[williswall]

My wife and I just returned from our anniversary vacation to London/Scotland. The main reason I am posting this is to showcase the amazing geology of Staffa, a small island off the Isle of Mull, which I reached from a small boat from Iona. Staffa is an incredible example of columnar basalt, making up a large part of the island which is capped by a non columnar basalt flow. It is noted for the sea intrusion hollowing out Fingal's Cave. Despite a drenching on Iona before departing, the seas, wind and rain had calmed enough for the boat to depart (it had cancelled for 3 days before). It was indeed a rock and roll ride out and there was some question as to whether we would be able to dock at the small jetty that allows access to the island. As I waited to disembark 3 large waves struck the jetty from the opposite side, sending a vertical column of water about 10 feet high up and over the people who were exposed as they got off the boat, absolutely drenching them. I kept a wary eye on the seas and scurried off when the time was right. As most (there were perhaps 25 people on the boat) headed off for Fingal's Cave I instead climbed the steps to the top of the island and "mulled" about before I followed them. A handrail assists this short walk across the columns, but right at the bend to the entrance there is a wonky section with some boards cobbled together to gain access to the inner sanctum of the cave. Only one other person was in there when I arrived and after that I had the cave to myself for over 10 minutes, taking pix and video and generally soaking in the awesomeness of this geologic wonder, along with the acoustics. I would have spent hours on the island if given the chance but the boat had a set depart time after lingering off shore, allowing us only about an hour on the island. I lingered until the ticking clock made departure a necessity and brought up the rear of people reboarding the craft, thankful to have been able to see this natural wonder up close.

Staffa1

Staffa2

Staffa3

Staffa4

Staffa5

Staffa6

Staffa7

Staffa stepping stones

Staffa landing jetty

Route to Fingal's Cave

Makeshift entrance to Fingal's Cave

Fingal's Cave3

Fingal's cave2

Fingal's Cave roof

Fingal's Cave B&W

Fingal's Cave

Entrance to Fingal's Cave

Boat to Staffa

Basalt columns

Am Buchaille4

Am Buchaille3

Am Buchaille2

Am Buchaille1

Iona Nunnery

Iona Abbey2

Iona Abbey ceiling

Iona Abbey

I was able to do some short walks on the Isle of Mull and the journeys to and from Edinburgh, but the only "hike" I did was a walk from our apartment to Arthur's Seat (Edinburgh), spending some time on a sub peak and circling back via the Salisbury Crags as the sun was setting on a spectacular day for about a 10 miler.

Edinburgh4

Edinburgh3

Edinburgh2

Edinburgh1

Edinburgh from Arthur's Seat

Arthur's Seat summit

Arthur's Seat

My wife and I are planning on spending significant time in Europe after I retire and Scotland will be on the docket...I got a small taste of Glencoe and the West Highland Way; there are so many ways to recreate here I (we) will surely be back. Another cool event was finding ourselves in the thick of a march for Scottish Independence in Edinburgh up to the castle on a sunny Saturday afternoon. And rose overload in Regent's Park in London on another beautiful day....and punting on the river in Cambridge with late afternoon light. We certainly do love London for many reasons. Lucky indeed.

Freedom

Rainbow over Arthur's Seat

Salisbury Crags

Salisbury Crags from below

Salisbury Crags2

St Columba

Sunset on the Salisbury Crags

Doune Castle

Some pix from the Isle of Mull:

Tobermory2

Tobermory1

Tobermory church

Mull4

Mull2

Mull1

Kilmore Standing Stones

Calgary

Calgary Beach

Other areas of Scotland:

Glencoe6

Glencoe5

Glencoe4

Glencoe3

Glencoe2

Glencoe1

Kilchurn Castle1

Kilchurn Castle2

London/Cambridge:

Cambridge1

Cambridge2

Cambridge3

Cambridge4

London4

London6

London7

St Pancras Station

St Regents Park

St Regents Park2

[Brushbuffalo]

Very captivating. Thanks for posting.

[Ski]

I've been familiar with Mendelssohn's Opus 26 since grade school, but your images finally put a face on it for me. Thanks.

[geyer]

[RichP]

Beautiful!

[Slim]

Lovely!

[moonspots]

[mike]

Nice! Is that the stretch of the W. Highland Way from Glen Coe over to Kinlochleven? Wife is now booking for our trip this spring, Includes a week on Mull