Summer Simmer Dim

Simmer Dim  St Ninian's Isle

During my first winter in Shetland, I had heard a lot about Simmer Dim, the twilight of a Shetland summer evening. Daylight can last around 19 hours or so at the summer solstice, and even at the midnight hour, there is still enough light if the skies are clear, allowing you to walk and enjoy the spectacular sunsets. I spent most of May and June in Shetland so I was able to experience the joy of these days on several occasions. There is a milky, soft light that envelopes the landscape, creating a serene sense of fulfilment. Simmer Dim was far more inspirational than I had ever expected. 

On most days I would be wakened by the light at 4am and by 5am I was often out for a run. On other days at first light, Ann would call me and suggest enjoying a dawn walk on one of the coastal walks that she knew. In the evenings there would be time to eat before venturing out at 9pm or later. Hills were climbed at 10pm, beaches were visited, hills were climbed and coasts were walked. On a couple of perfect summer evenings, we drove out to Bigton and ambled over the tombolo to St Ninian's Isle at midnight soaking in the mellifluous summer sea breeze, reluctant to forsake these given evenings. 

I was fortunate to have been there during a drier and sunnier summer when Shetland was a magical place. I often had the company of a couple of Shetlanders, Ann and Jeff who were happy to encourage and then tap into my sense of wonderment. Summer was certainly a huge contrast to the dark, wet, windy days of December and January when Shetland's weather conspires to keep most folk indoors but is inspirational for its wildsome beauty

All the photos were taken between 9pm and 7am apart from the last two of St Ninian's taken on an afternoon trip after taking my colleague, Nigel, to Sumburgh airport for his weekend at home. He was up and down to his home in Argyll like a yo-yo. I had adopted a more sustainable practice of staying in Shetland for a fortnight which gave me a weekend to enjoy the delights of Shetland and then have a week at home including two weekends. Fewer flights were required, less time travelling, more time at home and more time to work and play in Shetland, I had cracked a simultaneous equation. Life was pretty good in the summer of 2011.

St Ninian's Tombolo at the midnight hour

Moon over St Ninian's

Laxfirth

Morning run to the Knab

The Knab just after 6am

Cotton Grass at Otter Point - 9:30pm

Hoo stack from Otter Point

Ward of Breiwick and Laxfirth

Burradale Wind Turbines - 10pm

Tree relic

Sandness Hill and Papa Stour

St Ninian's Tombolo 

St Ninian's