Isle of Mull
| Isle of Mull | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 |
|
| OS grid reference | NM590354 |
| Names | |
| Gaelic name | Muile |
| Norse name | Myl |
| Meaning of name | pre-Gaelic |
| Area and summit | |
| Area | 87,535 hectares (337.97 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 4 |
| Highest elevation | Ben More 966 m |
| Population | |
| Population | 2,667 |
| Population rank | 8 out of 97 |
| Main settlement | Tobermory |
| Groupings | |
| Island group | Mull |
| Local Authority | Argyll and Bute |
  |
|
| References | [1][2][3][4] |
| If shown, area and population ranks are for all Scottish islands and all inhabited Scottish islands respectively. Population data is from 2001 census. | |
The Isle of Mull or simply Mull (Scottish Gaelic Muile, pronounced [ˈmulə]) is the second largest island of the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland in the council area of Argyll and Bute.
With an area of 875.35 square kilometres (337.97 sq mi) Mull is the fourth largest Scottish island and the fourth largest island surrounding Great Britain. In the 2001 census the usual resident population of Mull was 2,667; in the summer this is supplemented by many tourists. Much of the population lives in Tobermory, the only burgh on the island until 1973, and its capital.
Tobermory is also home to Mull's only single malt Scotch whisky distillery, Tobermory (formerly Ledaig).[5]
Contents |
History
It is widely understood that Mull was inhabited shortly after the end of the last Ice Age, from around 6000 BC. Bronze Age inhabitants built menhirs, brochs and a stone circle with examples of burial cairns, cists, standing stones, stone circles, pottery and knife blades providing compelling evidence.
Between 600 BC to 400 AD Iron Age inhabitants were building protective forts, duns and crannogs. The early Christian period began in the 6th Century, with 563AD being a pivotal point as it is believed that Christianity was returned to mainland Britain by St. Columba, when he arrived from Ireland to set up a monastery on the Island of Iona just off the south-west point of Mull.
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.
Legend has it that the wreck of a Spanish galleon, laden with gold, lies somewhere in the mud at the bottom of Tobermory Bay - although the ship's true identity, and cargo, are in dispute. By some accounts, the Florencia (or Florida, or San Francisco), a member of the defeated Spanish Armada fleeing the British fleet in 1588, anchored in Tobermory to take on provisions. Following a dispute over payment, the ship caught fire and the gunpowder magazine exploded, sinking the vessel. In her hold, reputedly, was £300,000 in gold bullion.[6] Other sources claim the vessel was the San Juan de Sicilia (or San Juan de Baptista), which, records indicate, carried troops, not treasure.[7][8] Whatever the true story, no significant treasure has ever been recovered in Tobermory Bay.[9]
In 1773 the island was visited by Samuel Johnson and James Boswell during their famous Tour of the Western Islands.
During the Highland Clearances in the 18th and 19th centuries, the population fell from 10,000 to less than 4000.
Mull boasts such historic buildings as Duart Castle and Torosay Castle, both open to the public from Easter to September. The mausoleum of Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of New South Wales from 1809 to 1822, may be found in the village of Gruline on the island (Macquarie had been born on the nearby island of Ulva).
Schooling
There is one secondary school on the island,based in Tobermory, and several primary schools. Pupils from the from Bunessan to Fionnphort in the south west attend Oban High School, staying in an Oban hostel from Monday to Thursday.
Geography
Mull has a coastline of 480 kilometres (300 mi) and its climate is moderated by the Gulf Stream. The island has a mountaineous core, the highest peak on the island being Ben More, which reaches 966 metres (3,169 ft). Various peninsulas, which are predominantly moorland, radiate from the centre.
The Aros peninsula to the north includes the main town of Tobermory, which was a burgh until 1973 when burghs were abolished. Other settlements include Salen and Calgary. The Ross of Mull lies to the south west and includes the villages of Bunessan, Pennyghael, Uisken and Fionnphort. Lochbuie, Lochdon and Craignure lie to the east.
Numerous islands lie off the west coast of Mull, including Erraid, Inch Kenneth, Iona and Ulva. Smaller uninhabited islands include Eorsa, Gometra, Little Colonsay, the Treshnish Isles and Staffa of Fingal's Cave fame. Calve Island is an uninhabited island in Tobermory Bay. Two outlying rock lighthouses are also visible from the south west of Mull, Dubh Artach and Skerryvore. The Torran Rocks are a large shoal of reefs, islets and skerries, approximately 15 square miles (39 km2) in extent, located two miles (3 km) to the south west, between the Ross of Mull peninsula and Dubh Artach. Frank Lockwood's Island near Lochbuie is named after the brother-in-law of the 21st MacLean of Lochbuie, who was Solicitor General from 1894-5.[10]
Transport
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). Although advanced bookings are not required for the Fishnish ferry it is a further drive north over single-track roads.
There are ferry links from Fionnphort on Mull to the neighbouring island of Iona and from Oskamull to Ulva. In past years there were direct sailings to Oban (calling at Drimnin, Salen, Lochaline and Craignure), and Barra, Coll and Tiree 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 Castle.
It is possible to fly to Mull in a private light aircraft using a landing strip near Salen.[11]. There is also a sea plane that links Tobermory with Glasgow and Oban.
