Geo-Trips :: Shetland (2) - It's a long way to Muckle Flugga!
Unst, Shetland
A walk from Burrafirth, Sat, 4 Jun 2016 by David Purchase
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This was my first day on Unst, the most northerly inhabited island in the Shetlands. I took the opportunity to have my first sighting of Out Stack and Muckle Flugga, the most northerly islets in Britain. The walk was made more interesting by the aggressive bonxies: in this part of the world, always carry a stick or walking pole and wave it above your head when one flies near.
So, after just two days I had climbed Ronas Hill, seen Muckle Flugga and obtained photos in Myriads HP and HU. Not a bad start!
Click the blue circles to see a photograph taken from that spot and read further information about the location. The blue lines indicate the direction of view. There is also a slideshow of this trip. ( )
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The boardwalk to the Toolie cliffs
This is the main route in to the Hermaness National Nature Reserve.
The edge of Toolie cliff
The stacks west of Hermaness Hill, in [[HP5917]], are well seen here.
Edge of the cliffs on Hermaness Hill
Humla Stack ahead.
Faint track on Hermaness Hill
I am not surprised that it is faint, as the bonxies do their best to discourage... more
Out Stack
Britain's most northerly piece of land, in [[HP6120]].
Muckle Flugga lighthouse
The most northerly point in Britain which has ever been inhabited.
With sincere... more
The summit area of Hermaness Hill
Many small lochans adorn the summit just south-east of the 200m highest point.
Edge of the cliffs on Hermaness Hill
Urda and Clingra Stacks beyond.
Sothers Dale
Two small burns, East Sothers Dale (foreground) and West Sothers Dale (centre of... more
Burn of Winnaswarta Dale
Saxa Vord [[HP6316]] in the distance, the other side of Burra Firth.
Muckle Flugga lighthouse shore station
The former shore station for the lighthouse, now used as a Visitor Centre and (I... more
The lane to the Hermaness National Nature Reserve
There is a small car park about a kilometre ahead. In the distance is Sothers... more
All images © David Purchase and available under a
Creative Commons licence 
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