A stay at the Boatman's House, Unst, Shetland

Описание: You may remember from my Instagram stories that we stayed at the Boatman’s House in Unst a few weeks ago – this is the video from our stay there and I hope you enjoy it.

The Boatman's House, where we were to spend the weekend, dates back to 1854 when Hermaness Lighthouse was built to aid navigation. Clinging to the hostile slopes of Muckle Flugga, a rocky outcrop off the north coast of Unst, Britain's most northerly lighthouse still shines a guiding light across the water to those at sea – the Boatman’s House is part of the story of this iconic lighthouse.

The house itself, part of the wider shore station at Burrafirth, is flanked by the sheer and imposing cliffs of Hermaness to the west and Saxa Vord to the east. Tucked above the shores of Burrafirth with views across to the beach, it feels protected, despite its elevated position looking north out to sea.

The house was home to Muckle Flugga's boatman, who ran the flit boat, Grace Darling, that serviced the lighthouse and her keepers, ensuring the light burned bright 365 days a year until automation in 1995.

Walking in the front door and discovering the house, and all its nooks and crannies, was like leafing through the pages of a well-styled home magazine. Everything was thoughtfully curated, a reminder to guests that they have landed in a visceral place, caught somewhere between time and tide in the UK's most northern reaches.

​Rachael put great thought into ensuring that our stay was as comfortable as possible. The house was warm and welcoming, with glowing side lights dotted around the rooms, well-positioned to create a warming glow throughout the house. A bottle of champagne, gifts for the bairns – including a bucket, crabby line, colouring books and sweet treats – and homemade rhubarb jam and freshly baked bannocks ensured that we felt instantly welcome and relaxed.

The Boatman's House is the perfect base for exploring Unst's remarkable history, coastline and wildlife – just a stone's throw from the start point for the Hermaness walk, the Boatman's House is the ideal self-catering retreat for those keen to enjoy a delicious slice of Unst.

The Boatman's House, which sleeps eight across two double rooms and a bunk room – sleeping four children – is carefully styled and stuffed with references to the surrounding wildlife and history of the area; with gannets, seashells, lighthouses and boats adorning walls, units and crockery throughout.

The house is welcoming and bright, with a special light that shifts through the sash windows as the sun transitions through the sky.

You can read the full blog I wrote about the Boatman’s House, here.

You can book to stay here via this link.

We visited Glansin Glass, and you can book a workshop there, here.

All music is from Pixabay.com

You can sign up to watch the full 55-minute video over on my Patreon account at:   / shetlandwithlaurie