As the sun rose over the Knoydart mountains, Lord of the Glens sailed away from the mainland towards our morning destination of Eigg. An Sgurr, the “prow” that prominently marks Eigg, rose before us under cloudless skies. The clear, sunny day was a gift in this summer of rain and wind. We enjoyed sightings of gannets, guillemots, and even a minke whale (seen by just a few of our group) in the calm sea.
The Isle of Eigg is a community-owned estate, purchased in 1997 by the Isle of Eigg Community Trust, a partnership of the islanders, the Highland Council, and the Scottish Wildlife Trust. The island is known for its “green footstep,” generating electricity through renewable sources of water, wind, and solar. The Scottish Wildlife Trust manages much of the island, working to protect the island’s natural environment and increase its biodiversity. The blue-sky day was a perfect chance to explore the natural beauty of the island. Steve took a group to work on photography skills while Robin joined others on a hike up towards An Sgurr, where a steep rocky trail led to stunning views over the mainland, Skye, and the isles of the Inner Hebrides. An Sgurr towered overhead, an ancient lava flow that once filled a wide river channel, then remained standing through time while surrounding softer volcanics eroded away.
Our mid-day sail brought us to the Sound of Mull, the sky darkening as the afternoon progressed. We arrived in Tobermory just as rain started and the morning’s bright sunshine slipped into memory. But nothing can diminish the cheerfulness of Tobermory’s colorful waterfront, the buildings recently spruced up for a children’s television show that was filmed in the village. Even as rain fell, a few hearty folk set off to walk and take photos with Steve and Robin, while others explored the town with its shops, museum, aquarium, warm pubs, and even a distillery.
Before dinner, David gave an overview of Celtic Christianity, explaining how the Christian faith of Ireland differed from Roman Christianity, noting that Celtic Christianity is thought to have arrived in Ireland from the Desert Fathers via the Mediterranean. The talk provided us with background knowledge for tomorrow’s visit to Iona.
After dinner, we enjoyed a presentation by Wings Over Mull, an organization that rescues and rehabilitates raptors and other birds of prey. This was a unique chance to see the birds up close and learn about their habits and ecology, and a fine way to end another day on Lord of the Glens.
