Handa Island

A walk on Handa Island - 1 Looking back to the south-east along the green path towards the sandy bay of Port an Eilein. The rather chaotic-looking Lewisian Gneiss landscape of the mainland is in the background, contrasting with the more gentle contours of Handa Island formed largely of Torridonian Sandstone.

A walk on Handa Island - 2 Looking SSW over the fertile lower slopes of the southern part of the island towards the embayment of Tràigh Shourie. The Stoer peninsula is on the skyline, with the Old Man of Stoer sea stack just visible on the right. A panoramic view made from three portrait-style photos stitched together.

A walk on Handa Island - 3 A board walk keeps visitors to the footpath and away from sensitive vegetation and bird nesting sites. This view is to the south west, with Scourie Bay on the far right. In the far distance, the Torridonian mountain of Quinag has its head in the clouds.

A walk on Handa Island - 4 A view south over the small lslet of Glas Leac towards Scourie Bay. In the distance, the Torridonian mountain of Quinag has its head in the clouds.

A walk on Handa Island - 5 A view south towards the mainland village of Scourie. In the distance, the Torridonian mountain of Quinag has its head in the clouds.

A walk on Handa Island - 6 A view south to the mainland village of Scourie. In the distance, the Torridonian mountain of Quinag has its head in the clouds. The bird in the foreground is a Great Skua, also known as a 'bonxie' - a term of Shetland origin. There is a sizeable colony on Handa Island and they are rather notorious for their aggressive and territorial behaviour, swooping low over the heads of walkers where the footpath passes close to their nesting grounds. Waving one's arms in the air is usually a sufficient deterrent...

A walk on Handa Island - 7 The bird is a Great Skua, also known as a 'bonxie' - a term of Shetland origin. There is a sizeable colony on Handa Island and they are rather notorious for their aggressive and territorial behaviour, swooping low over the heads of walkers where the footpath passes close to their nesting grounds. Waving one's arms in the air is usually a sufficient deterrent to ward off an attack...

A walk on Handa Island - 8 The magnificent Torridonian Sandstone sea cliffs at Geodh' a' Bhrisidh on the north coast of Handa Island is home to huge colonies of sea birds, especially guillemots, but also gulls, razor bills and puffins.

A walk on Handa Island - 9 The magnificent Torridonian Sandstone sea cliffs at Geodh' a' Bhrisidh on the north coast of Handa Island is home to huge colonies of sea birds, especially guillemots, but also gulls, razor bills and puffins.