Weird and Wonderful Adventures at the Very Top of Scotland

Who would travel 550 miles to see a bus stop? I think you know who...
Welcome to my trip to the very top of the UK, the island of Unst, in Shetland. You can't go much further north than this without falling into the Atlantic, and one of its settlements, Baltasound, is home to a wonderfully weird little bus stop. So join me to see if I can make it there and back in one piece!

My itinerary and prices:
Mon 4th Stonehaven-Aberdeen (train) £6.30 single
Mon 4th Aberdeen-Lerwick (ferry) £72.00 return*
Tue 5th Lerwick-Toft (bus) £3.60 single
Tue 5th Toft-Ulsta (ferry) £6.20 return (inc next ferry)
Tue 5th Ulster-Gutcher (bus) £3.40?
Tue 5th Gutcher-Belmont (ferry) included in above ferry fare
Tue 5th Belmont-Baltasound (bus) £2.00
Tue 5th Overnight, Baltasound Hotel (single room cabin) £85
And then on Wednesday to Thursday morning, all of the above in reverse!
*there were ferry supplements for seats/pods - I'll go into this more in next week's Northlink video

Filmed Monday 4th - Thursday 7th July 2022

('A Traveling Spirit' by Daniel Kadawatha)

Maps courtesy of Google Maps

#Shetland #Unst #SteveMarsh

[norfilmshetland]

As someone who lives in Shetland, may I complement Steve on an extraordinarily accurate description of the journey. The bus stop needs to be comfortable - there's only one bus a day according to the timetable! He was lucky to get one hour's sleep in the 'pods' - they are dire!

[michaelgoode]

I love Bobby's Bus Stop. Seen it twice on visits to Shetland. Took my favourite ever photo on Unst of a Puffin and saw the rarest plant that I have ever seen in it's natural habitat there too: Henderson's Chickweed.

[crashbox]

I lived in Baltasound for over seven years, You should have gone a bit further north and visited Hermaness Nature Reserve and look out across to Muckle Flugga Lighthouse, the most northerly in the UK.

[MunkyWrench]

What a clean and wholesome adventure in such a crazy world.. thanks for the break and for the beautiful scenery

[alicja]

Your dedication to show us the bus stop was INSANE😆Well done!

[pandorabox]

This is the best sort of adventure!! Quirky, fun, off the beaten path, and not many people doing something like this! The perfect part of travel and WHAT an inspiration for my future adventures here at home and abroad!

[juliankent]

Dear Steve, thanks for an excellent video. Very nostalgic for us as we lived in Unst 50 years ago. In fact the timber house nearest to the bus shelter was built for us by a Shetland Building Company. No roll on roll off ferries in those days. Small passenger ferry to Yell, two bus journeys across yell and then an even smaller passenger ferry to Unst. Our furniture came up in a British Rail container on the St Clair to Lerwick and then on the Earl of Zetland to Unst. By the time we left for family reasons in 1976 the inter island roll on roll off ferries were running, but we took our furniture back to the Scottish mainland in a Transit Luton van which had to be lifted onto the St. Clair. An interesting feeling watching all your worldly possessions being lifted up, just hoping the slings under the wheels did not break under the strain.

[budimargarito]

I like that Bust stop, so totally different to other and beautiful creative people

[bryanitz]

Bobby’s Bus Shelter(?). I love your adventures. I find myself following your journey’s on Google Maps so I have some idea of where you are!! Scotland is on the bucket list as are the northernmost islands. Cheers from Texas!!

[scot]

Steve, I don't know what scares me more this video or all the ones I watch from Japan. The railway/bus systems are so convoluted. That bus stop was something! Those pastries and the honor system are so sweet. Can I just say that I love the word "anonst"? I'm also a fan of "fratchity". An expression my Scots grandad used for a disagreeable person. Unst sounds very Viking-y

[janer]

The hours of planning that must have gone into that trip. These videos just keep getting better and better. Thank you for a great adventure.

[andynorris]

This video has brought back memories, grew up in Shetland and used to go out with my grandad who was a lorry driver. Regularly went on the Yell and Unst ferries.

[arthurgordon]

Steve, you are the epitome of 'it's all about the journey, not the destination!' I look forward to the videos of the ferry crossings.

[simon-b]

What a blast from the past this was! That beach at 23:33, about 26 years ago 14 year old me and a few pals went swimming in there at about 2am in the middle of winter! What a stupid bloody decision that was!

[oprophetisfake]

I couldn't help trying my bad Scots accent saying, "That's nay a bus!"

Great adventure. Thanks for braving the elements to show us it all. 👍

[wildscotsman]

Another winner Steve, although I'm not so sure I miss those rainy, windy days. You're helping me enjoy my homeland from afar 😃

[alistairmacgregor]

Found your videos by happy accident a week ago, thank you Steve and and Alicja for a fantastic look at Scotland and beyond

[TheUncleGrant]

Well done Steve, Once again you have challenged yourself with another awesome journey, and the way you record and edit is brilliant.I feel more like your travel companion than a Youtube viewer.
Shetland TV Series is one of my favorites !, Tosh is Cute ! 🤩🥰

[laurencejohnson]

There is a museum in Lerwick which is worth a look and it also gives shelter from the elements.

[andysm]

Oh steve mate, bringing back memories .Another time in Shetland`s(2009) with my then partner, also Polish, we stopped at this wonderful place at a local farm /croft , and visited this unique bus stop...thank you for the revisit and memories