Iona and Staffa

We were almost up with the birds in the morning eager to see what the weather was doing, but it was a bit cloudy and we had a really heavy shower of rain.  However, as we were eating a very nicely cooked hearty Scottish breakfast, the weather brightened and the owner of the B & B (Callum) phoned ahead to find out if the Staffa trip was on - it was!!  It then turned out to be the most glorious morning and we headed off to Fionnphort to board the boat that would take us over to Staffa where we would get the opportunity to see Fingal's Cave.  The sea was calm and blue and we had a lovely sail over to the island of Staffa. There was even some wildlife to see on the way there

Seals basking on the rocks

It was only when we got a bit closer that I saw lots of people already on the island and to my surprise and delight, discovered that we not only could walk onto the top of the island, we could also walk along the shoreline and into the cave itself!
 

People on the shoreline at Fingal's Cave

We soon disembarked and walked onto the top of the island first so that the others who were already at the cave would have left by the time we got down and, as it happened, that plan worked out well!!  The sun was beating down on us and it was really hot while we were on the island.  We couldn't have asked for better weather for this part of the trip.  We were met by this cheeky chap when we reached the top of the steps onto the island

We wandered around for a while taking some photos - here are some of the many that I took!!

Rock formation

On top of the cliffs

View of the cliffs

Another view of the cliffs

Stairs down to the pier and shore

After descending the stairs back to the pier and shoreline, we walked along the rocks towards Fingal's Cave.  It wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be as those rock formations are quite flat and level and there's also a handrail to hang onto if you're not too sure or a bit unsteady on your feet.  Once you get to the cave, you can go part of the way in till you come to a chain.  After that, you're not really supposed to go any further but, if you're very careful, you can, and we did!!  We were really lucky with the weather and the relatively calm sea because, if had been the least bit choppy or rough, there's no way we'd have been able to get close,  never mind inside!!

Inside Fingal's Cave

Inside Fingal's Cave looking out

Rock formation on the shoreline

The walk along the shoreline towards the pier

The walk along the shoreline towards the cave

As we approached the pier, it was soon time to board the boat for our onward journey to Iona, another place that we had wanted to visit for a long time.  We had a lovely view of Staffa as we left.

Island of Staffa

We had a lovely view of Iona Abbey as we approached the island but, as you can see, the clouds had started to come in and the sun was quickly disappearing behind them!!

Iona Abbey

We had a bit of a walk and a bite to eat before going to visit the Nunnery and the Abbey, and found Iona to be very peaceful.  The weather did seem to be closing in a little though, but at least it was still warm and dry.

On Iona

Sailing boat

Next on the list to see was the Nunnery.  The clouds had obscured the sun by now and we could feel some spits of rain in the air, but it was still quite warm and it didn't disrupt the visit.

After a nice wander among the ruins we headed the short distance over to the Abbey itself and, on the way there, we saw people standing watching out over the bay, and I heard the words, "There's about five of them" and quickly realised that there was a pod of dolphins out there!!  We were very far away from the shore, but I did manage to catch a couple of fairly decent photos using the zoom lens.  They are a bit fuzzy, but still recognisable as dolphins!!  What a bonus this was!!  It really was the icing on the cake!!

We then had a walk around the Abbey and the museum, and then the small chapel that stands just outwith the grounds.  The rain hadn't really come to anything at all, so our visit wasn't spoiled.

Entrance to Iona Abbey

Museum

Museum

Ruins outside

Inside Iona Abbey

Iona Abbey

One of the stained glass windows

Iona Abbey

Inside the small chapel

We left here, had a coffee then caught the ferry back to Mull as the weather was really beginning to close in even more.  On the way back to the ferry I caught sight of these scarecrows, but can't help thinking that they weren't that scary any more as they had seemed to have lost their heads!

Once we got back to Mull we stopped off at the Kell Row once again in Fionnphort for dinner before heading back to Bunessan.  As we were nearing Bunessan, you could see how the weather was coming in and how the clouds were gathering.  I converted this to black and white as there was very little colour in the original photo.

As we got into the village though, there were some quite good reflections as the tide was in.

And here's another black and white conversion as there were hardly any colours showing up at all.

And that was that for the day.  We'd had a great day out and all that was left to do was go back to the B & B to settle in for the night to prepare for the next day's sightseeing.  We had planned a west coast road trip for the morning, so we just hoped that the weather was going to be kind to us!  We were in bed by 10.30 p.m.!!  Totally unheard of for us!!

On our way!!

We had always promised ourselves another holiday in Scotland after a wonderful time travelling to Orkney and then the Kyles of Lochalsh a few years ago, so we had arranged a B & B in Bunessan, Mull, staying from the 12th to 17th August.  The ferry was all organised having done all of that on-line, and we were all packed and prepared to leave on the morning of Monday 12th August.

There was just one fly in the ointment though - a filling had come out of one of my teeth on the Friday night so it was panic stations to try and get to the dentist on Monday prior to us leaving for our trip!!  I was standing on the doorstep of the dentist at 8 a.m. and, luckily, he fitted me in for a temporary repair which would let me now enjoy my holiday without worrying about having to find a dentist on Mull.

We left home around 9 a.m. and we were finally on our way!  The weather on the way up to Oban wasn't too bad really, but we did hit a shower of rain just as we reached there.  We also popped into a petrol station for fuel prior to getting into the queue for the ferry over to Mull.  After driving into the queue for the ferry we were able to leave the car there and go for a coffee and cake before driving onto the ferry for the crossing over to Mull. After leaving the car down below deck, we went up to the restaurant for coffee and a sandwich, which was very tasty!

Driving onto the ferry

The crossing over to Mull was uneventful and fairly calm, which was good!!  I took one or two photos from the deck as we approached Mull

Lismore Lighthouse in the sun

Duart Castle

Just after I took these photos, we were summoned back to the car to get ready to disembark - let the raod trip of Mull begin!!

Waiting in the car to disembark

Driving off into Mull - turning left to Bunessan

And this is when an entirely different way of driving begins - single track roads with passing places and all sorts of hazards - mainly in the shape of sheep and cows that wander around the island!!  We followed the road down to Bunessan where we stopped briefly before heading onwards to the B & B. A wee photo before setting off on our way!

A boat in the bay

Once we were settled into our marvellous B & B we went to Fionnphort which is about a ten minute drive away to go for dinner to the Keel Row.  We had fish and chips that night which were very tasty.  However, on our way there, we came across one of the many Mull traffic calming measures!!

This is our road and we will walk on it!!

 And they knew exactly where they were going as they turned up a nearby side road!!

We know where we're going!

After we had our dinner we came out of the restaurant and were met by the most wonderful sunset

View over to Iona

The little gaps in the cloud make this one look like a face!

On the way back we stopped off at the local pub for a very quick drink then headed back up the winding road to the B & B to settle in for a night's rest but, before we did, there were just the last rays of the sun to catch before heading off.

Bunessan Bay - tide now in

And there was also a sighting of either a buzzard or an eagle just as we left - it's just a silhouette, but great to see against the twilight blue colour of the sky

We were hopeful that the weather would hold out for a trip to both Staffa and Iona in the morning.  I think I slept with my fingers crossed all night!!