06/05: Staffa and Lunga (one of the Treshnish Islands)
Category: General
Posted by: The Agnew Family
Today we are taking a ferry to Mull where we are being picked up and driven north and across the island to Ulva Ferry. Here we get on a smaller boat for our trip to Staffa and Lunga.
It is a little windy and overcast this morning but there are still a few things to see and photograph from the ferry.
After we get off of the ferry we are picked up with 12 other people and driven across Mull. It's still overcast so not the best views but it is a pretty island. The first part of the drive is on a 2 lane road, then as we cross the island we go down to a 1 lane road. This is pretty interesting as the roads wind up and down and around the hills. After about 40 minutes we arrive at Ulva Ferry, a hamlet, and get on a 40 foot boat that can hold between 50 and 60 passengers (I think there were about 30 people on board). We were warned that the ride might be a bumpy but it actually wasn't too bad. Our first stop is Staffa.
Staffa is know for it's Basalt Rocks (rock columns) and the astonishing acoustics of Fingal’s Cave, which inspired Mendelssohn to compose his Hebrides Overture. Unfortunately, we didn't get to go into the cave because the steps are being repaired but our captain nudged the boat into the mouth of the cave and played the Hebrides Overture. This photo is out in front of the caves. Another interesting thing about these rocks is that it is the same rock formation that makes up the Giant's causeway in Ireland. Some scientists say that if you drained the water you would be able to walk from Ireland to Scotland along the basalt rocks.
We walked on the basalt columns to the cave and peaked inside. Workmen were there repairing the steps.
Another view of the basalt columns.
The top of Staffa is quite flat.
There isn't a dock on Lunga. Instead there are floating platforms moored off shore. A platform is tied to the boat, then the boat noses into the rocky beach. The passengers walk along the platform then step off onto the rocks.
One thing we noticed is the birds did not fear us. When we were walking down the path there were times the birds were only a couple of feet away from us. It also felt like some of the birds were actually posing for the camera.
One of the birds that nest on Lunga is the European Shag.
Ed loved the bright green eyes.
The razorbill also nests on Lunga.
The birds in the top part of the photo are common guillemont. Razor bills are the bottom two birds. Thousands of common guillemonts were on the bottom half of a cliff. They were making lots of noise.
I got a little carried away with Atlantic Puffin photos. Puffins live at sea for most the year. In mid April they come to shore to breed. Their nests are in burrows in the side or tops of cliffs. Around mid July the puffins head back out to see.
The puffin just opened his mouth. We could hear the other birds but the puffins didn't make any noise.
This puffin was ripping up grass and taking into her burrow.
The lower puffin is coming out of the burrow.
On our way back to Ulva ferry we passed this island. Thought it looked interesting. After we arrived in Ulva ferry it was back on the mini bus for a ride to the ferry terminal. Now that it was sunny we had amazing scenery for the drive.
We also some a number of grey seals.
Back in Oban we watch one of the ferries sail off into the sunset.
Beautiful sunset tonight.
It is a little windy and overcast this morning but there are still a few things to see and photograph from the ferry.
After we get off of the ferry we are picked up with 12 other people and driven across Mull. It's still overcast so not the best views but it is a pretty island. The first part of the drive is on a 2 lane road, then as we cross the island we go down to a 1 lane road. This is pretty interesting as the roads wind up and down and around the hills. After about 40 minutes we arrive at Ulva Ferry, a hamlet, and get on a 40 foot boat that can hold between 50 and 60 passengers (I think there were about 30 people on board). We were warned that the ride might be a bumpy but it actually wasn't too bad. Our first stop is Staffa.
Staffa is know for it's Basalt Rocks (rock columns) and the astonishing acoustics of Fingal’s Cave, which inspired Mendelssohn to compose his Hebrides Overture. Unfortunately, we didn't get to go into the cave because the steps are being repaired but our captain nudged the boat into the mouth of the cave and played the Hebrides Overture. This photo is out in front of the caves. Another interesting thing about these rocks is that it is the same rock formation that makes up the Giant's causeway in Ireland. Some scientists say that if you drained the water you would be able to walk from Ireland to Scotland along the basalt rocks.
We walked on the basalt columns to the cave and peaked inside. Workmen were there repairing the steps.
Another view of the basalt columns.
The top of Staffa is quite flat.
There isn't a dock on Lunga. Instead there are floating platforms moored off shore. A platform is tied to the boat, then the boat noses into the rocky beach. The passengers walk along the platform then step off onto the rocks.
One thing we noticed is the birds did not fear us. When we were walking down the path there were times the birds were only a couple of feet away from us. It also felt like some of the birds were actually posing for the camera.
One of the birds that nest on Lunga is the European Shag.
Ed loved the bright green eyes.
The razorbill also nests on Lunga.
The birds in the top part of the photo are common guillemont. Razor bills are the bottom two birds. Thousands of common guillemonts were on the bottom half of a cliff. They were making lots of noise.
I got a little carried away with Atlantic Puffin photos. Puffins live at sea for most the year. In mid April they come to shore to breed. Their nests are in burrows in the side or tops of cliffs. Around mid July the puffins head back out to see.
The puffin just opened his mouth. We could hear the other birds but the puffins didn't make any noise.
This puffin was ripping up grass and taking into her burrow.
The lower puffin is coming out of the burrow.
On our way back to Ulva ferry we passed this island. Thought it looked interesting. After we arrived in Ulva ferry it was back on the mini bus for a ride to the ferry terminal. Now that it was sunny we had amazing scenery for the drive.
We also some a number of grey seals.
Back in Oban we watch one of the ferries sail off into the sunset.
Beautiful sunset tonight.