In summer 2010 we traveled around in the Scottish islands, the Inner Hebridies, the Outer Hebridies, the Orkneys and the Shetland Islands. Our mascot is the puffin, we saw a lot of them on the Fair Isle.
First place we landed in the UK was Clacton on Sea.
Clacton on Sea is an airfield with PPR. We did not find an accommodation, so we continued to Blackpool.
South of Blackpool are the hotels, north are the casinos. With our folding bikes we always carry in our C172 we drove south an found a hotel for an adequate price.
Next day we took off only in the afternoon due to weather, had a view on the pier of Blackpool and flew to Glenforsa on the island of Mull. The runway is in a good shape.
The Glenforsa Hotel is just a few meters away and we got the last room.
Next day we traveled to one of my favorites island Barra, which is a tidal airfield with the tower on the left side of the picture.
You can only land if there is low tide. This field and most of the Scotish fields are PPR.
There was still saltwater on the airfield. 8 years ago wh stayed 3 nights on the island. At that time, we had to leave the plane up to the road.
We returned to Glenforsa where we visited Tobermory by rented car (at the airfield, special price for pilots).
After a short fuel stop in Oban where all the PPR in the area are coordinated we travelled North East with a great view on islands …
… mountains …
… bays …
… small places …
… and green valleys.
We landed at Sumburgh which is the far north airport with an ILS and Avgas. The helpful controllers always wanted to what our intentions are.
This time we wanted to land on Out Skerries which I discovered on the internet because these airfields are not on the maps and not mentionned in the Jeppesen (Bottlang). I just knew that the runway must be less than 1200 ft and that we cannot stay overnight there. As usual I called the airfield before I take off.
I decided to land from the north which was a bit trickier than from the South: We had to overfly a small hill, then a small lake before landing. At the end of the downhill runway was the sea.
Alice Arthur, MBE, received us for a cup of tea. But in the meantime, we became friends … and were invited to visit the island from the boat.
The lighthouse is a landmark for taking off to the South.
We walked around on the islands.
The salmon farm belongs to the community which consisted of 70 persons, declining.
A journey to Foula where people come out only at night (which is not true).
Great
scenery on Foula.
At our arrival we were greeted by a youngster.
We did not land at Papa Stour – next year. Then we visited the waterholes by foot.
But we landed at Unst, the most northern airfield of Scotland.
After takeoff from Out Scerries our friends waved bye bye. We shall come back!
Next place was Fair Isle where we had to stay 3 nights due to fog.
A bird observatory was our hotel with new but good accommodation.
Many puffins which were not shy, we could approach up to 2 meters and less.
And an old light house.
Bad weather was coming in and we returned to the Orkneys where we met an old friend (from 1996), a hotel owner.
We stayed in the hotel Lynnfield which is very busy and mostly booked out.
Then we returned VFR to Wick and IFR to Southend on Sea and back to Switzerland.