No cruise to the west of Mull is complete without a visit to the island of Lunga during the seabird breeding season.
Lunga is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its abundant plant life. Many rare and endangered plants are native to the island. However, the main attraction is the many thousands of breeding puffins that allow visitors to approach to within a few feet of them.
But take the time to walk on past the puffin colonies, negotiate the precipitous cliff path and experience the cacophony of Harp Rock, a sea stack separated by a narrow gut.
At Harp Rock you will find dense colonies of guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars that can be viewed across a narrow deep ravine and allows visitors a unique close quarters experience of a seabird colony.
The anchorage is normally approached from the north, but with caution, one can safely negotiate the hazards of the south entrance to make the passage through the Treshnish Isles more rewarding. We find the best time to visit Lunga is in the early evening, when the trip boats have left for the day, and you have the island and the birds and the sunset all to yourself.
Pauline Taylor
Moonshadow Yacht Charter Ltd
