On Easter Sunday we took an impromptu boat trip to see the Shiant Isles from Gairloch. I'd been intrigued to view them up close since reading Adam Nicolson's Sea Room. We went out with Nick Davies of Hebridean Whale Cruises, this was our third trip out on his RIB boat and even though he was disappointed we didn't spot whales or dolphins this time we were more than happy to share our trip with white-tailed sea eagles, puffin and seal. The islands themselves were majestic and mysterious, looming out of the mist with sheer green-tinged basalt cliffs.