rhythmaning | North

I am going away.

I am going as far north as it is possible to be and still be in Britain.

Well, nearly. I am going to Unst, the most northerly inhabited of the Shetland Isles. Muckle Flugga, an island which is home to Britain's most northern lighthouse, lies just off the coast, and there are a few rocks just north of that, too.

I am staying in Britain's second most northerly hamlet, Haraldswick (Saxa Vord is a mile north east) for a week. It is barren and, at this time of year, light; this time of year, there are 16 hours of daylight in Edinburgh (at least, there would be were the sun shining) - when I am in Shetland, there will be nearly 18 hours of daylight.

I had thought of going in April, but given the weather we have had for the last month I am glad I didn't. The attraction of April was, paradoxically, the long evenings: more chance of seeing the aurora. (Not if it is cloudy, obviously; which it probably has been.) The downside of April is that it is early in the season for birds. This is also an upside, since it would have meant that the bonxies would be less likely to attack me.

But still, the nearer the solstice, the better (with some chance of aurora...!).

So - lots of walking, though no big hills; lots of birds - I've even bought some binoculars; a fair bit of wine, beer and whisky - although it is still out of season on Unst, and the pub doesn't open until the end of May, so it shall be very much self-catering.

What I hope to see

puffins
gannets
skuas
eagles (sea or golden, I'm not fussy!)
otters
that's OTTERS
seals
whales - there is currently a pod of orca around Shetland, sperm whale off the Scottish east coast, and minke are common visitors (but hey - sperm whales would be cool!)
vikings - no, really
a famous bus stop
oh and maybe - just maybe - the northern lights