thelonious

28/04/2017 – I wasn’t going to visit this one but walking by on the track, a short inviting ride appeared with the cairn, a lovely green, at the end saying hello. So off we went, would have been rude not to really. The grassed over cairn sits on a small hillock giving it extra height and seems to have a natural little spur on one side leading up to it. Not the most exciting but little effort needed to see if you are passing.

27/04/2017 – Just a little bash to the south east of Loch Borralan East chambered cairn is this fine cairn. It has a little stream running by it and like most cairns round here, a lovely view.

27/04/2017 – Thanks Gladman

27/04/2017 – Walking back over Cnoc Breac from Rubha Na Seilcheig cairn, we passed this pile of stones which had a look of a robbed ancient cairn (or hut circle?) to me. There are lots of lumps and bumps in the area so probably just wishful thinking on my part. Nothing’s listed on Canmore. Be interested in folks’ thoughts on the photos on whether it’s a maybe?

27/04/2017 – Parked at the Elphin tea room (friendly place and does fine coffee and cake). Headed up over Cnoc Breac which is a lovely hill with interesting geology. Short walk east from the top to this cairn. Great placement overlooking Loch Urigill and fine views to the big hills. Nice place to spend an afternoon.

17/04/2017 – OK the bad news first, on the megalithic side there is little to see. The good news is that there is now a pop up cafe at the top. Along with stones, coffee and cake plays a very important part in my life so this cafe came as a most welcome surprise. It must have one of the best views of any cafe I’ve been to. Having a coffee and sitting by the window looking out over Sumburgh to Jarlshof and Ness of Burgi far below – a fine place to while away some time.

One minor bit of bad luck, this is the second time I’ve been to Sumburgh Head and the second time I didn’t see any puffins in one of the best places for them! I don’t think they like me.

17/04/2017 – I can’t tell you how happy we were when we arrived to see the open today sign. Missed this place on our last trip to Shetland a few years back. Great to make it this time round.

A fiver to get in and you are given a guided tour round the site. The tour was excellent and the site itself is just fantastic. Bigger than it looked from the outside. The south mainland of Shetland has some lovely old stuff to see and this site is a must visit.

17/04/2017 – Morning walk to Clevigarth Broch. Access OK from North Town, just past Exnaboe. I think you can walk round the coast as well which could be nicer but we unfortunately didn’t have time to try that way. The Broch is really just a big pile of stones now but two cells are exposed in the walls. Location is good and just to the south are The Cletts where you might get lucky and see a fish fossil. Weather was changeable today, sunshine one minute, heavyish snow the next. I liked this one.

16/04/2017- If you are visiting Ness of Burgi it’s worth stopping by the blockhouse at Tonga on the way. Similar to Ness of Burgi but not in as good a condition. Enclosed by a bank and ditch with fine views. Though near the path it’s easy to miss as you walk past.

16/04/2017 – Just over three weeks ago I was in Somerset, making my way up to Lype Hill. I remember at the time thinking I bet that’s where Carl parked by the entrance to the field which contains the cairns. A few weeks on and at the other end of the British Isles, as we passed the end of the public road, south of Scatness I thought again I wonder if Carl parked there? It’s like I’m following his shadow. Always good to think about fellow TMAers and their trips whilst visiting a site. Probably would have missed this one if I hadn’t read about it on here. Anyway I’ll stop waffling and get on with my thoughts of the trip and site.

It had been a long day so far with a trip to Fitful Head and a lovely walk round the sea cliffs there. Great for birds and top views. After a walk along the beach at Bay of Quendale and then through Toab we got to the turn off for Scatness. I was tired but really wanted to see Ness of Burgi so a quick bit of chocolate for power and off we headed south. The walk isn’t that long and it’s quite gentle. As others have mentioned it gets a little narrow near the end but no problems in good weather.

I really liked this site. Location is fantastic with great views over to Sumburgh Head and back to Jarlshof (a place this site is surely connected with?). The Blockhouse is defended by two ditches with a bank. It contains a passageway and two cells which you can go into (hands and knees job). The walls are good and the site has a nice blockiness to it.

Really worth a visit alongside Jarlshof and the broch at Old Scatness if you are in the area and the three together make for a good day out.

15/04/2017 – We walked over from Midi Field via Hallilee to the north for this cairn on top of Ward of Scousburgh. You can drive up to the summit as well if you have a car. Not the most exciting cairn to be honest and the nearby antennas could detract from the scene for some, they don’t bother me much. The views are very good from this one so it’s worth going just for that.