Orkney Holiday August Part 5

After packing up the tent at Wheems, we got the ferry back to Gills Bay and headed down the road to Dornoch campsite for the last night of our holidays. The next morning we drove to Cromarty to meet up with the dog sitter before we went on an EcoVentures boat trip, hopefully to see some dolphins.
We met up with the crew and the other passengers at the office to get kitted up, then headed to the jetty and boarded the rib. We set off in the Cromarty Firth around the oil rigs looking for any signs of activity. All was pretty quiet as we ventured out into the North Sea, until someone spotted movement in the water some distance away. The skipper headed nearer and suddenly the dolphins appeared on both sides of the rib and some were rolling underneath. There were lots of oohs and aahs from all the passengers. It was a magical experience seeing them so close especially in their natural environment,
If your are near Cromarty on your holidays, its definitely worth booking a trip with EcoVentures, they are very professional and knowledgeable.  When we got back on dry land we went and collected Sitka, he didn't seem to have missed us as he was busy tucking into an ice cream.
What an amazing weeks holiday - ferries, islands, camping pods, white sandy beach walks and the highlight, seeing the dolphins up close.

Lesley's first day on the job

First sign of the dolphins

Getting closer

Curious dolphin

Submerging again

Pod

Mother and calf

 Rolling alongside the boat

Leaping, an amazing sight

Dolphin splashes

Head first