A short ferry ride from Unst is the little “garden” island of Fetlar. With a population of only about 60 people, it is sparsely inhabited, but rich in beauty. We only had a day, but if I go back to Shetland, I plan to spend several days. There are loads of Viking ruins I didn’t get to see, but we did find these remains of …something… right by the ferry station. As you can see, we had a stunningly gorgeous day to do our hike.
Brough Lodge is currently being renovated, a project that’s been going on for a few years and didn’t seem to be very active the day we were there. It’s the ancestral home of the Nicholsons, and built by Arthur who was a real piece of work (as many of the English-born lairds were). He decimated the local population in favor of…….sheep.
The last part of the loop was on paved roads. We started the walk at the Loch of Funzie because I had hoped to spot the summering red-necked phalarope. But alas, it was not to be. I heard later they had been hanging out in the PARKING LOT. Grrrrrrrr.
Back home and packing up, I took a couple of last photos of our croft house.
Our last sleep in Unst. We were pleasantly pooped from our walk, packed up, and ready to leave for Aberdeen on the 5:30 ferry out of Lerwick the next day.
But was I ready? This was the end of my full month in Shetland, and I felt very sad to leave. These islands had welcomed me, I met many wonderful folks along the way, but also spent many, many solitary hours on my walkabouts and relaxing in my various comfy digs. Each place I stayed was so different. Who would have thought such a relatively small geographical area could hold so many different landscapes and treasures?
You should all try to get to Shetland. It is like no other place on Earth.
28 June 2022
Debkakes in the UK 2022 
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