Photos and the City

Tag: UK

  • West Voe Beach

    West Voe beach near Sumburgh Shetland in Scotland, white sands and turquoise water.

    The beaches in Scotland will never cease to amaze me – white sand and crystal clear turquoise water.

    West Voe beach near Sumburgh Shetland in Scotland, white sands and turquoise water.

    I just had to walk or better-said drive around the corner from Jarlshof to West Voe beach. On the left side of the photo, you see the lighthouse at Sumburgh Head in the back and just endless waves straight ahead.

    West Voe beach near Sumburgh Shetland in Scotland, white sands and turquoise water.

    It is a stunning beach and offers a beautiful walk but one has to say it is not the quietest one. At least not while I was there. West Voe beach is right next to Shetland´s airport and helicopters were flying in and out.

    West Voe beach near Sumburgh Shetland in Scotland, white sands and turquoise water.

    It might look like a Caribbean beach but probably felt a bit colder, the water was really nice though!

    West Voe beach near Sumburgh Shetland in Scotland, white sands and turquoise water.

  • Jarlshof

    Exploring Jarlshof, one of the most inspirational archaeological sites in Scotland.

    Jarlshof greeted me with my first Shetland ponies and a lovely view of Sumburgh Lighthouse – it was just a short drive from there. Beautiful situated on the southwest coast of Shetland Jarlshof is like a step by step overview of the last 4500 years – it is like a walk through history.

    It is almost as if, some 4,500 years ago, someone set aside a piece of land and declared that its purpose was to provide future generations with examples of every important form of habitation used by the people of the day. (Undiscovered Scotland)

    Exploring Jarlshof, one of the most inspirational archaeological sites in Scotland.

    The results are houses upon houses, starting in the Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Pictish, Norse and Medieval eras, up through to the 1600s.

    Starting at the entrance near the oldest buildings one continues through time, houses from the Bronze Age overlapping the Stone Age era to the floorplan of the Iron Age with souterrains and storage cellars.

    Exploring Jarlshof, one of the most inspirational archaeological sites in Scotland.Exploring Jarlshof, one of the most inspirational archaeological sites in Scotland.A broch, almost overbuilt by a house in 1604 is the next part of our history tour, houses built on houses, history stacking on history. Old stones used to build new houses, a recurring theme not only in Scotland.

    Exploring Jarlshof, one of the most inspirational archaeological sites in Scotland.

    Four Pictish wheelhouses are our next stop on our journey through history, probably the most complete houses in Jarlshof, it is possible to walk in (or better said down) and really see former generations living here.

    Exploring Jarlshof, one of the most inspirational archaeological sites in Scotland.Exploring Jarlshof, one of the most inspirational archaeological sites in Scotland.Exploring Jarlshof, one of the most inspirational archaeological sites in Scotland.

    We are standing in the middle of a Norse village, developed in the years from 850 to 1300, after that, it was abandoned for the mediaeval farmhouse right next to the village. But not for long, the farmhouse also became derelict in the 15th century or better said it was again reconstructed to become a fortified house in the 16th century.

    In 1472 Shetland formally became part of Scotland and in the mid 16th century Earl Robert Stewart became Lord of Shetland. He constructed the building now known as New Hall as his main base in Shetland.

    Exploring Jarlshof, one of the most inspirational archaeological sites in Scotland.

    In the 1600s the house, then the castle was further reconstructed and renamed “Old House of Sumburgh”. In the late 17th century the site was abandoned completely and it was the first time after 4000 years that Jarlshof was not inhabited.

    Exploring Jarlshof, one of the most inspirational archaeological sites in Scotland.

    The name “Jarlshof” was created by no other than Scotlands loved novelist Sir Walter Scott. Parts of his novel “The Pirate” were set at Sumburgh and Scott called it Jarlshof.

    Exploring Jarlshof, one of the most inspirational archaeological sites in Scotland. Exploring Jarlshof, one of the most inspirational archaeological sites in Scotland. Exploring Jarlshof, one of the most inspirational archaeological sites in Scotland.Jarlshof, a journey through history.

    Layer upon layer of settlement built up on the headland. Earlier houses were abandoned and later ones built on top. Sand blown by the wind from the nearby dunes settled in between the layers and eventually sealed and protected the whole site. (Historic Enviorement for Scotland)

    Storms in the 1890s finally revealed the hidden settlements and houses. Excavations from the 1890s up to the 1950s discovered the layers of time, houses built on houses.

