As part of their project about the sea, the children of Lismore Primary School took a boat trip around their island with Oban-based company, Coastal Connection. On a beautiful August afternoon, they made the short walk from the school down to Achnacroish slipway, where skipper Cameron was waiting with the twelve seater RIB craft.

After everyone had donned lifejackets and climbed aboard, the journey began. Soon, the boat was speeding north up the Lynn of Lorn and the children were excitedly pointing out each others’ homes and other local landmarks. Motoring past Point, Cameron then headed for the western side of Loch Linnhe so that the children could view the Glensanda Quarry. As the boat continued south west, it drew close to the shore and the children watched out for wildlife. Their luck was in, as they spotted porpoises, sea eagles, seals and gannets. There were views in every direction – to Glencoe and Ben Nevis in the north and to Jura in the south. With cameras clicking and video recording the boat then crossed the Sound of Mull to look at Duart Castle before turning back to the Lismore Lighthouse on Eilean Musdile and finally travelling up the east side of the island back to Achnacroish. In the coming weeks the children will be plotting their route, writing a ship’s log, finding out a bit more about the wild animals they saw and learning more about tides using time lapse photography.