Mousa, Shetland Islands
After a peaceful night at sea the National Geographic Endeavour anchored a short distance from Mousa, one of the many small islands in the Shetlands. Ashore we could see the broch of Mousa, the finest example of these stone structures found throughout the British Isles. Once ashore we had the opportunity to walk the paths that crisscross the island. Nesting terns, skuas and fulmars let us know when we'd strayed from these marked trails. In small groups, we visited inside the broch where Vinnie spoke in depth about these unique stone towers and how they factored into the history of the people who inhabited this land. Steps located between the inner and outer walls led to a parapet some 40 feet above the base. There is a question as to whether this structure was employed as a fort or a place to defend against invaders or simply a home, but it certainly affords excellent views of the surrounding country.
Sailing north from Mousa the National Geographic Endeavour was close to the island of Noss. Here, towering sandstone cliffs rise some 600 feet from the sea and are home to tens of thousands of guillemots, fulmars, gannets, puffins, and others. Binoculars and cameras were trained on the spectacle until lunch was announced.
Our arrival in Lerwick coincided with the culmination of a week long celebration highlighted by the start of the sailboat race from Shetland to Bergen, Norway. Tents filled with vendors and live musicians crowded the dock. It seemed a very busy place for a Sunday afternoon.
Our bus took us to Jarlshof, one of the most important multi-period archeological sites in all Britain. This site represents an exceptional example of thousands of years of civilization, each layered one upon the other.
The newly opened Shetland Museum is a marvelous facility that offers fine exhibits for all interests and all ages. While we had an hour to wander and wonder, many felt that days would be needed to absorb all that was on display.
After a peaceful night at sea the National Geographic Endeavour anchored a short distance from Mousa, one of the many small islands in the Shetlands. Ashore we could see the broch of Mousa, the finest example of these stone structures found throughout the British Isles. Once ashore we had the opportunity to walk the paths that crisscross the island. Nesting terns, skuas and fulmars let us know when we'd strayed from these marked trails. In small groups, we visited inside the broch where Vinnie spoke in depth about these unique stone towers and how they factored into the history of the people who inhabited this land. Steps located between the inner and outer walls led to a parapet some 40 feet above the base. There is a question as to whether this structure was employed as a fort or a place to defend against invaders or simply a home, but it certainly affords excellent views of the surrounding country.
Sailing north from Mousa the National Geographic Endeavour was close to the island of Noss. Here, towering sandstone cliffs rise some 600 feet from the sea and are home to tens of thousands of guillemots, fulmars, gannets, puffins, and others. Binoculars and cameras were trained on the spectacle until lunch was announced.
Our arrival in Lerwick coincided with the culmination of a week long celebration highlighted by the start of the sailboat race from Shetland to Bergen, Norway. Tents filled with vendors and live musicians crowded the dock. It seemed a very busy place for a Sunday afternoon.
Our bus took us to Jarlshof, one of the most important multi-period archeological sites in all Britain. This site represents an exceptional example of thousands of years of civilization, each layered one upon the other.
The newly opened Shetland Museum is a marvelous facility that offers fine exhibits for all interests and all ages. While we had an hour to wander and wonder, many felt that days would be needed to absorb all that was on display.
