Meeting the neighbours

My home at the moment. An otter family went swimming by a few evenings ago. Spotting them was a challenge as it was a particularly dark afternoon. This weekend I may be found hiding behind a rock for hours to spy on my neighbors (of the marine variety).

Searching for Sandy loch

To avoid disrupting some men from their task of moving sheep to a new field, I changed my plans and reversed the direction of my loop walk. This meant my walk started across a moor towards the ocean, along the coast, and then back over Ronas Hill to the car. Looking at the map, my plan was to head for Sandy loch...figured it would be recognizable...distinctive red hair and a smile. Then head just to north of it to come out at the coastline at some dramatic cliffs and waterfall.

Bogbean in the first loch.

Sand in Sand

People have been living on this land for thousands of years. As I explore the land, there are constant reminders of past inhabitants and how the distribution of humans has changed. The Haa (laird's house) is still present at Sand and I believe at one point, Sand was on the main east/west route. On the day of my visit, I enjoyed the beach to myself with only a few sets of footprints and paw prints as evidence of recent visitors.

Heading to 60° North

I have said goodbye to Glasgow to pursue my dream of living in a more remote environment. Of the many lovely places in Scotland, Shetland tops my list. When an opportunity popped up, I jumped. For weeks after moving, it felt like a holiday even as I tackled a new job. It feels a bit more real now.  In many ways, this move is like my move to Scotland. I am moving into a new environment and there are many reasons why it may not work. So thankful for the opportunity and we will see how it goes!

Balancing act

It is nice to know that even the natives have trouble staying upright in the wind.