Mull 2014 Pictures

Day 0: Saturday 31st May 2014.
Day 1: Sunday 1st June 2014.
Day 2: Monday 2nd June 2014.
Day 3: Tuesday 3rd June 2014.
Day 4: Wednesday 4th June 2014.
Day 5: Thursday 5th June 2014.
Day 6: Friday 6th June 2014.
Day 7: Saturday 7th June 2014.
Click here to return to the General 2014 Pictures page.

Photos Friday 6th June 2014, Boat Ride to Lunga and Staffa.

We set off on the Staffa tours boat in the morning. Early cloud soon dissipated as we headed out to sea. The weather was perfect - Warm, sunny and almost no wind. The visibility was sparkling with one of the peaks of the Western Isles (probably South Uist) just visible. Is this really the Scottish Isles? The Isle of Lunga was crawling with Puffins and other seabirdlife. What an amazing place. After loads of Puffin pics I climbed to the 300ft summit of the island to enjoy the spectacular views and eat lunch. Then on to Staffa where Fingal's Cave and the crazy hexagonal rock formations were visited. Plus a quick explore of the grassy island tops before we returned to the boat. We were all slightly sunburnt by the time we returned to Tobermory.

Boat Ride to Lunga

We left the car parked at the harbour car park so that we didn't have to walk up the steep hill later in the day, as we expected to be tired after a long day out. Soon after arriving the Staffa Tours boat arrived and we were soon able to board. Jack and Stella took a bench at the back on the main deck while I couldn't resist climbing up onto the upper observation deck for a better view since this was my first Scottish Isles boat trip. It was cloudy as we left Tobermory. We headed first to Kilchoan to pick up additional passengers, overtaking the fery on the way. Then we soon reached clearer air as we headed West around the Northern side of Mull. Visibility was excellent with clear views of Coll and even a peak on South Uist, Western Isles, just visible. Tiree was also visible with a dome visible on the island (is this at the airfield?) All around there were plenty of sea birds either bobbing in the water or flying about. I think Guillemots and Shags were the most common birds. Soon enough we got to the Northernmost islands of the Treshnish isles. It was great fun wandering around as we slowly motored South towards Lunga Island, the biggest of the Treshnish Islands. Sea birds were all around us, including puffins. Eventually we arrived at the docking point. The boat picked up a floating pontoon and draped it on the rocks, allowing us to easily disembark.

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Staffa Tours boat.	A gas sculpture view of Tobermory.	360 degree panorama at the harbour.	A display of old anchors.

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The jeti from which we boarded the boat.	A fishing boat passing the iconic Tobermory coloured buildings.	Wake ripples in an otherwise calm sea in Tobermory Bay.	Panorama Eastwards across Tobermory Bay to Calve Island and beyond.	Overtaking the ferry that we had used on Tuesday.	Arriving at Kilchoan to pick up more trip passengers.

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Looking out to the West and Northwest to clearer air and Coll.	Passing the Glengorm masts to our South.	Passing helicopters.	Muck and Rum to the North.	The lighthouse at the Point of Ardnamurchan.	Long range shot of South Uist.

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The Southwestern portion of Tiree.	Looking back the way we came.	Closing in on the Northern end of the Treshnish Isles. Lunga Island visible near the right edge of the image.	Calgary Bay.	To the South the Paps of Jura can be seen.

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Puffins and a Shag in sight.		Cruising around the Treshnish Isles.	The remains of a building on one of the northernmost islands, Northwest of Fladda.	A Puffin in the water and in flight as the boat scares it off.

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Guillemot.	A nearby fishing vessel with what looks like crab pots.	Approaching Lunga Island from the North.	Geese in flight.

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A colony of Shags on low lying rocks.	A rowing boat from a nearby yaught.	Panarama of Lunga Island and surrounding Islets.

