Hi all.  I just posted at Lighthouse Lovers about the island of Unst and this might well be of interest to all island lovers who don't shy the cooler climes.

Muckle Flugga Lighthouse, Unst, Shetland Isles, Scotland
The most northerly lighthouse in the British Isles

A very important light in these dangerous water, pounded on one side by the North Sea and by the mighty North Atlantic on the other. 
Numerous dangerous rocks lie submerged only 7 mtrs below the sufface between the Shetland Isles and Muckle Flugga light is the all clear for the northern passage. 
Often storms rage at force 10 or even 11 (max is force 12 on the scale and approximates a grade 5 Katrina)

The Shetland Islands were long more Norwegian than Scottish and even ran the "Shetland bus" during the last world war II.  The Norwegian flag isn't a stranger on Shetland

The Shetland Bus was the popular name for the clandestine naval operation in World War II between the Shetland Islands (Scotland) and Nazi-occupied Norway. ... read on at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shetland_bus

Also articles at: www.shetland-heritage.co.uk/shetlandbus/  www.norway.org.uk/culture/heritage/shetlandbus.htm and many other sites/bookes

See the site of the northernmost island of the British Isles at http://www.creekcrofthouse.co.uk/Gallery.htm (site by Paul Thomson) and also Paul Thomson's website at http://www.paulthomson.com

Unst

Situated in the wild North Atlantic, less than 200 miles from Norway and on the same latitude as southern Greenland, Unst is the most northerly populated island in the British Isles.
(Location map: http://tinyurl.com/6bwump - zoom out 5 times and then left once to see big picture from Greenland, Iceland, The Faroes, The Shetlands, Norway)

Although small in size – it is a mere 12 miles long by 5 wide – it possesses magnificent scenery, a special culture and an extraordinarily rich natural and cultural heritage.  You can't get more than 3/4ml away from the sea on Unst.

The closest city is Bergen, Norway 200mls whilst Aberdeen by boat and road is 270mls, Edinburgh 396mls and London is 805mls away.  
Lerwick (main town of the Shetlands and 55mls to the  is equidistant from Thorshavn/Faeroe Islands to the west (356km/221mls), and Bergen/Norway to the east (356km/221mls). 

See more pics at http://www.saxavord.com/
At http://www.saxavord.com/about-unst.php you can see Bobby's Bus Shelter (the most famous bus shelter in the world) and you can read about Unst's wildlife at http://www.saxavord.com/unst-wildlife.php

Right now, the killer whales are back since Aug 2008 and otherwise, expect to see Harbour Porpoises, White-beaked and Risso's Dolphins, White-Sided Dolphins, and Minke Whales amongst the mammals and plenty of seals abound

Bird lovers get to see Fulmar Petrels, Gannets, Puffins, Kittiwakes, Shags, Black Guillemots and Gulls - to mention a few.  Read on at http://www.saxavord.com/unst-wildlife.php

Cheap accom?

Take a look at the CreekCroftHouse site (above) or at the UK's northernmost youth hostel at http://www.gardiesfauld.shetland.co.uk/

Surfing?

Would be just great if it weren't so dangerous and so cold.  If you are not used to single figure centigrade temps (i.e. 50f or lower), forget the sea anyhow.  Lovely beaches in the Shetlands though

More info or making a tour Iceland - Faroe Isles - Shetlands - Scandinavia then check out http://travel.holidays.com and also its Travel Reports site (linked at options)

Cheers / Slane lhiats
Gari the * in the Isle of Man

PS  Gustav blow just passed this way Fri/Sat and our supermarket supplies ran out.  Expected soon are the blow outs of Hanna and Ike

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I am planning a tour to Unst and found this article very useful...Thanks for posting this article.

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