This circular route explores the Keen of Hamar National Nature Reserve - renowned for its rare flowers. It then climbs above the dramatic coastal cliffs before returning along the side of Balta Sound. A final road stretch passes a hotel and Unst's legendary furnished bus stop.
Straightforward pathless coastal walking, stiles, minor roads.
Bus to Baltasound.
Keen of Hamar car park near Littlehamar.
There is parking at the entrance to the Keen of Hamar reserve, follow the signs from the A968, turning off at the decorated bus stop visited later in the walk. From the parking area go through the pedestrian gate on the left, and keep along a fence on your right. At the far end go through a gate and then turn right over two stiles to reach the open stony ground of the reserve. This area is so bare it appears almost lunar; the ground here is made up of serpentine rocks, originally formed deep beneath the sea and thrown up here during massive earth movements about 400 million years ago.
Serpentine is not normally found on land and although it has weathered to form a thin soil this barren landscape probably looks how much of Northern Europe looked at the end of the last ice age, 11,000 years ago. Whilst it looks barren at first glance, a closer look reveals a variety of rare plants including the white-flowered Edmonston's chickweed, also known as Shetland mouse ear which is only found on serpentine on Unst. It was discovered by 12 year old local boy Thomas Edmondston who went on to become a professor of botany and write books on the flora of Shetland before being tragically killed at the age of 20 on a scientific expedition to South America.
Other plants to look out for are Norwegian sandwort, mountain everlasting and sea plantain. Head northeast, largely contouring around the rough slopes of the reserve towards the sea at the Wick of Hagdale.
Just before a fence turn right to aim east towards the coast and cliffs. Near the cliff edge turn right and climb the steep turf to reach some impressive views down to the swirling sea below. There are good views looking across to the Hill of Clibberswick.
Continue along the rising cliff top. There is a good view down to Swinna Ness and the island of Balta beyond. The route follows the coastline until a fence makes it necessary to head inland slightly. Cross over the stile on the left to reach a bench, then continue descending close to the shore, reaching Swinna Ness. A clearer path is picked up as the headland is rounded and the route starts to follow the side of Balta Sound to the west.
Further on another stile is crossed; continue by the coast. As a stone wall is approached aim for the farm gate sited midway between two stiles and continue straight ahead passing below the house at Hamar keeping the fence on your right. After the fence aim for the white bungalow ahead and soon you reach the road, turn left along it. Follow the road as it turns right (with the pier down on the left) to skirt an industrial building and reach a memorial to Swedish fishermen who erected a fisher-church in Baltasound in 1910.
Turn right at the memorial soon passing the hotel and reaching the main road. Turn right to follow it the short distance to the junction with the famous Unst decorated bus shelter.
Also known as Bobby's Bus Shelter after Bobby Macauley who as a 7 year old asked the Council not to get rid of the shelter as he used it to store his bike whilst at school and after its reprieve, the shelter has been imaginatively decorated on a number of topical themes by locals - it is now one of the most popular attractions on Unst. From here continue up the road to reach the Keen of Hamar car park.
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