Thurso - Dunnet Head - Duncansby Head

 Around Thurso for a day viewing the Puffins 5th July

We decided to do a day from Thurso and look for the Puffins and try to get some good photos. After picking Matt up from his backpackers we drove out to the Dunnet Head Lighthouse the Northernmost Point of mainland Great Britain. We were in luck and found the Puffins on the cliff edge near the light house. 

There were also some cool wildflowers in the peat and bog around the lighthouse area. After spending some time at Dunnet Head we drove over to Duncansby Head Lighthouse and the Duncansby Stacks, a group of rock pillars on the sea just off the coast. Along the way we stoped into a cafe for a coffee and it was a small shop and cafe where the proceeds went to a seal rescue rehab group that operated in the area. The lady who operated the cafe as a volunteer was a good sort and up for a bit of banter and she gave Matt a curry up all in good taste. She also painted water colours and sold them and the proceeds went to the seal rescue cause. In a shed out the back some ladies were feeding some seal pups that were either sick or abandoned. 

Along the way Maree also saw some of her favourite highland cows so we stoped and she took a photo or two. Then off to Duncansby Head Lighthouse. There were great walks along the coast from the light house and more puffins and other seabirds nesting at the Duncansby Stacks  - the rock pillars. We spent some time there then back a quick look at the Castle of Mey from the road. That night we got an abnb in Thurso. Not bad but with lots of flies outside which was a bit of a pain otherwise OK.

Puffins at last.

Our route for the day.

Dunnet Head Lighthouse

We enjoyed seeing the wildflowers in the area - this could be bog asphodel flowers.

Cotton-grass, or bog-cotton as it is sometimes known, is actually a sedge.

Maree thought this was a pink heather Jim wasn't sure and Matt didn't care

More Puffin photos and below

One of the baby seals about to be feed at the rehab centre

Maree's favourite highland cows

We all forgot to get a picture of Duncansby Head Lighthouse so I grabbed one off the internet.

The Duncansby Stacks.

More puffin's at the Duncansby Stacks coast.

Some of the other birds nesting.

Two more photos of the Duncansby Stacks.

A quick look at the Castle of Mey on the way home.