While we were out hunting down Heilan Coos, we did a loop around the northern part of the Isle of Skye and found ourselves in the town of Dunvegan on the western coast.
Originally, when I was searching for budget hotels in Scotland, I considered staying near Dunvegan in Edinbane. Because the area was so remote, fittingly the bed and breakfasts were much cheaper. But in retrospect, I’m glad we opted to stay in Portree instead, as it was far more central of a base.
Dunvegan isn’t that far away distance-wise, but it took us the better part of the day to get there as we drove slowly around the coast counter-clockwise. When we arrived, we parked at the castle, paid our collective £23.50 admission fees (don’t forget, students and seniors get discounts, always) and spent an hour exploring the castle.
The castle itself wasn’t so impressive, especially compared to all the other castles in Scotland, but I think it’s the sprawling grounds and gardens that are the selling point.
After we shot a little footage for our Gangnam Style video, we saw a sign that said “seals, this way.” Curious, we followed, and then promptly paid the £5 each to take a boat ride out to see these alleged seals. Now, normally, I wouldn’t fall for such a tourist trap, but this looked fun, we had nothing else to do and, c’mon, seals! When is any sort of wildlife not cute?
We wound up being the only three, aside from the driver—I don’t think you want any of us navigating the waters of Scotland alone!—in the little motor boat we took out to the island. It was less than a five minute-ride from the Dunvegan pier. I was expecting it would take awhile to wait for these seals to surface, but nope! They were ready for us, and they were everywhere.
Silly (sealy?) seals who posed for us.
This guy’s body language just emanated: “heeeeeey, laaaaaadies. Come into my lair.” All that was missing was his stogie.
Some of them reminded me of cats, basking in the sun on the rocks.
We saw big ones, small ones, baby ones, all different sizes and colors.
I missed having my massive wildlife lens on this trip, but at least our driver got us close enough to capture them properly.
When I think Scotland, seals usually don’t come to mind. But I guess even in a place with which you are quite familiar, you still learn something new every visit.
So despite the castle itself being only “meh,” I would go back here in a heartbeat for an afternoon with the harbor seals. Dunvegan gets two thumbs up from the Luna girls!
I wouldn’t have ever pictured seals in Scotland, and these guys are so “chill”
Particularly in comparison to the seals at Pier 39!
Oh, I want to go to there.
Angella recently posted..Getting Recipes Ready For The Holidays
You and your sister look so much alike! I voted for you on Chris’s site – good luck! Very cute seal pics, too.
Sonja recently posted..I Like Donuts
She’s prettier and blonder—but I’ll take any comparison, ha!
And I made the top 13, so thanks so much for your vote =)
Who would expect seals over castles in Scotland. Gotta’ love the surprises of traveling.
Gaelyn recently posted..Painting in the clouds
I just love your photos. Great tips on Scotland… Thanks!
Those seals made me giggle! Too cute!
Rika | Cubicle Throwdown recently posted..Roatan Month 3 Roundup
Loved the name of the castle!! And those seals are pretty, everyone of them is looking at you as if trying to communicate something!!!
Have a nice day
Arti recently posted..Of… Love, Lights and Joy: Diwali Diya Memories
I love how chill they are. After living in San Francisco where the seals are aggressive and bark at you, these guys were a nice change of pace!
Those seal shots made me crack up. The one lying on the seaweed really does look like he’s trying to seduce you.
Ashley of Ashley Abroad recently posted..Saturday Snapshot 7
I told him I had a husband and that I was a little out of his league–he should look for a lady more his type…
I never pictured seals in Scotland! But this looks like such a fun thing to do – that Macho seal is hilarious!
best sister pic ever!
btw what camera mode are you on for these pics. love the lighting for the skintone
I almost always shoot in aperture priority mode with the white balance set to shade or cloudy (unless it’s sunny out, which it rarely is in Scotland!). The coloring is mostly post-processing.
Lightroom Lightroom Lightroom…Amen!
What 23 GBP entrance fee?! Crazy! But I’d go for the seals love them…
Sebastian @ Off-The-Path.com recently posted..Hostel Test: SafeStay in London
I had no idea seals were in Scotland, you keep making it look better and better!
Ayngelina recently posted..A lesson in organics
It’s amazing, seals are in Scotland! I didn’t see any of them even in Iceland. Great photos!
Juno recently posted..Runaway Photo: The Day I Saw the Northern Lights
I am so incredibly jealous about your seal experience. Mine was… well, non-existent due to it being so cold. What cute faces they have!
Erica recently posted..Pretending to be a Gladiator in the Colosseum with Walks of Italy
Amazing pics there lady… I’m ashamed to say this is only over the border for me and yet I’ve never once seen a seal in the UK! Another one for my “to do” list… x
Delia recently posted..Istanbul: The Accidental Holiday
we should have brought one of them suckers home with us… Knox and Ella would have loved having a “sealy” seal brother.
That top picture of you 2 is adorable. Far more adorable than the seals!
I think I’m in love with the seals!!!! btw, I never found the video that I saw the day after the elction (Obama Gangnam style). I found a similar one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdFn6xzdZCU
What stunning pictures!!! I love Scotland but don’t remember seeing seals there!
Have you heard of the festival tomorrowland? I posted about it, a truly amamzing place to take pictures!
http://www.heleneinbetween.com/2012/11/the-most-amazing-thing-ever.html
Helene recently posted..The most amazing thing ever
I am OBSESSED with wildlife of all kinds, seals included. In Iceland I made us drive to some random GPS coordinate where I read on the internet there were dozens of them, sadly we only saw one and even with my 75-300 lens we were too far. But in Hawaii I was much luckier, we saw a great monk seal show at the end of one of our hikes. Amazing!
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They are so cute, I just want to squeeze them!
Emily in Chile recently posted..The Botero Museum will make you smile
Coos & then SEALS!?! So much cute!
Your pictures are absolutely stunning! I want to visit Scotland now
Sojourner recently posted..Visiting the Alaskan Glaciers
Scotland is a really beautiful part of the world and very underrated. Natural beauty is almost everywhere as a lot of Scotland has been barely touched.