Better than the Caribbean! Oronsay to Tobermory 17 May 2025

 

Entering David Balfour Bay - it’s been on Susie’s to-do list for a long time.  And for good reason.  It was stunning, better than the Caribbean!

Oronsay was as lovely as yesterday, though there was more of a breeze than forecast and it was cool enough.  However that didn’t stop the Great Northern Divers diving all around us, and a family of Shelducks with 9 tiny young feeding along the waters edge, a Bonxie flew over, and the Lapwings displayed above the nearby fields.  As we lifted the anchor at 08.30 a herd of cattle crossed the field knowingly heading for the tastiest grazing. The sun was shining.

We headed north up past Colonsay and an hour and a half beyond to the southwest corner of Mull, to visit David Balfour Bay.  Susie has long wanted to visit it, so a coffee stop seemed a good excuse.  It is named after the main character in Robert Louis Stevenson’s book ‘Kidnapped’ which was partially filmed here.  

This panorama only marginally portrays the idyllic nature of the bay.  
Our coffee stop nearly turned into immigration and permanent residency.


Next we headed for Tobermory.  First we passed Iona, the abbey visible in the distance (because we went round the outside of the island), then north past the Treshnish Isles on our left and the Isle of Staffa on our right - the Giants Causeway-esque basalt columns clearly visible. Then it was round the northwest of Mull into Tobermory at 15.45 - early enough to refuel before they close.

Iona, with the abbey just left of centre.

Dutchman’s Cap, one of the Treshnish Islands

The sea state was so calm that it was perfect for cetacean watching.  If only there were some cetaceans!  It took about 2.5 hours of vigilance but eventually a Minke Whale made an appearance, and although we saw it well it wasn’t close enough for a picture.

However half an hour later 4 - 6 Bottlenose Dolphins joined us for the ride.  They stayed with us about 15 minutes on the bow wave and the wake.  We loved it, and as far as we could tell, so did they.

Bottlenose Dolphins on the bow wave.

A dolphin on the wake wave.

A Bottlenose gets overexcited and takes off! (Gordon’s pic)


BBQ on board this evening 



The boat bird list is the longest for the trip at 35 species.

Our route:











































































































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