Billy

Went down to fish Coldbackie beach for the first time. Lovely empty beach with big surf and turquoise sea. No fish, but the sun shone for a bit and it warmed up for a while.

In the evening we went out with Billy - a local lobster fisherman - to collect his creels and do some fishing ourselves. I had a big pollack of about 7lbs.

Billy took us out to a big island about a mile out and showed us an amazing cave with green-blue clear water, sea urchins at the bottom, cormorants nesting and huge rock stacks. Round the next point were more amazing rock formations and loads of seals and sea birds.

Round the back of the island we felt the full brunt of the Atlantic and the boat was tossed about like a cork on huge waves. It was incredible seeing Billy work with the lobster creels in rough seas just yards from great rocks that would smash the wee boat to pieces.

A bit blurry from the waves, but I really like this picture.

We came away with loads of mackerel, two lobsters and four crabs for dinner and some brilliant memories of incredible places that very few people get to see. Thanks Billy.