Shetland Sea Adventures

15/04/2025

A watery sky

09/04/2025

With less than two weeks until we start our summer season, here's a short film harking back to a quieter time in Shetland, before the oil really kicked in.
Though the oil companies payed handsomely to folks that were displaced the current wind industry is a lot less generous for far more disruption.

The Northern most part of the United Kingdom - The Shetland Islands - Thames Television's 'This Week' asks locals about the discovery of oil in the North Sea...

09/04/2025

16/02/2025

We have had a whole week of sunshine so we were able to go for our usual Friday afternoon walks with the school bairns. This term they are recording island stories and we are taking them to see where they happened. Last week they recorded the story of the Lum o Liorafield, a bottomless hole high up on the ridge of Hamnafield.

A couple of centuries ago, some Dutch sailors came ashore with a long rope to explore the Lum and discover where it went. Two of them were lowered down into the hole. But when they pulled the men up again, one was dead and the other one was dying. They buried the dead man just north west of Hamnabrek and carried the other one to Stremness where their ship was anchored. But he died before they could get him onboard so he is buried at the Knowes o Wirwick.

The Lum was covered up with a great big stone and nobody is left who knows where it is.

20/01/2025

A case of mixed blessings, an industry that gave many of us a career here and overseas but at a cost of our unique identity and way of life.
I seriously doubt the current windrush will bring us anything like the benefits that oil did while causing much more environmental destruction

The Northern most part of the United Kingdom - The Shetland Islands - Thames Television's 'This Week' asks locals about the discovery of oil in the North Sea...

15/01/2025

A few corrections to the article, there is a ferry 3 days a week (weather permitting)
And if course we run day trips from April to September.

https://www.facebook.com/100059675762994/posts/980326617299855/?app=fbl

This isolated island is home to only around 30 people and is Britain's most remote inhabited island.

Foula is one of the most remote permanently inhabited islands in the United Kingdom, located in the North Atlantic Ocean. It lies approximately 32 kilometers (20 miles) west of the Shetland Islands in Scotland and is surrounded by rugged seas and dramatic cliffs.

The island is part of Scotland and is known for its small, tight-knit community. The population primarily engages in sheep farming and crofting, with a focus on self-sufficiency. Some income is also derived from tourism, as visitors come to see the island’s unique landscapes and abundant birdlife.

Foula is renowned for its stunning scenery, featuring towering cliffs that are among the highest in the UK and providing nesting sites for seabirds such as puffins and skuas. Its remoteness and limited access preserve the island’s unspoiled beauty and tranquility.

The island has no regular ferry service, and its only connection to the outside world is through infrequent flights or private boats. The isolated lifestyle presents challenges but offers residents a unique connection to nature and a way of life largely untouched by modern influences.

05/12/2024

https://youtu.be/wC39Za7DeB8?feature=shared

Get 10% off your Manta Sleep Mask by using the code "RUTHAISLING” at checkout - https://tinyurl.com/essxvnrh This time, I'm spending 48 hours at the edge of ...

03/12/2024

About two and a half minutes in of season 9 episode 4 is the twenty second underwater scene that we were the dive support boat for this summer.
That twenty seconds due to weather and tide meant putting the boat up to Walls the night before.
Prep started at 7am and filming shortly after, and we were back at the pier by 11:30am.
Though with the wind picking up from the west it was another two days before we brought the boat back to Hamnavoe.
With the summer plagued by poor weather this year the "mornings" work was a welcome boost to our season and gave us an insight into the work that goes in to making the series.

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt32379359/?ref_=ttep_eps_rec

24/10/2024

Orca are extremely curious and contrary to some ideas are in no way scared of boats.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1084740873277849?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

14/10/2024

🎉Exciting news!! My Shetland on Canvas Calendar 2025 is now available at shetlandoncanvas.co.uk😀❤ It's beautiful quality A3 and I've gone for landscape this time for a change!

🍀For a chance to win one like, share and comment on this post! The winner will be revealed on 31 October 2024! ❤

02/10/2024

https://photos.app.goo.gl/dNchDe8WL7tpAxHt8

30/09/2024

https://youtu.be/qAHjU17aNxs?feature=shared

23/09/2024

The Dratsie, Eurasian otter is not native to Shetland, it was brought here by humans as a source of fur.
This fur trade was carried on up until the 1990s and kept the dratsie population somewhat under control. (Though even then Shetland has the highest numbers of anywhere in Europe.)
Now though they are protected and the numbers of ground nesting birds has dropped dramatically.
The video below shows even big powerful birds like gannets are not safe from them.
https://www.facebook.com/100041686403428/videos/489483197160699/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v