Argyll - The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands and Islands - page 69

Kilchoan

1

MULL

Glengorm
Castle

0 5

L o

miles

Tobermory

Croig

Dervaig

Calgary

MORVERN Loch

Frisa

Cairn na
Burgh Beg

Kilninian

N

Cairn na Burgh
More

Fladda

Lochaline

Lunga

Salen

Ulva Ferry

Ulva

Gometra MacQuarie

Mausoleum

Bac Mór

Staffa

Inch
Kenneth

Dhiseig

Craignure

Mull

Duart
Castle

Ben More
(3169ft) MacKinnon's

Cave

MacCulloch's
Tree

Tiroran Iona

Baile Mór

Lochbuie

Fionnphort Pennyghael

Carsaig

Moy
Castle Bunessan

Erraid

Ardalanish

Uisken

Seil

Easdale

Colonsay

of Loch na Keal. The most common mistake is to try and “do” the island in a day or
two: slogging up the main road to the picturesque capital of Tobermory , then covering
the fifty-odd miles between there and Fionnphort, in order to visit Iona . Mull is a place
that will grow on you only if you have the time and patience to explore.
Historically, crofting, whisky distilling and fishing supported the islanders
( Muileachs ), but the population - which peaked at ten thousand - decreased
dramatically in the late nineteenth century due to the Clearances and the 1846
potato famine. On Mull, it is a trend that has been reversed, mostly owing to the large
influx of settlers from elsewhere in the country, which has brought the current
population up to over 2500. One of the main reasons for this resurgence is, of course,
tourism - more than half a million visitors come here each year. As good a reason as
any to visit Mull, and one of the main reasons why many do so, is to view the
abundant wildlife , with whale watching the highlight for most visitors, though there's
fantastic birdlife here too.
Mull also makes particular efforts to draw visitors to special events through the year,
including the Mendelssohn on Mull Festival in July, which commemorates the
composer's visit here in 1829; the Mull Highland Games, also in July; and a rally car
event around the island's winding roads in October.

ARRIVAL AND GETTING AROUND ISLE OF MULL AND AROUND

By ferry Craignure is the main ferry terminal, with a
frequent daily car-ferry link to Oban, though booking
ahead on this route is strongly advised. A smaller and
less-expensive car ferry crosses daily from Lochaline on
the Morvern peninsula (see p.218) to Fishnish, six miles

northwest of Craignure. Another even smaller car ferry
connects Kilchoan on the Ardnamurchan peninsula (see
p.219) with Tobermory, the island capital.
By bus Public transport on Mull is not too bad on the
main A849, with a steady stream of buses plying the route