Broch Bandits

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Agnus woke with a deep concern for collecting stones today. What better place to allow her to forage free than the brochs and beaches of Shetland. We headed for a wander around the Clickimin broch off the south road leaving Lerwick.

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Having crawled through a low entrance way I found a young fellow hanging off an inner ledge, ripping energetically at tufts of overgrown grass. He informed me the brochs new haircut had to look naturally disheveled. I nearly asked if he would mind giving my own strawy locks a good going over but something about social etiquette kicked in and instead we discussed the merits of the much larger broch of Mousa located down by Sandwick off the southerly road to Sumburgh. The sheer amount of stone and density of the walls are really impressive with haunting carved footprints reminding us of its 500 BC architects. Incidently I reckon they were only a size 6, which is bordering on dwarf compared to my extensive nines.

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Next we decided to take a little jaunt down to Sandwick prior to our 5pm ferry to Orkney, spending time wandering past worn rowing boats and exploring pebble beaches, watched over by inquisitive bobbing seals, busying themselves with frolicking amongst the large swaves of silky luminous seaweed lapping against the shore. It was a calm and gentle way to spend the afternoon, topped off nicely with a visit to the ‘Peerie Cafe’ and shop for some locally made treats.

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So that’s us boarded and off to Orkney sailing on the rather functional Northlink Mv Hrossey. I wonder who we might meet this time in the bar? Agnus is busy drifting off as though drugged with chloroform, so perhaps this 5hr journey will be more sedate than our last. It seems all that pebble sifting has finally taken its toll. Fairwell Shetland. Nighty night.

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