Shetland Top 10 destination-Lonely Planet

Shetland has been named as one of the top 10 European destinations by the Lonely Planet today. Not that we needed to be told

The house of Jimmy Perez

It came 6th and the only UK  destination chosen. This top award together with all the TV programmes such as Jimmy Perez `Shetland', Wild Shetland, the Island Medics and all aboard is very good news for the tourist industry.

It doesn't matter whether you see Shetland day or night, summer or winter it is an exceptional place to live, visit and work

Tengmalm Owl at Tresta

Shetland is a top place for seeing rare birds and this spring has been outstanding. To see more photos visit shetlandsfp.blogspot.co.uk

 Tall ships visit on a regular basis and there is always something interesting to see in both Lerwick and Scalloway harbours

 Lerwick

Tronda

Up Helly Aa attracts many visitors in the winter

Sumburgh Head

Rough seas at Scatness

Dales Voe

The Drongs

Lots of folk from all over the world now come to Shetland for Wool Week

Aurora on most people's bucket list

Shetland has to be one of the best places in the UK to see the Aurora, for more join Shetland Aurora Hunter on facebook and shetlandsky.blogspot.co.uk

More photos at http://amazingshetland.co.uk

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Shetland past

Spring is progressing fast, the nights are so light you can read a book outside at midnight, nearly `Simmer Dim'

Lots of old derelict  crofts can be found around Shetland and there is always something of interest inside. Many people now preferring to build new houses.

This one is at Quendale. There is now about 23,000 people living in Shetland but at this time of year many visitors arrive and most struggle to find accommodation. Its a bit of surprise to many to find 4 hotels up for sale while a brand new one, the Brevik Hotel may end up being knocked down and a replaced by a 91 bedroom hotel owned by the Premier Inn.

A recent report shows that 53% of Shetlanders live in fuel poverty, with 22% in extreme fuel poverty. Electricity is a lot dearer in Shetland and bills continue to rise to pay for the new Wind Farms. Most Shetlanders don't want these turbines all over Shetland and the decision as to whether they will go here will be made very soon.

We applied for a grant for insulation but they couldn't install underfloor insulation as the gap was too small and because we already had 100mm of loft insulation they couldn't put any more in. You have to make your house as warm as possible and these old croft with there massive stone walls are very difficult to insulate

The other night we attended a very good concert at the Garrison theatre, Shetland for Wirds'`. This was founded in 2004 to encourage the use of written and spoke dialect as a valued and essential part of the Shetland heritage.

The concert included poems, song, film a play and music  the Shetland way. I just love hearing the Whalsay dialect so make sure if you visit you make time to go an experience this speech.  At one time the teachers were made to rid Shetland dialect from the schools in favour of the English language and now with over 1/2 the Shetland population from `outside' then its vital that the Shetland Dialect and their ways are preserved.

Please take a look at my other blogs and website

http://www.amazingshetland.co.uk
http://shetlandsky.blogspot.co.uk
http://shetlandsfp.blogspot.co.uk
http://ww2preserved.blogspot.co.uk

#shetland,#Garrisontheatre, #Shetlanddialect,#Whalsay, #Shetlandheritage, #amazingshetland, #windfarms, #Simmerdim

May in Shetland

This week has been very changeable, anything from snow, hail, heavy rain, sun and cold temperatures

The cloud formations at anytime of year add a lot to any photo, the one above looking east towards Bressay

 Looking north towards Littleness at Spiggie

The croft above had just delivered 20 lambs today but this little one only 2 hours old felt the cold until it gained some body heat

Also lots of Shetland Pony foals especially in south mainland

 Had a trip north to Voe, cut short with heavy rain but managed to have a walk through the village

 Interesting to see all the mussel shells on top of an overturned boat

 A view of Scalloway, a regular view on my way to work each morning

This month, on the 17 May 2019 is Norwegian day and a large crowd always gathers for a service to remember the Shetland Bus men that lost their lives during WW2

 Shetland Bus memorial, Main Street , Scalloway

 This building at Twageos in Lerwick may be familiar, it was used as a B&B in the recent BBC1 Shetland drama. This is actually South Ness House built in 1902 and is now up for sale at £525,000

 Always worth stopping to look at the seas at Reawick, the seas are absolutely stunning

 Dramatic skies over Scatness as a storm approaches in May

Jarlsoff, a very popular destination with tourists

Why not have a look at my other sites

Blogs

www.shetlandsky.blogspot.co.uk

www.shetlandsfp.blosgpot.co.uk

www.ww2preserved.blosgpot.co.uk

and my website selling Canvas  prints

www.amazingshetland.co.uk

#amazingshetland, #shetlandsky, #shetlanddream,#shetlandsfp, #jarlsoff, #Scatness, #Shetland lambs, #BBC1 shetland drama, #South Ness House, #Lerwick

Burgi Iron Age Fort

After having temps of 14 degrees earlier in the week this weekend has gone very cold and down to 3 degrees with occasional snow and hail showers with strong winds

If you walk out from Scatness to Burgi, you have an easy walk for most of the way. There is plenty to look at with many Second World War remains and lochs holding many birds

Looking west from Burgi as the Norrona heads north from Norway to Iceland, now it no longer calls in Shetland which is a great shame

The Iron Age Fort at Burgi

Looking south east towards Sumburgh Head

Remains of the Fort

The Fort is about 1 mile SW of Scatness carpark, on flat ground for the most although you will have to go along a rocky area using a metal chain for support. Its well worth the trip at any time of year.

Looking back towards Scatness

I now have my Canvas and mounted prints for sale in Hoswick visitors centre which has just reopened after a major refurbishment. See www.amazingshetland.co.uk

#amazing shetland canvas prints, #Hoswick visitor centre, # Burgi, #Shetland, #Scatness, #Norrona,#www.amazingshetland.co.uk