Date: Thursday 28th October 2021
Company: Just myself
Distance: 3km, Ascent: 100m
Time: 45Mins
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Despite previously visiting and summiting Shetland mainland, Yell, Unst, Fetlar, Bressay, Noss, Muckle Roe, Fair Isle, Foula and St. Ninian's Isle, I had not previously visited Bressay to summit Ward of Clett. On Thursday afternoon I therefore made a spur of the moment decision to jump on a ferry to Whalsay and walk up Ward of Clett. Ward of Clett is a Hundred Metre Prominence hill (HuMP) and Whalsay is a Significant Island of Britain (SIB).
Welcome to Whalsay:
There are very few roads on Whalsay and even fewer parking places. I ended up parking beside the Symbister shop and starting the walk from there. The initial section of walk is along public road and thereafter there is a vehicle track which can be followed to the summit.
Looking down to ferry at Symbister:
During the walk the clouds were interesting. These would result in a nice sunset just over an hour later.
View south:
View towards Noss and Bressay:
I assume a clett in Shetland is the same thing as a cleat in the Outer Hebrides. The hill is named after these cletts/cleats.
Cleats on Ward of Clett:
Symbister:
On reaching the summit area, which really did not take long, I visited the trig point, the shelter and the summit knoll.
At the trig point:
In the shelter:
At the summit knoll:
View towards Noss and Bressay from the summit:
View from Ward of Clett:
Once back at the van, I travelled pretty much all of Whalsay's roads which must have taken about twenty minutes at most. I then found somewhere to park up for the evening where I was treated not only to a wonderful sunset but also seeing at least a hundred golden plover and an otter.
Sunset on Whalsay:
Sunset:
Watching an otter at sunset:
