What a difference a day makes!

After yesterday's monsoon conditions the weather today could not have been better. Immediately after breakfast we headed off to to visit the Broch of Gurness (an iron-age fortified tower).

The Broch lies at the southern end of the Sands of Evie, or Aikerness, arguably the best beach on the West Mainland. The area is good for wildlife and within a few minutes we had seen seals, an otter, mergansers, eider duck and a great northern diver. The white beach is also said to be very good for Spoots (Razor Shells) at extreme low tides.

Sadly this beautiful area has known tragedy and violence; about 1630 a young girl was accused of child murder and sentenced to death. In the manner of the times she was "to be taken to Olly Smith, the lockman, have her hands bund behind her back, convoyed by the said lockman to the oise mouth, and drowned in the sea to the death".

Zoomify to see the sand and water at their best.