The Firth of Lorne, on the Scottish West Coast, is boat trip paradise. Fascinating islands, tidal races, stunning scenery, rare and exciting wildlife, and the third largest whirlpool in the world all add up to a day out to remember. Boat trips here are anything from thirty minutes for a quick visit to a seal colony, to five or six hours to whale watching in the turbulent waters surrounding the Isle of Jura.
Corryvreckan Whirlpool
Without doubt, the biggest and most popular attraction is the infamous and dramatic Corryvreckan whirlpool. It lies between the islands of Jura and Scarba in a gulf about a mile wide and two miles long. A giant pinnacle rises up from the sea floor to within 30 metres of the surface. When the tides flow into the gulf and over the pinnacle it causes massive whirlpools and 30 metre waves that appear in seconds. At full force, the whirlpool's roar can be heard ten miles away.
Scarba and Jura
The islands of Scarba and Jura lie just off the coast in the Firth of Lorne. Their rugged, hilly landscapes are home to thousands of red deer which are often seen by boat trippers as they graze on cliff tops and beaches. Also visible by boat are seal colonies, sea otters and small herds of feral goats. Along with some smaller nearby islets, Scarba forms part of the Scarba, Lunga and the Garvellachs National Scenic Area. To the north of the island are the Grey Dogs; a tidal race that runs around 8 knots and is a favourite spot for sea kayakers.
Jura is larger than Scarba and, unlike its neighbour, is inhabited. By boat magnificent views are afforded of the famous Paps of Jura; three conical mountains popular with hillwalkers. A boat trip to Jura will undoubtedly yield sightings of the island's 5000 plus red deer. Jura deer are known for their huge size, and there's nothing quite like seeing a majestic stag standing on the skyline.
The Garvellachs
These exciting islands lie further out beyond Scarba across an open sea tidal stream called "The Great Race." This is a favourite spot with geologists due to its interesting and unique sea cliffs which can only be seen properly by boat. It is possible to land on the islands and visit the ruined site of 6th century St. Brendan's Monastery, a ruined hill fort and a good example of an early Christian beehive cell.
Whales, Dolphins and Eagles
The Firth of Lorne is a Special Area of Conservation because of its abundant wildlife. A huge array of birdlife covers these waters. The more common types are gannets, auks, storm petrels and manx shearwaters including some rarer species such as the black-throated diver. However, the rarest and most spectacular birds in the area are the eagles. Golden eagles nest and hunt around the cliffs and hillsides of Scarba, Jura and the Garvellachs and are often seen either perched on the cliffs or soaring on the thermals. Even rarer is the white-tailed sea eagle. These striking birds nest on Jura, one of the only places in the UK to see them. During the warmer months, almost every trip by boat to this area will yield sightings of either whales, dolphins and porpoises. The Gulf of Corryvreckan is a good place to see them because of the rich feeding grounds. The thirty plus foot Minke whales arrive around May and provide much excitement, especially when spotted for the first time. Porpoises are a more common sight as they surface and dart through the water, sometimes right under the boat, while bottlenose dolphins love bow-riding boats.
The Firth of Lorne area has some of the most unique scenery, wildlife and sealife in the UK and is best explored by boat. Just remember to take good binoculars and a camera!
Harry Young works for Toltech Internet Solutions and writes on behalf of Loch Melfort Hotel. A family run, comfortable and friendly 3-star, 2 AA Rosette hotel on the romantic coast of Argyll in the Scottish Highlands with the finest views on the West coast. Offering the very best in tranquil accommodation, and is the ideal base for boat trips to the Firth of Lorne. Contact the hotel for details.
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