Back to Lunga

We made our annual trip out to the Treshnish Isles last week. It’s something we look forward to every summer and although we’ve been many times before, it never gets old.

The weather was kind to us and the crossing was fairly smooth. As soon as Lunga came into view I started looking out for the birds. You know what you’re going to see, but there’s still that excitement when you arrive.

The puffins were everywhere. Some were standing outside their burrows while others were still just digging them. They are completely unbothered by people and it’s easy to spend ages just sitting watching them. Every year I tell myself I won’t take as many photos, and every year I come home with hundreds.

One thing that I love is the noise around Cathedral Rock. You can hear it before you get there. At first it’s just a distant sound and then it gets louder and louder. By the time you’re standing near the cliffs it’s almost overwhelming.

There are thousands of birds packed onto the rock faces. Guillemots and razorbills all calling at once and fighting for the best spot. It’s not exactly a beautiful sound but it’s an amazing one. A constant shouting, squawking and chattering that never seems to stop. If you’ve been there you’ll know exactly what I mean.

We stood for a while just watching the birds coming and going. Every ledge seemed full. There was always something happening somewhere. It’s one of those places where you don’t really need to do anything except stand and watch.

After our time on Lunga we went on to Staffa. The basalt columns are always impressive and Fingal’s Cave looked as dramatic as ever. Even though we’ve seen it before, we still spent a while watching and listening to the waves echoing around inside.

Before long it was time to head back. The journey always seems much longer on the way home.

People ask if it’s worth going back to the same place year after year. For us the answer is definitely yes. The puffins are wonderful, the scenery is stunning and there is something special about hearing that wall of sound from Cathedral Rock again.

We’ll probably be back next year, just like we always are.