Scalloway and its castle

Scalloway is the old capital of the Shetlands and has been an important fishing port for centuries. The harbour is dominated by the walls of the ruined castle built in 1599. I visited it today and was delighted that it was open and free to enter with a reconstructed staircase that allowed me to reach the top floor.

I could have uploaded dozens of pictures today, from boats returning to the harbour to fulmers nesting on the grassy cliff-face of a geo. It turned into a glorious warm sunny day as we travelled north to Unst. I'll produce an online album in due course as the Internet connection here is slow - like the pace of life! There was a warm welcome from our Shetland relations, a walk along the stunning coastline to the little graveyard where my parents ashes were interred, returning to sit and bake in the garden of the croft in the late afternoon sun. This is the first time the sun has felt really warm this year - so strange that I am in the most northerly island in the UK!