    The first people to reach Shetland probably landed not far from Jarlshof some 5,000 to 6,000 years ago. Fragments can be seen of the earliest dwellings at Jarlshof, dating from around 2700 BC. (Historic Enviroment for Scotland)

    Exploring Jarlshof, one of the most inspirational archaeological sites in Scotland.

    During my visit, the small museum run by the Historic Environment for Scotland was closed, but the site was open for visits and I was able to walk around the site, except going up the stairs in the castle, these were also closed.

  • My Scottish Summer – itinerary

    It´s already been two weeks that I´ve returned to Vienna and said goodbye to my Scottish summer. Or like it is said in Scotland: Haste Ye Back, return soon!. Something I am already planning on!

    Taking a walk in Shetland, Scotland.

    But let´s start with this year´s adventure! To give a bit of an overview I want to start with a little itinerary:

    Edinburgh

    I arrived in Edinburgh and it was just a straight-on journey to my apartment in the Dalry area, where I stayed (indoors) for the next 10 days. On day 11 I set my alarm for 6 am just to take a long walk around Edinburgh. Dalry seems to be a really nice and cute area and I definitely have to come back to try out all the coffee shops and charity stores.

    Then a bus brought me (and all of my luggage) to Leith to pick up my rental car for the next 6 weeks and off we went to Aberdeen.

    I had enough time for a little stroll around Aberdeen before getting ready to board the ferry to Shetland.

    Taking a walk in Shetland, Scotland.

    Shetland

    The next morning I arrived in Shetland and drove directly to my cosy tiny house in Sandwick, just a 25-minute drive from Lerwick. Time for a little walk around the village and to the local beach. Sandwick was the perfect spot to explore the South and West of Shetland.

    My next base was situated in Yell, an island further up north from Shetland mainland. Perfect to visit Unst and explore Yell.

    And my third and last cottage was in the Northmavine of Shetland. I really did try to cover every corner of the island and almost managed.

    Taking a walk in Shetland, Scotland.

    Orkney

    The ferry from Lerwick to Kirkwall arrived around 23:00 and the island was bathed in the thickest fog, it took me almost an hour to drive to my next home in Envie, on the East coast of Orkney. When I woke up the next morning I was surprised to see my surroundings, the sea and Rousay, the next island just across the loch.

    Envie would have been the perfect place to explore Orkney but I kind of had thought that the island would be bigger and booked two other places too, one on the north coast of mainland Orkney, next to Scara Brae and then I had a few days in Stromness.

    Taking a walk in Shetland, Scotland.

    Assynt – Stoer

    I had to say bye to Orkney and went back to the mainland of Scotland and spent the next week high up in the North in Assynt. I had planned this as a week of relaxation. Traffic was busier than on the islands and it was a long single track lane, so I mostly went for walks and explored my immediate surroundings, which were amazing like Clachtoll Beach.

    Ullapool

    A quick stop in Ullapool for a fun boat ride to the Summer Isles, seeing a sea eagle and lots of dolphins before I was ready to board another ferry to Lewis & Harris

    Taking a walk in Shetland, Scotland.

    Lewis & Harris

    Again I had booked three accommodations, one right at the border of Lewis & North Harris, one in Lewis and one in Tarbert (Harris). There were a few days that already felt a bit like autumn with lots of rain. But I still enjoyed all the amazing beaches and scenery.

    Similar to Shetland and Orkney there are so many brochs and cairns from the Bronze age to explore and I loved all the blackhouses.

    Skye

    My very last ferry ride for this year brought me to Skye and it was a bit like a culture shock as Skye was so busy compared to the islands. Suddenly there were coaches and tours and just lots of people. I still had a lovely time and visited the Fairy Glen and other lovely places.

    Taking a walk in Shetland, Scotland.

    Glasgow

    I got up very early on my last day and got ready for driving back to Edinburgh. I was lucky to experience very little traffic along the way, thanks to being on the road early, and arrived back at the car rental around noon. Bye to my trusty transport and off I went to Glasgow by train. Glasgow was the next culture shock, so many shops and people and traffic and suddenly being back in a big city. But I also had the best weather ever and just enjoyed getting to know the city.

     

    South Queensferry

    My very last day in Scotland was in South Queensferry, I took the train to Edinburgh and then the bus to South Queensferry. I had booked the hotel because they usually offer a shuttle service to the airport and just learned at the hotel that this service isn´t running at the moment.

    Walked into town and got on the boat to Incholm Island to visit the Abbey and then after some time on the island we were picked up again and went for a little cruise around the Forth, saw some seals and the bridges up close.

    It was a nice way to end my Scottish summer – see you next year!

     

    All pictures are from my very first day in Shetland!