This superb and fairly short walk visits an iron age broch set on a spectacular section of Westside's coastline, with fine cliffs and sea stacks.
Track for approach, then some boggy sections and coastal clifftop walking.
None to start.
Culswick.
The walk starts from Culswick at the point where the telephone box is marked on the map - there is limited parking here alongside a barn with the sign pointing to Culswick Methodist Chapel. Start by following the sign and heading through the gate to follow the track uphill. When the track forks keep right to go through a farm gate - the small methodist chapel is just up on the right and can be visited as a small detour. Stay on the track to go through another gate and ignore the track heading to the right up to the wind turbines.
The track soon reaches the Loch of Sotersta with the ruins of the settlement of Sotersta visible to the south. Follow the track as it skirts the loch and then climbs giving a good view of the features of the Westerwick cliffs in the distance to the left. Stay on the main track and a smaller loch soon comes into view with the prominent remains of the Broch of Culswick on its left.
Turn left off the track just beyond a marker post and before the track starts to climb, it is sometimes boggy at this point. Follow a vague path diagonally to the left to reach the stony dam at the outflow of the loch. Cross this, go through the gate and climb directly up the steep ground to reach the broch.
The broch is around 2,000 years old and still stands to around 3m, with a massive triangular lintel stone over the entrance. The interior has collapsed and the broch has never been excavated. From the broch there are impressive views north west across to Vaila and the stacks and islands in between. It is worth heading north west down from the broch to enjoy the view into Gruting Voe from the cliffs. Then head south along the coast.
Soon the cliffs begin to rise and the scenery gets better and better. Keep following the coastline climbing to the clifftop and crossing the fence on a makeshift stone stile for views of the Burga Stacks. It is said that one of these stacks once housed a monk or hermit who received supplies hauled up in a bucket.
Keep following the clifftop until the headland known as The Nev is reached. From here you need to return to a gate in the fence near the small lochan seen earlier rather than staying on the coast- take a diagonal line to the left NNW to reach it just to the right of the lochan. Go through the gate and continue in the same direction to eventually reach the outward track. Turn right along the track to follow it back to the start.
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