AS FAR NORTH AS WE CAN GO

 Our flight from Lewis takes us to the most northerly airfield of the Shetland Isles, on the island of Unst near Baltasound (Geograph.co.uk)

To the north, there are views towards Muckle Flugga.

At Baltasound, there's the Baltasound Hotel. It used to sell real ale in the bar, but since 2017 is no longer a public house, just a hotel.

Not far away was Valhalla Brewery. Wikipedia can tell you all about it.

We now leave the island of Unst by ferry, arriving at Gutcher on Yell.

Jamieson of Cullivoe's coaches can be found at Gutcher.

Another Jamieson vehicle at the other end of Yell, at Ulsta.

The Yell ferry is seen at Toft, on Shetland's mainland.

We'll now take a tour of Mainland and our first halt is at Voe.

There's another small harbour at Aith, again on the western side of Mainland.

Now were closing in on the capital, Lerwick, but not before caling in at Whiteness, where the Westings Inn used to serve a good pint. Sadly, its now closed and unlikely to reopen.

There are lovely views of Shetland's west coast from here.

This bus, of Shalder Coaches, could take us directly to Lerwick.....

......but we'll take a quick diversion to Scalloway.

And so to Lerwick. Here's an old postcard of the South Esplanade.

The town of Lerwick is seen from the ferry terminal.

Back in 1999, P&O were running the ferries to the Orkneys and mainland Scotland.

Various other vessels can be found at Lerwick's harbour.

Lerwick's bus station in the 1960s (Photographer unknown - my collection)

Leasks was the main bus operator until 2020.

Shalder Coaches sold out to Rapsons.

I believe Whites Buses are still operating.

Here's a demonstrator on loan to Whites.

Andrews is another firm still in business.

Captain Flint's became a victim of the pandemic and is being converted into flats. 

A quick ferry ride from Lerwick, aboard the Leirna, takes us to the little island of Bressay.

The shore at Bressay.

Back on Mainland and we continue south, hitting the western side near Bigton with views of St Ninians Isle and Tombolo.

As we approach Sumburgh, we happen across the Jarlshof - there's much more info here.

The cliffs of Sumburgh Head, with plenty of puffins. 

Close by is the Sumburgh Hotel. No real ale these days, I'm afraid. It's been a dry day!

Here's the view from Sumburgh Head. We'll be leaving Shetland and crossing those waters in the next post. See where we've been.