Papa Stour – westside

Tuesday 4th July

The trail today took Roja and I across the island on an old track to its high point, a5 89 metres. This is the north east corner. The cliffs are much higher, more like 50 metres, and too high for me to approach the edge, though it raises no concern for Roja.

As ever, climbing skills are required by me to get across various tied-up gates and fences. Roja has perfected going underneath them, which is much better than landing onto his front paws from a jump.

Just before the summit we were both attacked by skuas. At sea they will attack other birds in flight. On land, like here, most likely they were protecting nests. They are the most fearsome of sea-birds, flying directly at the head. I managed to get a quick photo, then we scarpered.

‘Where the fuck are you going? What the fuck are you doing?’ scream the skuas, the least willing to leave him in peace.

But they get no reply.

This is a slight corruption of a favourite quote of mine that I often think about when I’m out. The source, and the correct version, are at the bottom.

After the summit the trail then follows the cliffs, geos, outcrops and arches of the west coast, weathered by the ocean. There was some wind today, but gentle, and yet the path provides an exhilarating experience.