastline and do the 7-mile walk. Again, good intentions.

About halfway to the lighthouse, I didn’t much like the look of the path ahead, narrow, rocky. There looked to be some scrambling, which I don’t do. So I figured I’d backtrack and take the road to the Hams, which was what I wanted to see anyway.

I decided to cut across the moorland to the road, crossing Mill Burn. I deviated from the path, and ended up down in the gully with the burn. And lo! I saw what at first appeared to be a pile of stones was an old mill. The stone was intact, which is pretty unusual, I have come to understand.

I did some internet searches, but found only a couple of references to the mill. It isn’t named or marked on the OS map, which is usually pretty thorough about such things. There *is* a large Norse Mill closer to the Hams, but this little one remains….not quite undiscovered, but certainly unmarked. “All who wander are not lost,” and I was quite happy to have been a little lost, but mostly just a-wandering.

And just about here, the weather turned, and so did I, back toward my car. I would not make it to the Hams of Muckle Roe, but I found my own little Norse Mill, and a gathering of trows.

I had already pretty much learned, if you don’t complete a walk, there is a very slim chance you’ll return and repeat. So I knew the Hams of Muckle Roe would be there for a future trip to Shetland, but not this one.

15 June, 2022