Jarlshof to Sumburgh Head
On a glorious morning we set out for the southern tip of Mainland Shetland to visit Jarlshof and Sumburgh Head – there’s a lovely cliff walk between the two sites. We started off with morning coffee in the Sumburgh Hotel and thought we might be back in time for lunch, but there was so much to do that we only made it in time for afternoon tea and cakes. Not complaining….
You might think Jarlshof sounds like a Viking name, but it was actually coined by Sir Walter Scott. It’s my favourite of all the archeological sites we visited on Orkney and Shetland because its multiple layers cover such a long period from the late Bronze Age to the Middle Ages. The picture at the top of the post shows the remains of a medieval farmhouse. There are also oval-shaped Bronze Age houses, an Iron Age broch and wheelhouses, Viking long houses and a 16th century laird’s house. The site is run by Historic Scotland and includes a small visitor centre.
After a wander round Jarlshof, we set off along the cliff-top path, with the lighthouse at Sumburgh Head clearly in view ahead of us.
It’s not very far, but there were many stops to look over the cliff edges (safely!) to see birds – so many birds. The puffins are my favourite – and presumably John’s too as he took umpteen photos of them.
We spent a lot more time at the lighthouse than we expected – I don’t remember there being such an extensive visitor centre last time we were there. You can even rent holiday accommodation there if you wish (though not in the tower itself).
Finally, it was time to turn round and return to the Sumburgh Hotel via the other side of the Head. As the lighthouse retreated into the distance behind us, Sumburgh Airport came into view ahead, and from there it was a short drop down to the hotel.
I’m linking this post to Jo’s Monday Walks. I wonder where everyone else is taking us this week?
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
This looks like a fantastic walk. I’m happy you’ve posted so many photos. They’re beautiful. I espeically like the farmhouse, it ‘s a glimpse to such a different time.
LikeLike
Thanks, I know – such a rich history.
LikeLike
Looks like if Scotland gets good weather there’s no better place to be. Great photos of the Puffins.
LikeLike
All the time we were there we were getting bulletins about the bad weather at home, so I think we were very lucky!
LikeLike
I love those cliffs! Those are fabulous.
We have puffins nearby as well. They hang out on a nearby uninhabited island, so we’ve gone on a boat tour out there to see them — though the last time we went, we found out there were orcas in sight and made a beeline to see them, cutting short our puffin viewing — no complaints.
LikeLike
Lots more cliffs to come! No more puffins though, not this time anyway. There are other great places to see them in Scotland too.
LikeLike
Oooh, puffin-tastic! Great photos!
LikeLike
Thank you! On behalf of the photographer.
LikeLike
Back for my Scotland fix. The “umpteen photos” made me laugh. The cliffs remind me of the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, one of my favorite places that we visited many years ago.
LikeLike
“Umpteen photos” covers a lot of sighing on my part. Cute as the puffins are it gets quite boring having to wait while lenses are changed, just the right angle is sought etc etc! I haven’t been to the Cliffs of Moher, but I know there are lots of similarities between Ireland and Scotland.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha, ha, I can imagine. The Cliffs of Moher looked very much like the cliffs in your photos. I could have stayed there all day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Puffins!!! And Nordic houses!!! Those two alone would make the trip worth it. I love puffins…. Like the civilized uptown gentleman cousin of the penguin. 🙂
LikeLike
Seems everyone loves puffins! They can’t help being adorable.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a beautiful place. Must’ve been wonderful walking through those ruins, standing in that very place. And the birds look amazing (interesting beak color). Thank you for sharing the history behind the place, brings me just a tad closer to the area.
LikeLike
Glad you liked it Silvia. There was an amazing sense of history about the place – and the beautiful birds too.
LikeLike
Oooh, GOOD one! I love this, Anabel! One I could definitely see myself doing. I really love that opening shot and the puffin close up is gorgeous. 🙂 I think you make a good double act!
Many thanks for the link 🙂
LikeLike
Well, we do! I agree.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just yesterday the hubby and I were discussing how cool it would be to go to Newfoundland to see puffins – I think he would enjoy this as much to see them!
LikeLike
I would love to go there too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that is a walk! You see, to me, that is a long walk:) I love the old settlements and wonder what those niches are. I love puffins and watched a show about them and how those other birds (in your photo) are nasty to them.
LikeLike
A lot of the sites we saw had built-in niches for beds, shelves etc. Fitted furniture, they were very modern!
LikeLike
Those Puffins are lovely! 🙂
LikeLike
Aren’t they just!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Really enjoyed my walk with you this morning. Thanks for dropping by and visiting the Bata Musuem.
LikeLike
Thanks Jackie! I enjoyed Bata too.
LikeLike
A most enjoyable walk, Anabel. The lighthouse does look worthy of some time spent there. I love the cute puffins. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you! The puffins seem to be a hit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well with faces like that, how could they not be a hit? 🙂
LikeLike
Exactly! So comical.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know where everyone else is walking, but I was happy to accompany you two. Those bird photos are brilliant. Not sure I’d want to be looking over the cliffs so glad to leave these photos to your hubby 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you, I will let him know! He’s getting very keen on bird photography and would probably do better without me a) getting impatient and b) scaring the birds off with my constant shouts of “Come away from the edge.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
He’s very good. And yes you do have to be patient and quiet. Separate walks perhaps?
LikeLike
Oh, I’m sure he’d miss me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely post. The puffins are very cute bird and very photogenic. We saw them in Iceland and totally loved them…the archaeological site seems very interesting. (Suzanne)
LikeLike
Thank you, Suzanne. The puffins are so comical and ungainly in many ways, but still cute.
LikeLike
Puffins!!! I long to see a puffin.
It looks like a fairly long walk to me. But the views are spectacular, so it would have taken me forever what with so much stopping to gape in awe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s about 2.5 miles round trip. There are loads of places to see puffins in Scotland – they are so cute!
LikeLike
I’d love to see a puffin, too. Just one would do. All my life, it seems, I’ve read about them. It’s nostalgia really, from the Puffin books of my childhood. Nevertheless, they really are the most exotic looking bird. From the photos they seem quite large – are they?
LikeLike
They are gorgeous and as comical as you might think from the way they look. They land in an ungainly fashion but it seems to work! Quite small, to answer your question – Atlantic puffins are under 12 inches, though there are larger species.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hah! I imagined they would be much bigger than that. Nevertheless, they sound as cute as I’ve imagined.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad that’s so and thanks for reading and commenting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a beautiful walk, and weren’t you lucky with the weather. It is somewhere I’ve always wanted to go . . one day I will head north to Shetland rather than south to Portugal!
PS Adore the photo of the puffin with the daisies.
LikeLike
Thank you! We were extremely lucky with the weather all the time we were there. However, unlike Portugal, it’s far from guaranteed. Still, I hope you make it there some day. I like that wee puffin too.
LikeLiked by 1 person