Foula

17Jun13

Following some quick research we decided to break the journey from Brae back to the Orkneys by stopping off at the Island of Foula which is just west of the Shetland mainland; this also served the benefit of reducing the passage by five hours. Very light winds would probably mean motoring all the way but had the added benefit of making the passage past Papa Stour more comfortable. We past the WWII gun emplacements opposite Muckle Row and were soon past Papa Stour with just a little swell to contend with. We could see Foula in the distance and our anticipation grew as its five dramatic peaks loomed above the horizon. Ham Voe on the east side is a tiny harbour and entrance and the pier wall a mere 30m in total.

We had been advised to raft up against an old 35ft Liverpool class life boat keeping well away from Foula's Mail boat launching crane -- kept out of the water to protect it from the severe storms which can blast through. The Mail boat is very important to the islanders and allows them independence from the mainland; times when the the boat has been based there [the mainland] has seen the economy and population suffer.

Safely moored we had time for a quick coastal walk up to the war memorial through the cottongrass and sea-pinks to the foot of the 418m Da Sneug. Wildlife a plenty on the way with seals basking at the shoreline and the magnificent 'vvv' sound of diving Snipe marking their territory. The peat soil and wild landscape was alive with nesting birds, the Bonxies [Great Skuas] and Skootie Allens [Arctic Skuas] being very prolific. We are very pleased to have made the effort to come here as it is another magical place only a privileged few get to see; we wish we could have spent more time exploring.

Anyhow, we must move on and make room for the Mail boat to be launched and so next stop NW Orkney and hopefully by sail.