Burra Firth

At Burra Firth this afternoon for a short while.

The beach and what was once a small golf course bordering it.

Crofts of Burrafirth far right.

The old Muckle Flugga lighthouse shore station, converted to private accomodation some time ago. The building also houses the Scottish Natural Heritage Hermaness National Nature Reserve warden and interpretive centre during the spring and summer. The old RAF 'golf ball' early wearning radar station is visible on the top of Saxa Vord.

A nearby Fulmar.

Back at Lerwick, the Stenna DrillMax is still moored at the north end of Lerwick Harbour.

Unst Black Stork and a few Halls

Went looking for yesterdays Iberian Chiffchaff at Halligarth, Unst. Stood under the trees and saw and heard nothing Chiffchaff-like at all - there was no sign of it today. The Black Stork was still there however, around the Loch of Brecksie area just north of Uyeasound. As it was ringed its origins have been traced - it was originally ringed as a chick in northern Hungary (close to the Slovakian border), in June 2007. It was also seen in Hungary in 2008 and the Netherlands in 2009. For more information on this bird's wanderings click here.

Didnt photograph much else - apart from the Wind Dog Cafe @ Gutcher and the carvings on the wall there & a few more halls.

The talc mountain on Baltasound Pier is increasing.

North Unst Hall, Haroldswick.

Cullivoe Galley Shed, Yell.

North Ness Hall, Yell - just north of Ulsta.

A relatively new hall, and easy to miss as its up the hill from the main road.

Muness Castle, Unst

Muness Castle (Scotland's most northerly castle), is in the south east corner of Unst, not far from the rocky headland of Mu Ness. From the Unst ferry terminal at Belmont follow the main road north west for two miles, then turn right for Uyeasound. To get to Muness Castle follow the road through Uyeasound, from where the castle is signposted.

Much of the two-and-a-bit storeys of a three storey z-plan Castle remain. Unusually the corner towers are circular rather than square and on the remaining two corners of the castle are outcrops of decorative corbelling that would originally have supported turrets at the second floor level.

In its heyday Muness Castle would have had a walled courtyard on its south west side, complete with ranges of outhouses probably comprising additional accommodation, a bakehouse, brewery, stables and perhaps a chapel. These have long since gone, though their stone is probably still on view in the nearby buildings.

A single well protected door in the south west wall of the castle gives access to the interior. The ground floor comprises a large kitchen and a series of cellars, one of which is now used to display decorative stones and loopholes from the castle.

The first floor comprises the main hall of Muness Castle, the centre of social and business life. At either end are chambers. The principal chamber is at the far end from the main stairs. And from here the remains of a private spiral staircase can be seen winding up towards the no longer present second floor.

There are some resemblances between Muness Castle and Scalloway Castle as both were built around the same time, and by the same family. Muness Castle was built by Laurence Bruce, the half brother of Robert Stewart, the Earl of Orkney.

Laurence Bruce was appointed Sheriff of Shetland and set to work with a corrupt and cruel enthusiasm that was characteristic of the family. When Robert Stewart was succeeded by his son, Earl Patrick, Laurence Bruce felt threatened by the change. He therefore started building Muness Castle in 1598, even before Patrick Stewart set to work on Scalloway Castle. Both castles were designed by Andrew Crawford.

Bruce had good reason to feel concerned for his safety. In 1608 Earl Patrick arrived in Unst with 36 men and artillery, intent on capturing or destroying the castle. And they might well have succeeded had they not suddenly withdrawn for reasons that have never been explained. But it was only a temporary reprieve. In 1627 French raiders attacked and burned Muness Castle. It seems to have been repaired, but was no longer in use by end of the 1600s.

In 1713 the castle was rented to the Dutch East India Company to house the salvaged cargo from the Rhynenburgh, which was wrecked nearby. The Bruce family sold Muness Castle in 1718, and by 1750 its new owners had also abandoned it. The castle was roofless by 1774.

http://shetlopedia.com/Muness_Castle

Bits & Pieces

Its no shield friday - so here are those extra pics that never seem to make it onto the blog & have been sitting around for a while waiting for a shield break (there are more shields coming though).

Voe War Memorial

Sullom Hall

Brae Hall

Mousa Sound Interpretive Board - situated at the viewpoint alongside the north Sandwick turnoff.

Uyeasound Hall, entrance door front left.

Memorial Stone along roadside above Baltasound Pier.

The most northerly UK Masonic Lodge, number 1654 Aurora, Masonic Hall, Hagdale, Baltasound, Unst - just north of the Baltasound Garage.

The decorated Baltasound Bus Shelter or 'Bobby's Bus Shelter'. It used to have its own website but the link is no longer active.

Balta Sound Interpretive Board (note the space as its the 'sound o Balta', Baltasound is the village).

Baltasound Hall

Unst welcome sign and boat-shaped Glockenspiel (or metallophone). This is at the Unst Ferry terminal - Belmont. The boat has varying lenghts of metal tubing & the mallets to play it are also at the boat.

sorry i couldn't resist it - here's a new shield.........