Isle of Mull

Tobermory with 700 people, the largest settlement on Mull, is home to the only whisky distillery on the island.

The Isle of Mull (or simply Mull; Muile in Scottish Gaelic) is the second largest island of the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland in the county of Argyll and Bute.

In the 2001 census the usual resident population of Mull, Iona and Ulva was 1,841; in the summer this is supplemented by many more tourists. Much of the population lives in Tobermory, the only burgh on the island until 1973, and its capital.

Ferry links to Mull from the mainland include Oban to Craignure (approx. 45 minutes), Kilchoan to Tobermory and Lochaline to Fishnish (approx. 15 minutes, suspended in rough weather). The Oban to Craignure link requires car drivers to be there 30 minutes before departure (advance booking strongly advised for summer Saturdays) (locals can usually avoid this, but not in busy summer months). While Fishnish is a further drive north (advanced bookings not required), it is often the quickest route if you are confident with single track roads.

Ferry links from Mull travel to the surrounding islands of (from Fionnphort) Iona and Ulva. In past years there were direct sailings to Oban (calling at Drimnin, Salen, Lochaline and Craignure - daily expect Sunday) and Barra (calling at Coll and Tiree - Monday, Wednesday and Friday - returning direct to Oban on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) from Tobermory. During the summer there was also a sailing to Staffa and Iona from Oban which called at Tobermory.

The Isle of Mull Railway runs from Craignure to Torosay.

Features

Duart Castle, Isle of Mull

Mull has a coastline of 300 miles. Its landscape is primarily moorland, with a few peaks, and its climate is moderated by the Gulf stream. The highest peak on the island is Ben More (3169 ft / 966 metres).

The island is home to over 250 different bird species including the sea eagle, which was introduced in the nearby Island of Rùm and migrated to Mull. Minke whales, porpoises and dolphins are among the sea life that can be seen on boat tours from Mull.

Mull has some historic features, such as the Duart Castle. There are also several shipwrecks around the shores which scuba divers can visit. The mausoleum of Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of New South Wales from 1809 to 1822 may be found on the island (Macquarie had been born on nearby island of Ulva) and serves as a point of pilgrimage for the few Australians who venture there.

History

Mull has been inhabited since around 6000 BC. Bronze Age inhabitants built menhirs, brochs and a stone circle.

In the 14th century Mull became part of the Lordship of the Isles. After the collapse of the Lordship in 1493 the island was taken over by the clan MacLean, and in 1681 by the clan Campbell.

In 1588 one of the ships of the Spanish Armada, Florenica, was moored in Tobermory Bay and blown up there, reputedly with £300,000 of gold bullion on board.

During the Highland Clearances in the 18th and 19th centuries, the population fell from 10,000 to less than 4000.

Tour of Mull

The Tour of Mull is a closed road rally event held on the island every October during the 2 week school holidays by the 2300 Club. Entrants are serious competitors in serious cars. While the 2300 Club members benefit from their superior cars, the locals benefit from their supreme knowledge of the roads and thus anyone can win. It has been called by many publications including Motoring News as "The Best Rally In The World". However, to many locals the event is a serious inconvenience and the illegal practising beforehand makes the roads extremely dangerous.

Previously sponsored by Philips, it is sponsored since 2005 by Tunnock's, the biscuit manufacturer.

Movies and TV

Mull has featured in a number of movies over the years. These include Entrapment, Highlander: Endgame, Eye of the Needle, I Know Where I'm Going, Kidnapped (1971) and When Eight Bells Toll.

Just traveling to Mull may lead you through some movie scenes. For example, driving to Mull from the east (to the Lochaline to Fishnish ferry link) may lead you through some of the scenes featured in the Harry Potter movies.

The BBC children's TV series Balamory features Tobermory.

Simon King went on location to Mull for the first week of Springwatch with Bill Oddie, where he observed a resident family of white-tailed eagles - a male and female named Skye and Frisa respectively, and their two chicks, Itchy and Scratchy.

Gordan Buchanan returns to his native Mull to record a year in the life of the wildlife. First broadcast on BBC2 in October 2005 under the title of 'Eagle Island' the programme focuses on sea eagles, golden eagles, otters, minke whales, porpoises, basking sharks and dolphins to be found off Mull. Programme lasts 50 minutes. Termporary Text Inserted by John Mull.

Geography

Settlements

The capital is Tobermory. It was the burgh on the island until 1973 when burghs were abolished. Other settlements on Mull include:

• Bunessan, Ballygown, Balnahard
• Calgary, Carsaig, Craignure, Croggan
• Dervaig
• Fionnphort, Fishnish

Mull shown within Argyll

• Gruline
• Kilninian, Knockan
• Lochbuie, Lochdon
• Pennyghael
• Salen, Strathcoil
• Uisken

Islands

The island is surrounded by a number of islands, the largest of which are:

• Calve Island (uninhabited)
• Eorsa (uninhabited)
• Erraid
• Gometra (uninhabited)
• Inch Kenneth (uninhabited)
• Iona
• Little Colonsay (uninhabited)
• Staffa (uninhabited)
• Treshnish Isles (uninhabited)
• Ulva

See also the Geology of Mull.

References

• Jo Currie (2001), Mull: The Island and Its People, Birlinn Ltd

External links

Sunrise over the Sound of Mull

• Tobermory - 360° panoramas
• Mull and Iona Chamber of Commerce
• 2300 Club - Tour of Mull
• Holiday Mull
• The Internet Guide to Scotland - Mull
• Virtual tour of Mull
• Mull Highland Games
• Mull Genealogy - for those with family links with the island
• Photos from around Mull
• Scotland the Movie - Mull