Friday 5th April
Having checked the weather we decided to try and make the 10.30 boat to Hornoya, an island just off Vardo which is famous for it's seabird colonies. We made the harbour in time, catching up with the 2 lads we met yesterday, who told us the boat was 11.00 am so we went in to buy our tickets for 350 NK to be told it wasn't leaving until 11.30. We mooched about on the harbour looking at Kittiwakes, Glaucous and other gulls until it was time to leave.
There are no facilities for day visitors on Hornoya so you have to make sure you have food and drink with you and you visit the loo before you go. you can book a room at the lighthouse but it is basic and you have to take all food etc. with you.
The boatman taking us out insisted that we came into the cabin as it was going to be a little wet so we squeezed in and given a safety talk "we have safety gear here (hand wave)" and off we went. The boat went sedately out of the harbour and then whoosh, we were off skimming the waves and bouncing around for the 10 minute trip to the landing jetty.
On the isalnd is a new bird shelter designed and built by Tormod and Ellen at Biotope, who are really putting in a lot of effort to promote Varanger as a birding destination. They try and design different hides that can be used for shelter whatever the direction of the weather.
The cliffs were heaving with birds and the sky was criss-crossed with birds flying to and from the cliffs. Razorbills, Guillemots, Brunich's Guillemots and Puffins, with Kittiwakes further along the cliffs and Glaucous Gulls floating from the tops.
There is a lighthouse on the top of the island that is available for hire. It is self-catering and everything has to be brought in. It is also quite a stiff climb up the cliffs and across the top but it dos have amazing views.
Having checked the weather we decided to try and make the 10.30 boat to Hornoya, an island just off Vardo which is famous for it's seabird colonies. We made the harbour in time, catching up with the 2 lads we met yesterday, who told us the boat was 11.00 am so we went in to buy our tickets for 350 NK to be told it wasn't leaving until 11.30. We mooched about on the harbour looking at Kittiwakes, Glaucous and other gulls until it was time to leave.
There are no facilities for day visitors on Hornoya so you have to make sure you have food and drink with you and you visit the loo before you go. you can book a room at the lighthouse but it is basic and you have to take all food etc. with you.
The boatman taking us out insisted that we came into the cabin as it was going to be a little wet so we squeezed in and given a safety talk "we have safety gear here (hand wave)" and off we went. The boat went sedately out of the harbour and then whoosh, we were off skimming the waves and bouncing around for the 10 minute trip to the landing jetty.
On the isalnd is a new bird shelter designed and built by Tormod and Ellen at Biotope, who are really putting in a lot of effort to promote Varanger as a birding destination. They try and design different hides that can be used for shelter whatever the direction of the weather.
The cliffs were heaving with birds and the sky was criss-crossed with birds flying to and from the cliffs. Razorbills, Guillemots, Brunich's Guillemots and Puffins, with Kittiwakes further along the cliffs and Glaucous Gulls floating from the tops.
There is a lighthouse on the top of the island that is available for hire. It is self-catering and everything has to be brought in. It is also quite a stiff climb up the cliffs and across the top but it dos have amazing views.
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