Lunga Island

On arrival a big arrow on the side of a cliff clearly pointed the way. The boat soon docked and we used the pontoon to disembark. Then we followed a path through the rock field towards the big arow. A path led us up onto the cliff top on the Northwestern side of the island. It wasn't too long before we found the puffins by their burrows, coming and going without minding our presence too much. After taking lots of pictures and getting quite close to the Puffins I followed a path Southwards that climbed me higher, and after exploring a little while I scrambled up a steep path that took me to the upper levels of the island. After a short hike over the hills I reached the island's 103m summit, Cruachan. The view up there in the crystal clear air was breathtaking! All the surrounding islands were visible, as well as Mull and its only Munro, Ben More. I stopped for lunch. Far below I could see the Staffa Tours boat moored up against some rocks. (Alas Jack was still aboard as he didn't feel able to cros the rocks safely. Stella was out and about on the Island though.) It was nice being away from the crowds below for a while. It was so peaceful and pleasant in the warm sunshine. For a moment I thought 'let the boat go and leave me behind. It's bliss here!' I couldn't have been further away from the stresses of daily life back home. The people from the yaught had the same idea and soon joined me at the summit. Cue a session ot taking pictures of each other. Nice! After watching another tour boat arrive I decided to descend (we only had two hours and most of that time was up now) the South side of the peak. Then once down to the lower cliff tops I followed a path round the Western side of the island. This took me past a large rock that was host to a huge Guillemot colony. The noise and the fishy smell was spectacular. There were also plenty of Shags, Razorbills and Puffins too. After a short while observing and taking pictures I, and a bunch of other Staffa Tours passengers, raced North back to the start point in the nick of time to catch the boat before it left.

Click here and click here for two Puffin video clips.
Click here for a clip of the Guillemot colony.

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The way to the Puffins.	Disembarking onto Lunga.	Walking over the rocks from the boat.	Looking back at the boat. Jack still on board.	Racing ahead over the rocks and towards the cliff path.

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Cliff side panorama as the boat departs to moor up.	Climbing the path to the cliff top.	Puffins!

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The puffins let me get quite close and even seemed to pose for the camera.			Razorbill.	Another Puffin closeup.	Wider angle with the Staffa Tours boat visible.

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More Puffins.	The Razorbills are also quite tame and just as cool looking.	Another tour passenger kindly took pictures of me with the Puffins.		More Puffin closeups.

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More Puffin closeups.		The Thrift rings grass tuft made for an arty Puffin shot.	Puffin emerging cautiously from its burrow.	In this shot it looks as if a Puffin is waving at the boat! Wider view and a crop in both worth showing.

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Group Puffin shots.		Puffin having a lie down.	Looking towards the centre of the Island as I start to explore.

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Looking back as I climb up to higher ground above sheer cliffs.	Puffins sat precariously on the high cliffs.	Puffin admiring it's home view?	These two puffins were fighting and rolling down the slope.	Looking Southwards towards the Guillemot colony rock.

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360 degree panorama from the Northern end of the upper levels just after scrambling up. This secondary peak is at 87 meters.	Bluebells.	Arriving at the main 103m summit. The Dutchman's Cap island visible in the background.

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360 degree panorama at the summit of Lunga.	Looking North from the summit. The boat visible below. On the horizon is Rum, Eigg, Muck and Skye as well as the Northwestern corner of Mull.	Closeups of the boat with Jack on board, and the cliff top where I photographed the Puffins, from the summit.

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Me at the summit, camera looking North.	My lunchtime view. Sat on this rock eating sandwiches was awesome.	Lots of Guillemots in the sea far below.	Looking Eastwards towards Ben More.	Virgae passing by high overhead.	Small cumulus forming over Coll to the Northwest.

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Another tour boat arriving.	It seems there is a population of Wheat Ears on Lunga.	The Southern end of Lunga seen as I descend from the summit. So this is where the Pebble Mill floating weather map retired to!	Staffa Island to the Southeast.	Looking down to another colony of Shags (and a Gull) on the even wilder Eastern side of the island.

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Two shots of a rabbit on the South side of the island.		Garden Tiger caterpillar.	Sea Thrift.	The Guillemot colony rock from the South.	A pair of Shags.

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4 Shags.	This Shag was posing beautifully.	More Puffins. They are so common they are almost becoming pass� dare I say!	A closeup of the Guillemot colony. See the flying puffin photobombing my shot?	Looking Northwards along the gap between the rock and the main island, and some of the Guillemots on the rock further along.

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More views of the Guillemots on the Southern portion of the colony.		Panorama of the Guillemot Colony from the Eastern side as I make my way back to the boat.	Following the path back Northwards to the boat.

Boat Ride to Staffa

Once we boarded the boat it was just a short hop from Lunga to Staffa. As we approached Staffa it became apparent how spectacular the rock formations are here, with all the hexagonal pillars. This island appears to be Scotland's answer to Giant's Causeway. We got a great view of the spectacular Fingal's Cave as we approached the small jeti where we disembarked.

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Leaving Lunga island behind.		Panorama of Staffa Island as we start to get close.

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Observing the spectacular rock formations as we round the island's South side from the Northwest.

