Gigha

 With a slightly better forecast we headed off to Gigha, as foot passengers...

Waiting for the ferry and one of many rainbows.

Clearing skies....

Heading inland form the ferry, we turned to the right along the coast and  the sun came out allowing a brief field sketching stop...

Field sketch with rain splatters...

We then re-joined the road and headed out to do the Northern Loop footpath. 

The Giant's Tooth, also known as The Hanging Stone.

Looking across to Islay and McArthur's Head lighthouse. 

From the summit of Carn Ban looking across to the tombolo of the Twin Beaches.

From Carn Ban looking south.

The path was well way-marked...

With stepping stones and at the northern end, a boardwalk.

Calm waters and nice colours.

The 'new' Islay ferry.

The Paps of Jura finally made an appearance.

 

After the Northern Loop it was time to retrace our steps returning to the ferry terminal to find that the planned maintenance that had cancelled the two afternoon sailings at 12:30 and 2:30, had over run, cancelling the 3:30...which gave us time to spare while we waited for the 4:30...and a very nice coffee in the café. 

Lungwort lichen

Some more photos - mainly of Lungwort ...and other temperate rainforest species....from Crinan Woods.

Usnea sp plus others...

Mosses, lichens and ferns.

Trees dripping with Usneas.

Peltigera sp and ferns.

Crinan Woods

A good little walk, which well waymarked, led us from Crinan, through the temperate rainforest of Crinan Woods. What a superb place! 

As soon as we arrived we were struck by the sheer luxuriousness and vibrancy of the lichen flora - the Lungwort lichen (Lobaria pulmonaria) was stunning!

There were a few fungi - Fly Agaric and various Russula sp as well as a very soggy Cep. 

After climbing up through the woods there were 'views' along...

....and across Loch Crinan.

A meandering path took us over the top and back down ...

....to the Crinan Canal where the pleasant tow path walk took us back to Crinan itself. 

From the tow path across to Duntrune Castle.

The Crinan canal enters the sea. 

Dunadd Fort: The Seat of Gaelic Kings

 Our final prehistoric site visit was to Dunadd Fort. Situated on the top of a prominent rocky outcrop, Dunadd Fort was a royal power centre of Gaelic kings from the 500 - 800s AD. 

A good view over Moine Mhor - 'The Great Moss'. 

There were three carvings to look out for: the footprint, the Wild Boar and the Ogham markings.  

The footprint: this may have been used during inauguration ceremonies for new kings, symbolising the new ruler's power over the land. 

A Wild Boar - you may have to use your imagination to see this one! 

The Ogham inscription (early medieval alphabet).

What a river! 

The fort is atop the outcrop and here we are looking down through natural terraces that used to have formidable stone walls on top of them. 

Baluachraig Rock Art

And a short walk from the carpark for the previous site was this spectacular sheet of rock...the symbolism of the marks remains a mystery, but similar symbols are found in other parts of Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Portugal and Spain.