60 degrees north

We’re here! 
Landed on Shetland at 7.30 this morning. I’m afraid I never got Wi-Fi last night so couldn’t comment or add extras ( one added now) and after making a cuppa and not  finishing it my head hit the pillow and that was it! A good crossing.

Arriving so soon in the day we headed to Sumburgh Head the southern most point of mainland Shetland. There is a lighthouse with a visitor centre and cafe and it is an RSPB site. The cliffs were full of Guillemots, Fulmars and in particular Puffins, (Tammie Norries in Shetland) hard to choose so there is a closer shot of a single one in the first extra.
I had booked a 10.30 time slot to visit Jarlshof but we were far too early so had a look at Sumburgh first.
When it opened at 9.30 we asked if we could go in early, no problem. Glad we did as as we left a coach arrived.

I was expecting another version of Scara Brae on Orkney. It is and it isn’t and in some respects it is much more. The site similarly unearthed by a storm covers a settlement as it evolves over 4,000 years. The early part prehistoric (2,500 BC) moving through Bronze Age smelters and then an Iron Age Broch and wheel houses which are the most complete - extra 2. Later still there are the remains of a Norse longhouse followed by a medieval farm and finally a 17th century Lairds house. 
Jarlshof means Earls House coined by Sir Walter Scott who based one of his novels on the Lairds house before the rest was discovered. Well worth the visit. Interesting that it is almost equidistant between Aberdeen and Bergen so understandably of interest to the Vikings.

We went back up to Sumburgh Head for a coffee but there were two coaches there already! They were barely coping and people were getting a bit fraught. Sorry cruise lovers but this sort of thing is quite annoying. We got our coffee and a table and a wonderful view back down to Jarlshof. 
(Incidentally the annual leader of the Up Helly Aa celebrations in January here is called the Jarl)

We then went to St Ninian’s Isle a lovely white strand beach leading to a small isle. Had a walk on the beach after eating some of our ferry breakfast spoils.
Some thing crossed my path, an all white ferret looking creature, I was so
taken aback I didn’t take a photo. I mentioned it to a couple in a camper-van, she asked where we were from and we said Bingley, she replied that her sister used to live in Harden! (Our village) Jaw dropping!

Went to a visitor centre for a cuppa, another coach! and then on to the Croft House museum. Read that this was sponsored by ex Shetlanders from New Zealand!

A brilliant start to our stay here. I knew I would love it! Just corrected all the mistakes I think!