Although Sumburgh Head might be considered remote, in the sense that it takes a long time to get here from mainland Britain, it most definitely is not isolated. I see more people here during the day than I see in a week at home, and that doesn’t include the people who work here in the RSPB and Amenity Trust offices. This morning over a dozen people walked up in groups of two or three, and another couple have just appeared (at 4 o’clock). Most are carrying binoculars and cameras, and are well wrapped up against the W. Most spend a good time here, walking round the site, and peering over the walls at the seabirds on the cliffs. No-one has yet asked me what I’m doing, wandering around clutching tiny folded sheets of paper, looking intently at the ground and taking photographs of odd things in odd corners.
In order to keep the visitors in order, there is a nice scattering of information boards and warning signs. Here’s a useful one, when you consider what’s on the other side of the wall.
Likewise (oops)
and the sign on my front door creates a cosy glow of exclusivity:
But the winner, on sheer (sorry) ambiguity:
