Loch Shiel cruising

We left "Mica Beach" and continued down Loch Shiel, the lightest of breezes filling our sails.

Spring seemed to be developing almost by the hour; fresh green leaves opening on the trees and birdsong floating across the water.

Although the mountains begin to fall back farther down the loch, the scenery certainly doesn't fall away; the western shore is an array of rugged rocky bosses above natural woodlands.

The wildlife tour boat "Sileas" passed us on her return to Glenfinnan, looking very spruce. We last saw her on our winter trip in 2015 when she was being prepared for her annual surveys.  Built in 1940, she's still in very good condition!  We would meet one of the people who'd been a passenger on Sileas two days later, she was thrilled to have got close views of a Sea Eagle from the deck of the boat.  If you're not a canoeist or kayaker, a trip on Sileas would be a great way to see Loch Shiel.

As we continued our own Loch Shiel cruise, the views just kept coming.  Our pace slowed a little as the afternoon became warmer. It was a good idea to look behind us every now and again.........

.....because the views were pretty special in that direction too!