Writer revels in winter visit

A journalist from the National Geographic magazine has visited Shetland to see for himself the isles, out of season.

Andrew Evans, known as Digital Nomad, is well known for travelling to places all over the globe.

But, earlier this month, he came to Shetland to experience just what the isles are like at the beginning of January. Mr Mathieson said the hardened traveller’s visit came as a great “coup” for the isles. He had arrived in Scotland after travelling in Tanzania.

He added the Digital Nomad had expressed no interest in seeing Shetland during the summer.

“He said he liked the natural side of it, and he wasn’t geared up for tourism. He said he wanted to see Shetland in the raw.”

The visit could yet provide Shetland with a big boost. Mr Evans, he said, has 25,000 followers on Twitter. The trip and subsequent exposure could prove to be of great benefit to the isles ahead of the main tourist season.

In his article Mr Evans says he chose to visit in winter “eager to see Shetland as it is.”

He writes: “When I arrive on the southern tip of the island, it is very dark and very wet–it remains this way for most of my stay. There are brief times of light: around ten in the morning, the blank sky separates from the dark shape of the land, blue against black. The short day continues in a state of perpetual sunset and by half three, it is finished, as if the sun only works part-time.

“For some of us, the love of rare places outweighs the love of warmth and comfort. The beauty of Shetland is forever linked to its long distance from “Scotland” in the South. Only a few rare birds are blown here by accident. The rest of us arrive in Shetland intentionally.”

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