The islands of Mull and Iona are one of my most favourite places on the earth. So join me on my island journey recalling many happy visits.
I feel this could be in the Greek Islands - but no it was on Iona, looking across to the hills of Mull on a beautiful day in September - not your usual image of Scotland!
MULL
is the second largest island in the inner Hebrides off the west coast
of Scotland and a wonderful place for an "away from it all" holiday.
The Mull song says it all:
'The Isle of Mull is of isles the fairest,
Of ocean's gems 'tis the first and rarest;
Green grassy island of sparkling fountains,
Of waving woods and high tow'ring mountains."
Of ocean's gems 'tis the first and rarest;
Green grassy island of sparkling fountains,
Of waving woods and high tow'ring mountains."
Sailing out of Oban on the mainland at the start of our journey- a 45 minute sail
where you pass the Lismore Lighthouse and are surrounded by just hills and water.
Lismore Lighthouse
Duart Castle is the first sight on approaching Mull by the the Ferry - the 13th
century ancestral home of the Clan McLean guarding the
entrance to the Sound of Mull
Landing at Craignure, we then travelled 50 miles on a single track road to Fionnphort, the most westerly point on the island - a tiny village of some 70 residents with one pub, one shop, one cafe, one seafood cabin, and the ferry office, gateway to the islands of Iona and
Staffa.
The first time I had seen such a sign!
From Fionphort looking across to Iona
At Fionnphort is the ferry to Iona. It is
is only a 10 minute crossing, but can get surprisingly choppy in poor
weather. Only Iona residents can take their car across.
Despite the number of tourist that visit the island, it is amazing
how quickly you can get away from them and often find yourself on your
own on one of the many beaches.
There is something very special
about Iona and the peace and tranquillity you can experience there. It is only 1.5 miles wide by 3
miles long, with a population of around 120 permanent residents, but
everyone talks about the magical nature of this seat of Scottish
Christianity where St. Columba founded his Abbey in 563AD. Later it
became a place of pilgrimage and learning, and over 40 of Scotland's
earliest kings were buried there. The
restored medieval abbey continues to hold daily services and 48 kings of Scotland are reputed to be buried in the grounds.
"Deep peace of the running waves"
(A line from John Rutter's Gaelic Blessing)
Iona War Memorial
From
Fionnphort, one day, we took the small boat trip out to Staffa. Besides
going in the cave, we also climbed the rather precarious steps up to
the top of the island, with a rope to hold on to as a safely aid, and saw whales swimming.
Its most famous feature is
Fingal's Cave, a large sea cave located near the southern tip of the
island some 60 feet high. The sight of the rocks and the sound of the
sea inspired composer Felix Mendellsohn to capture his visit in 1829
in "The Hebrides Overture". Other famous visitors made the journey there - John Keats,
Sir Walter Scott, Joseph Turner and Robert Louis Stevenson. Queen
Victoria and Prince Albert were rowed into the cave on the royal barge
in 1847.
Highland Cattle freely roam the village of Fionphort
One hungry cow decided to take a nibble from the garden
of our holiday cottage, so I dashed out to take a photograph.
This
young cow stood motionless at the side of the road, very happy to pose
for the visitors walking down to the ferry across to Iona.
Two shop signs in Tobermory - the principal village was the setting for the children's TV series
"Balamory". It was built as a fishing port in the late 18th century
and is noted for its brightly painted buildings along the main street
to the pie
And So Farewell to Mull
Did You Know?
- Calgary in Canada takes its name from Calgary on Mul
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