Lonely lighthouse

Today we decided to have a day out, leaving R to look after the glasshouses. We'd always wanted to try the Jura passenger ferry, so booked a couple of seats on the 10am sailing and set off for Tayvallich. There were only three other passengers on board the Shannick and we were off sharp at 10.

Motoring down Loch Sween at 22 knots was fun, especially as skipper Nicol MacKinnon seemed to have no qualms about me going out to the stern, with just a tiny chain between me and the deep blue sea! But once out of the shelter of the loch and into the Sound of Jura, things changed and we had quite a bumpy ride - hanging on tight was essential! I stayed outside until I began to get wet then popped back into the shelter of the cabin.

Out in the Sound of Jura we passed close by the Skervuile lighthouse on its lonely skerry and the skipper slowed down to tell us about it - it was built in 1865 and automated in 1945. The we were off again and arrived in Craighouse after a 50 minute ride, with four and a half hours ashore on Jura. A wonderful day - coffee in the café, lunch at the hotel and a visit to the 'Old Jura' exhibition and s/h bookshop at the church. I'd thoroughly recommend it!

Couldn't decide which of my 100 pictures to use as a Blip, so here's the lighthouse!