This is Yell...

For twenty-seven consecutive summers I brought students to Island of Yell to undertake ecological monitoring research in the maritime approaches to the Shetland Oil Terminal. The position of Yell in relation to Shetland as a whole can be seen in the map in the post below (it is the island to which the red arrow points).

The island of Yell is reached from the Shetland Mainland by means of small "roll-on roll-off" ferries

The first impression of Yell is a huge peat moor that can look inviting to explore in weather like this. In less favourable conditions, Yell can appear to be the most inhospitable place on earth and many visitors regard Yell as a transition island on the way to more "attractive" islands further north

With a little patience and exploration, however, Yell reveals her colourful secrets like this river of yellow iris flowers

If the landscapes of Yell are not so spectacular, the seascapes are dramatic. The islands in Yell Sound (the stretch of sea separating Yell from the Shetland Mainland) were an important focus for our research work

The rocky cliffs bordering the west coast of Yell are a haven for nesting seabirds...

...like this Fulmar (Maalie)

The glory days of yester-year: this ruined mansion called Windhouse is said to be haunted

Our home for twenty-seven summers (and mine during this stay on Yell) is this community hall, the Royal Maalie Court at the Herra which, although modest...

...offers splendid views of the Whaal Firth fjord

Yell Sound at midnight on the Summer Solstice. Not quite far enough north to see the Midnight Sun, but nevertheless it remains light enough to read a newspaper!


Sky Watch Friday

Maalie selects images from his albums of travel pictures for Skywatch

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of all the participants
of this week's Sky Watch!