Fionnphort, Fiddon & Salen

The A849 crosses Mull West / East (or East / West if you fancy!) and we travelled westerly today until we reached Fionnphort which is the Ferry Port for Iona.

The whole route is through stunning landscape and beside a loch - Loch Scridain to be precise. The weather looked threatening as we progressed, but thankfully the rain held off.

Fionnphort was nothing remarkable, but it was of interest to see Iona just a short ferry trip away. The beach looked as if, on a sunny day, it might have been beautiful to picnic or sunbathe on. From here we drove a short distance to Fiddon. Another stunning beach with pink granite outcrops and a large white sandy bay.

Some of the rocks on Fiddon beach.

And a row of camper vans next to Fiddon beach. 

Just off the Fiddon coast is the island of Erraid. It is a tidal island one mile square in area which lies off the south west of Mull. It is connected by a beach at low tide to the Isle of Mull and it is renowned for being one of the driest and sunniest places on the west coast of Scotland. The island has a disused signal station for the lighthouses on Dubh Artach and Skerryvore and a row of cottages built for the lighthouse keepers which is today used by the community of the Findhorn Foundation.

For an hour or two either side of low water, it is linked to the Ross by a broad expanse of sand. 

The author Robert Lewis Stevenson was raised on Erraid, being a member of the great Stevenson Family, renowned for lighthouse engineering. 

In Stevenson’s “Kidnapped”, the hero, David Balfour is shipwrecked and comes ashore on the south coast of Erraid (Balfour Bay) at a sandy bay. In “Treasure Island”, Jack Hawkins chart bears a resemblance to Erraid. 

Erraid is now owned by a family from overseas, but is used by the Findhorn Community for most of the year. This group runs course and “retreats” and grows a large proportion of its soft fruits and vegetables. These gardens have now been expertly managed, on an “organic” basis for years and are of a very high standard indeed. 

Unfortunately for us, we arrived at the wrong tide time!

Loved this pink roadside sign

The following day we travelled north to Salen and had a wander along a Forestry Commission walk. The main attraction of this walk is the old graveyard of Cill an Ailein, housing some graves dating back to the Middle Ages. The earliest legible inscriptions date from the eighteenth century and one small stone commemorates a shoe-maker. On the rear of his gravestone is a hammer and a high-heeled shoe. 

One of the old stones with an interesting moss growth on it. 

It is amazing the number of odd gloves you can see around. This one was on a fence near the graveyard. 

Back at base, this peacock was unperturbed by our presence 

A lovely Harebell nearby on the roadside. 

Our neighbouring village of Iverlussa had a Mussel farm. No action this evening.

Later that evening this Grass Wave (Perconia strigillaria) was spotted on the road.



Home

To the Isle of Ulva

The Isle of Ulva was our destination today, which meant a trip to the North West of Mull, passing Lock na Keal on the way. Although it might be said that `one Lock looks like another`, the scenery is so peaceful that I never tire of the solitude and the feeling of `closeness` to nature.

Two images taken of Loch na Keal on our way to the ferry

Ulva is privately owned by the Howard family and was formerly the home of 600 people who made their living from the collection and exportation of kelp. Today there are 11 residents who make a living from sheep and cattle farming, fish farming, oyster farming and tourism. 

Ulva is a privately owned island with a thriving population of approximately 16 people who are involved variously in traditional sheep and cattle farming, fish farming, oyster farming and tourism. Ulva was formerly the home of 600 people who made their living from the collection and exportation of kelp. 

There are no tarmac roads on Ulva, so no cars, just the 4 wheel cross country bikes used by all inhabitants, young and old. The proprietors (the Howard family) are dedicated to creating a balance between the needs of the community and the preservation of one of Scotland’s most unique, beautiful and accessible islands. 

As can be seen, the distance to Ulva is not great! And yes, that is our ferry awaiting us.

The view from Ulva back to Mull.

Now this I thought was funny. To summon the ferry from the other side you Just pushed the slider across to reveal the red square. Someone presumable was keeping an `eye out` to alert the ferryman!. Much more reliable than modern technology!

Did not see anything out of the ordinary to photograph on Uva, it was just a really pleasant and peaceful walk, wondering what it would be like to live there? However, back on Mull, these Highland cattle made a picture, I thought.

On the drive home, this caught my eye. One ancient, abandoned cottage which I think was near Salen. A place to visit another day, I think.

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