Moments from shetland logo with White silohette puffin on red sun background
Moments from shetland logo with White silohette puffin on red sun background
+
  • © 2021 - 2024 Moments From Shetland 0

Sumburgh Head

Stacks Image 104
Stacks Image 36
Stacks Image 95

Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, Visitor Centre and nature reserve will always hold a special place in my heart, as a former marketing assistant I help to promote the 5.4 million pound restoration of the lighthouse. The site is one of the most accessible locations to get up close and see Puffins in Shetland. The main webpage puffin photograph I took above became moments from Shetland's logo and was taken on an early morning in May. The best time to see the puffins is early morning or in the evening between April and Late July/ early August.


Stacks Image 79
Stacks Image 51

The site however has much more than the vast range of migrating birds and other wildlife. The self guided tour lets visitors explore the lighthouse grounds and various buildings which include interpretation panels to highlight their working use throughout the ages. This includes the working fog horn engine room, smiddy (blacksmith) and

marine life centre which highlights the fundemental importance of light at Sumburgh Head, whether that be the lighthouse itself protecting mariners from the rugged coastline or how the intense light helps the multitude of marine life which live, feed and breed around Sumburgh Head, the site also shows the importance of the Gulf Stream which flows past Shetland warming the sea, also the food chain with Orcas highlighted as the apex predator and the effects of global warming and pollution on the animal life at Sumburgh.



Stacks Image 65
Stacks Image 85
Stacks Image 87
Stacks Image 89

My personal favourite area is the Radar hut, next to the foghorn viewing platform which includes audible interviews from Chris Dyer. The interior of the building has been restored to resemble the working radar complete with old electronic equipment used during the war. The map table depicts a date in time the hut was used to intercept German fighter planes.

Stacks Image 100
Stacks Image 70
Stacks Image 115
Stacks Image 77

Visitors park at the bottom of the site in the main carpark and walk up the winding road or scenic path to reach the lighthouse. In the car park you are greeted by the Muckle Roe minor lighthouse and viewing area. Following Interviews with Dr Ian Tait I created a video for the Amenity Trust about the Muckle Roe lighthouse history.

Stacks Image 109
The new domed front area of the site was originally developed as an education centre and viewing area but has since changed into the Unken Cafe which serve delicious home made cakes by Katja. The views from the cafe are simply stunning and I was able to capture the dramatic crashing waves during Martin Taylor's time using the facility as part of his guitar retreat.


Tommy Emmanuel & Martin Taylor - Sumburgh Lighthouse 2014



A number of years ago I filmed an interview with Martin followed by this unexpected, live on the fly video for Shetland Amenity Trust. It includes two legends in the guitar world. Tommy Emmanuel and Martin Taylor perform Jersey Bounce to guitar students during Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat in the former Education Centre (now Unken Cafe) at Sumburgh Head Lighthouse Visitor Centre and Nature Reserve. This was one of Martin's first Guitar retreats which he has since gone on to provide all over the world, recently completing the 43rd creative retreat in California in May 2022.