Sumburgh to Lerwick

The tombolo beach leading to St Ninian’s Isle

The day started bright and sunny so we were surprised at the short heavy shower while we ate our breakfast. We left at 09:00 along the same route but turned off for St. Ninian’s Isle, a small tied island connected by the largest tombolo in the UK. A tombolo is a deposition landform in which an island is attached to the mainland by a narrow piece of land such as a spit or bar. Once attached, the island is then known as a tied island.

We locked our bikes by the parking area and walked along the tombolo and round the island, its cliffs populated by nesting seabirds. A few dark clouds and drops of rain appeared but the wind blew them away. We continued our ride back to Lerwick, stopping at the large Tesco supermarket on our way to the excellent Islesburgh House hostel.

29 miles

Lerwick to Gardiesfauld