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Fingal's Cave on the South side of the island as seen from the boat.		A closer look at the spectacular hexagonal columns holding up the island. I think the cave is Boat Cave, just a smidge west of Fingal's Cave.	Approaching the jeti on the Southeastern side of the island.

Staffa Island

I managed to be first off the boat so was able to race ahead and beat the rush to get to Fingal's Cave, as there wasn't much room there. Having had a good look around I doubled back to the jeti and climbed the steps to the grassy top above the cliffs. I had a good wander around about half of the island taking in the views before returning to the boat before the 1 hour we had was up.

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Disembarking at Staffa Island.	Following the path to Fingal's cave was like a giant game of hopscotch. Giant' Causeway eat your heart out!		Panorama of the islet adjacent to the path.	Another view of the path. I think the island in the background might be Iona with the Ross of Mull on the left edge of the frame.

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The Western wall of Fingal's Cave.	Looking around Fingal's Cave. It feels like a cathedral. No wonder it inspired Felix Mendelssohn, the classic composer who visited in 1829.		A closer look at the rocks, while another tour passenger gets caught in my shot.	The steps to enable us to get to the grassy top surface of Staffa.	The view Northeast from the top of the stairs.

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360 degree panorama from the top of the stairs.	Another view of the islets from atop the island.	What looks like a Meadow Pipit.	Peering down at Fingal's Cave.

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Fingal's Cave entrance from directly above the ceiling.	The rocks outside Fingal's Cave from above. That is Stella in the green top.	Another view of Boat Cave and the cliffs West of it.	Sea Thrift and other flowers on the thick grass top of the island.		The highest point of Staffa Island. Looking Northwest towards the Treshnish Isles.

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360 degree panorama at the highest point on Staffa.	Looking North along the cliffs of the Western side of the island.	A view Northwest towards the Dutchman's Hat .	Another view of the spectacular Staffa cliffs.

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Looking towards Lunga Island to the Northwest, with max zoom in the 2nd shot.		All around the island are spectacular rock formations.		A group of Oyster Catchers.

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More views (and 360 degree panorama) from near the centre of the island.		Another ruin showing past human settlement here too.

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Looking back towards the highest point from the North.	Another curious Staffa plant.	Looking along a 'fissure' to the Northeast.	Returning to the Southeast of the island near the jeti, this rock formation looks like a giant whale skeleton. It wasn't obvious when I climbed up how the stairs cling to the edge ot these bent pillars.		Another tour boat arriving. After this boat vacates the jeti our boat arrives to pick us up.

Return to Tobermory

By now I was starting to feel slightly frazzled. It appears it is possible to get sunburnt on the Scottish Isles! We rounded the Eastern and Northern sides of the island and then headed back Northwards. We pretty much went back the way we came, except that we paused somewhere near the Northeast corner of Mull (probably Rubha nan Sealbhaig near Ardmore Point) to go White Tailed Eagle watching as apparently there was a nest in the vicinity. Alas we failed to spot any, but did get a good look at some seals. Then after dropping off the Kilchoan passengers we returned to Tobermory to complete an awesome boat trip.

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Another Staffa panorama, from the Western side.	A flock of Puffins in the water below Staffa's cliffs.		Ben More to the East.	Guillemots.

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Another Shag flying past.	2 Gannets flying past.	Onlooking cows and hikers near Treshnish Point.		Black Guillemot in flight and a cave near Treshnish Point.

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Another view of Calgary Bay.	Looking Northwest to a yaught in front of the North end of Coll.	A lighthouse on the rocks at the North end of Coll.	Top the North Rum, Muck, Skye and Eigg can be seen clearly.	A passing fshing boat.

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The area below Glengorm castle where I walked last Monday.	A rock pillar near the White Tailed Eagle nest site.	Seals hauled up near the White Tailed Eagle nest site.		Another seal swimming in the water.

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Jellyfish in Tobermory Bay.	Returning to Tobermory.	Another jellyfish.

Tobermory

After the trip we had a bit of time to spare before we went to Caf� Fish, a more upmarket restaurant near the ferry terminal, and a good way to spend the final evemning of the trip. We had thought it might be good to nip up to Glengorm to see the sunset, but we were simply too tired and I also had an early start. I was busy packing ahead of my trip home. I did atleast spot a nice sunset before I went to sleep though.

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An old post box near Caf� Fish.	Caf� Fish.	Panorama inside Caf� Fish.	Tobermory Bay from Caf� Fish.	Sunset over Jack's garden.

Today was a great climax to a glorious week up North. Tomorrow I take an early ferry to Oban and make a beeline for London to complete the trip.