St Kilda, Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Day 20 , 18th July.
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These images are all from the Atlantic coast of Soay (the north-western island of the St Kilda group) as we slowly sail by….
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St Kildan hunting parties frequently came here to gather birds and eggs from the cliffs of this wild landscape. There are 40 cleits on Soay, though I didn’t notice any from the ship (and certainly not in this image!).
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There are no trees here on Soay, so the gannets cannot use leaves, branches and twigs to build their nests but make do with whatever materials are available, mainly probably flotsam and jetsum. Notice the number of pieces of rope hanging from the underside of the nests.
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Soay and Am Plastair (small island to right) with Hirta in the distance – Click to zoom into very large image
This is another panorama available in large size. Click on the image to zoom in for detail.
Murray Foote 
Wow, for the time of year, that looks cold and clammy! Brrr.
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It was misty but not cold. The temperature while I was in Scotland was generally between 20degC and 24degC. I’d researched what to expect for the trip and it was warmer than it had been for some years. That was actually something of a problem because I was heading for the Arctic and had only brough clothing for the cold.
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Ah, yes, travelling in the UK summer – always pack for all four seasons!
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Such a wild and rugged place. Those islanders must have been agile and fit to climb those cliffs for birds and eggs, not for the fainthearted! The third from last looks like an aerial shot, such a different angle even for a telephoto lens.
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Absolutely, just with bare feet and homemade ropes.
I think our brain assumes that the part of that image where the birds are sitting is flat (rather than a steep slope) and from that, translates the perspective into looking down.
For me the seventh one also looks as though we are looking down.
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