Buses are operated by Bowmans Coaches (Mull) Ltd.. Services operate from Tobermory to Calgary via Dervaig (Service 494), Tobermory to Craignure via Salen (Service 495), and Craignure to Fionnphort via Bunessan (Service 496). Limited services operate to Lochbuie and Gruline.[12] A minibus service also operates seasonally from Craignure to Duart Castle.[13]
Media and the arts
Mull has been used as a location in a number of feature films over the years. These include Entrapment, Highlander: Endgame, Eye of the Needle, I Know Where I'm Going, Kidnapped and When Eight Bells Toll. Travelling through eastern Mull to the Lochaline to Fishnish ferry link may lead you through some of the scenes featured in the Harry Potter films. Mull is also currently serving as the location for The Sea Change, which began filming towards the end of 2008.[14][15]
The BBC children's TV series Balamory features the town of Tobermory on the island. This increased tourism as it offers a range of activities to do around the island.
Mull Theatre is a professional theatre company based in a new (2008) theatre production centre in the village of Dervaig near Tobermory.[16] Funded by the Scottish Arts Council, the company commissions plays, tours throughout Scotland and beyond and runs an education and outreach programme. It started at the "Mull Little Theatre" at Dervaig in 1966 and was the "Smallest Professional Theatre in the World" according to the Guinness World Records. The National Theatre of Scotland were in residence at the Mull Theatre in April 2009. AN TOBAR, based in Tobermory, is the only publicly funded multidisciplinary arts centre in Argyll. Established in 1997, it is a centre for visual arts, crafts and music.[17]
Wildlife film-maker 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. Wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan recently returned to his native Mull to film a year in the life of the wildlife. First broadcast in 2005 for the Natural World series, "Eagle Island" focuses on sea eagles, golden eagles, otters, basking sharks and the cetaceans found off the coast.[18]
The singer song writer Colin MacIntyre famously once used the name Mull Historical Society as a pseudonym. Born on the island he took the name from the actual Historical Society who have since changed their name to Mull Historical and Archaeological Society.
Natural history
The island is home to over 250 different bird species including the White-tailed Eagle, which was reintroduced in the nearby Island of Rùm and migrated to Mull, where it now has a stronghold. Minke whales, porpoises and dolphins are among the sea life that can be seen on boat tours from Mull.
Sport
The Tour of Mull is a closed road rally event held on the island every October by the 2300 Club. While some well off competitors benefit from superior cars, the locals benefit from their knowledge of the roads and thus anyone can win. "The Best Rally In The World" is the title of a book written by the founder of the event Brian Molyneux. Previously sponsored by Philips, it has been sponsored since 2005 by Tunnock's, the biscuit manufacturer.[19][20] The Mull Rugby 7's Competition takes place annually in May at The Isle of Mull R.F.C's rugby club at Garmony - on the road between Salen and Craignure.
There are several shipwrecks around the shores which offer scuba diving.
Community initiatives
Following a research and community consultation process undertaken in 1996/7 a development trust was created to identify key goals for the communities of Mull and Iona. Mull & Iona Community Trust (MICT)[21] was formed in 1997 and published a comprehensive "Community Regeneration Strategy" for the islands. They have purchased the only butchers' shop on the island, created a community run Countryside Ranger service, instigated various recycling initiatives and provide a fundraising and training consultancy.[22]
See also
- List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Mull, Coll and Tiree
- Dòideag
References
- Baird, Bob (1995) Shipwrecks of the West of Scotland. Glasgow. Nekton Books. ISBN 1897995024
- Currie, Jo. (2001) Mull: The Island and Its People. Birlinn Ltd.
- Jermy, A.C. and Crabbe, J.A. (Ed) (1978) The Island of Mull a Survey of its Flora and Environment. London. British Museum (Natural History).
- Mull Theatre
Footnotes
- ↑ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
- ↑ Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 1841954543.
- ↑ Ordnance Survey. Get-a-map [map].
- ↑ Anderson, Joseph (Ed.) (1893) Orkneyinga Saga. Translated by Jón A. Hjaltalin & Gilbert Goudie. Edinburgh. James Thin and Mercat Press (1990 reprint). ISBN 0-901824-25-9
- ↑ Tobermory Distillery tobermory.co.uk Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ↑ A Clan Feud, a Spanish Galleon, and a Big Bang. lostfort.blogspot.com Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ↑ The Galleon San Francisco. shipmodeling.net Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ↑ The Tobermory Wreck. news.scotsman.com Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ↑ Tobermory Bay. reese.org Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ↑ Baird (1995) p. 142
- ↑ "Transport Links" The Glen Forsa Hotel. Retrieved 14th July 2008.
- ↑ http://www.bowmanstours.co.uk/timetables.htm
- ↑ http://www.duartnews.com/duartnews.experience.htm
- ↑ "The Sea Change" theseachange.wordpress.com. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
- ↑ "The Sea Change" tailormadeproductions.com. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
- ↑ "Druimfin, the new home for Mull Theatre". Mull Theatre. http://www.mulltheatre.com/centre_building.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-26.
- ↑ "Welcome to AN TOBAR, Tobermory, Isle of Mull" antobar.co.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
- ↑ "Eagle Island with Gordon Buchanan" Mike Birkhead Associates. Retrieved 21 June 2008.
- ↑ "Tunnock's Tour of Mull" 2300club.org. Retrieved 27 September 2008.
- ↑ "Tour of Mull Rally 1969-2002" Mullcarclub.co.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2008.
- ↑ MICT
- ↑ DTA Scotland Directory of Members
External links
- Geology of Mull.
- Geology of Mull and Iona portal
- Tobermory - 360° panoramas
- Mull and Iona Chamber of Commerce
- Mull and Iona Community Trust
- 2300 Club - Tour of Mull
- Isle of Mull website
- The Internet Guide to Scotland - Mull
- Virtual tour of Mull
- Mull Highland Games
- Bird and wildlife on Mull
- Mull Genealogy - for those with family links with the island
- Scotland the Movie - Mull
- Mull Theatre
- Mull's History - A synopsis
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
