After a great night sleep we arrived early in the morning in Lerwick, at least I think ... it is extremely misty. Hope it will get better later today. As it is too early to register at the guest house I am driving to the far south end of the Island, where there is the Sumburgh reservation. Next to the lighthouse many birds can be seen, especially the Puffin. Great looking bird and not afraid of people, at least most do not fly away, so it is relatively easy to take pictures. Although a bit less misty, still not a clear sky, but no rain.

From there I went North again and stopped at a visitors center where I decided to go to Mousa later. It is a small Island with the most famous Broch (sort of a very ancient Castle).

From Wikipedia:

It has one of the smallest overall diameters of any broch, as well as one of the thickest wall bases and smallest interiors; this massive construction (as well as its remote location) is likely to be the main explanation for its excellent state of preservation.

Located on the island of Mousa , it stands some 44 feet (13 m) high and is accessible via a single entrance at ground level. Once inside, a visitor may ascend an internal staircase to an open walkway at the top. It is the only broch which is complete right to the top, including the original intramural stair. It is built of dry stone with no mortar, thus any disturbance could cause a great deal of damage. The characteristic hollow-walled construction is very clear at this site.

The broch went through at least two phases of occupation. In its original condition it doubtless contained a complex wooden roundhouse with at least one raised floor resting on a ledge or scarcement 7ft (2.1m) above the ground. This floor was probably reached by the stone stair inside the wall. A second scarcement about 13ft (3.09m) up could have supported a second floor or a roof. The entrance passage was low and lintelled with flat slabs and a water tank was cut in the underlying rock. There was also a large rectangular hearth resting on the rock.

Some time later a low stone bench was added round the base of the inside wall and this extended a short way into the entrance passage. The wooden roundhouse may have been demolished at this point; it was certainly demolished before the small wheelhouse (with three projecting stone piers) was built in the interior.

These Norse occupations are probably reflected in the fact that the original low lintels of the broch entrance have been torn out (their stumps can be seen), and the outer doorway doubled in height (it has now been restored to its original low level). This implies that the interior and the entrance were full of debris so the Norsemen had to raise the roof of the passage to get in.

We were with only 5 people on the Island (the walk was about 4 Km) but with numerous birds and also some Seals.

Many birds are nesting and especially the smallest ones made you feel like in "The Birds" as they were protecting the little ones.

Going to the Island was already a real exploration, coming back even more. You could not see more then 20 meters and it felt like being in the movie "The Biggest Storm". Although the waves were lower, it was a bit creepy. But as you can see I got out alive :-).

Tomorrow Yell and Unst.