Lerwick, Shetlands, 6/30/2022, National Geographic Explorer
Aboard the
National Geographic Explorer
Europe & British Isles
The fog silently rolled in overnight, and early risers awoke to a quiet and very still morning. As we set off on our bus tours and ventured the length and breadth of these stunning Islands, the Shetlands became increasingly ethereal in appearance.
At the southernmost end of Shetland, we visited Sumburgh Head and its fabulous cliffs of seabirds, owned by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Here we got super close to puffins, the stars of the show. Later in the morning, we headed to Jarlshof, a prehistoric and Norse settlement to discover 4,000 years of Shetland’s history.
Emmett developed his love of nature and the environment from growing up in the heart of the Sperrin Mountains in Northern Ireland. His passion for the ocean came from time spent on family trips to the wild Atlantic coastlines of County Donegal.
We were greeted with clear skies throughout our visit to the lovely village of Fowey along the Cornish Coast. The tiny town is as picturesque as could be with its old town set along the waterfront and castles and churches along the steep hillsides. Guests hiked the nearby hills to get better views of the town and coastline, and others visited nearby castles with idyllic gardens of mature plants and trees. The undersea team took advantage of the favorable weather to explore the marine environments. We found the oar kelp forests to be teeming with fish and invertebrates. The icing on the cake was when several small-spotted catsharks swam by for a quick visit. These harmless sharks are always a treat to see, and the guests thoroughly enjoyed the footage presented to them at our farewell recap.
This morning, we woke to typical English weather – grey skies, a moderate breeze, and drizzling rain. We knew our lucky run of stunning weather would run out eventually; however, no one let that get in the way of a lovely morning in Tresco. We were shuttled ashore by Zodiac and met by a local guide who gave us a wonderfully fascinating tour of the Tesco Abbey Gardens. First established almost 200 years ago, these seventeen beautifully landscaped acres are home to various native and exotic plants. The vibrant and dense plant life provides the perfect habitat for many species of birds and insects, and the garden was a hive of activity on this damp yet beautiful spring morning. Guests were particularly keen to see a Lady Amherst’s pheasant, which is actually a non-native resident. Although well-established at Tresco, the pheasants can be elusive. However, most guests were treated to excellent views of a male pheasant, looking his brilliant best. The weather dramatically improved throughout the afternoon as we cruised around the outer isles looking for wildlife. We were rewarded with multiple pods of common dolphins, a fin whale, and various species of seabirds, including everyone’s favourite – puffins.
National Geographic Explorer sailed into an exceptionally calm and sunny Cork Harbour this morning, coming alongside in the picturesque island town of Cobh. After a morning of town tours and birdwatching around the harbour, we were treated to a display of hurling, a traditional Irish sport. A brass band bade us farewell as we sailed on towards Isles of Scilly.
