Stack of Skudiburgh

Awoke to a bleak windy, wet morning in Dunvegan. As walking seemed a poor option for the morning we tried to book a boat trip to a Puffin colony. We had no mobile reception at the Tables Guest house and the landline call the owner of our accommodation made for me went to voicemail. Internet site for the boat business said they were fully booked out (the boat did not leave it’s mooring all afternoon at Uig). So first drove to Stein in pouring rain to try a dive company boat that also did puffin watching tours but nobody was there. At Uig harbour there was another company Skye Cruises who returned Yvonne’s call and offered us a place on a trip at 3.30pm. It was noon so Yvonne made a bee line to the shop and bought some items. We then drove to a spot overlooking Uig Bay the walked to the Fairy Glen (Faerie Glen), a bizarre miniature landscape and took photos. Back at the car ate lunch with a view before returning to the Uig pier. We had a three hour trip on a converted 1940’ies fishing boat. We were taken past the remains of Hugh’s Castle and on to a common seal colony (many with grey coats and they poke their heads out of the water like little Nessy monsters), then past a few grey seals (blotchy coats). Then on to Puffin colony. Puffin are similar to fairy penguins that can fly. They stay close to the water in flight and seek refuge underwater. They also nest in existing burrows like Fairy Penguins. Soon after I saw the first porpoises of the season. Dinner in the Uig hotel then drove back via the Quiraing, Staffin and past the Old Man of Storr.Read more