FIrst thing and I was out with my usual buckets to my usual ungrateful lot of animals.
I title this photo “Good luck with that!”
Breakfast for me and then off I went for a day out.
First, I had to drop off my car for its annual MOT and was picked up by Kerry in her car. She was taking me to Bressay for the day.
Bressay is the island next to Lerwick – 11 square miles (28 km2) and it is the fifth-largest island in Shetland. Population – 350 people.
We turned right off the ferry and went to see the lighthouse first, which is currently for sale. Details here.
But the gates were locked so we couldn’t have a look around like we always used to (sadly).
But the views were nice and interesting.
Definitely worth the effort.
We decided to drive around a bit before lunch and went to see the memorial cairn to honor Bressay fishermen lost at sea between 1880 and 1912.
Local history is always interesting.
And there were the excellent views looking over the southern approach of Bressay Sound to Lerwick. It’s strange to see my usual world from a completely different angle.
A delicious lunch at the Speldiburn Cafe (which had been the island’s Primary School) – great cake and a sublime hot chocolate – and off we drove to the far side of the island to see the island of Noss.
Separated by the narrow Noss Sound, Noss lies off the east coast of Bressay and is famed for its spectacular seabird colonies. I have been round it once in a boat and can attest there were birds clinging to the cliffs.
And then we drove around for a bit. I found some seals basking in the afternoon sun in the shelter of the Bressay Marina.
And then it was time to catch the ferry to go home again.
My car failed its MOT and subsequently had to remain in Lerwick so I cadged a lift home off Kerry.
A great day though, apart from the MOT failure. Thank you Kerry for the change of scenery. I needed that.
And thank you for all your kind words of support, encouragement and advice – I have taken it all onboard.
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Many years ago I took that boat ride around Noss: interesting, noisy and stinky. More recently I too went to the Bressay Lighthouse and had a yummy lunch at Speldiburn Cafe. There was also a young artist who has her studio right next to the cafe doing very beautiful work, did you see her? And Midwinter Yarns was selling linen from Lithuania, so had to get some of that. And because of Wool Week there was an exhibition of knitwear and artwork too. Silly me, I never realized that the lighthouse I can see from my hotel room at the Lewrick Hotel, for 5 years, was Bressay!
Didn’t meet any artist. Everyone packing up really after end of tourist season, I guess.
What an interesting day and a kind friend. Sorry your car didn’t pass its test but just as well to get everything put right before the winter.
Wonderful photographs and information!
Sorry about the car, hope it is not too spendy to fix.
You certainly deserved a day out like this – the view from the bench across to Noss is sublime – the colour of the water – wow, I could have sat there all day.
So could I. It was a bench to think on and make major life changes.
Thank you for the mini travelog. 🙂
Highly recommend Bressay.