Loch Scridain

Loch Scridain
View from Knockan
Location	Mull, Scotland
Coordinates	56°21′59″N 6°05′03″W / 56.36639°N 6.08417°W / 56.36639; -6.08417Coordinates: 56°21′59″N 6°05′03″W / 56.36639°N 6.08417°W / 56.36639; -6.08417
Basin countries	United Kingdom
Max. length	19.33 km
Max. width	4 km

Loch Scridain is a long sea loch, with a west-south west aspect, on the western, or Atlantic coastline of the island of Mull, in the Inner Hebrides, Argyll and Bute, Scotland.^[1]

Geography

Loch Scridain extends as far inland as the islands only Munro and extinct volcano Ben More, on the northern Ardmeanach peninsula, a large massif with the imposing Bearraich hill overlooking the mouth of the loch. Beyond the peninsula lies Loch Na Keal, the principle sea loch on Mull . While to the south lies the Ross of Mull, the longest peninsula on Mull, that reaches past the sea loch boundary, into the Atlantic and which is bounded by the Iona to the west and the Firth Of Lorn to the far south. At the head of the loch, lies the Aird of Kinloch, a small peninsula, that almost splits the main loch from the small inner sea loch, Loch Beg. Loch Beg is fed by the River Coladoir. The islets of Eilean Bàn and Na Liathanaich lie in Loch na Làthaich towards the west end of the Ross and Eilean an Fheòir, Eilean nan Caorach and Sgeir Leathan further to the east on Loch Scridain's southern shore.^[2]

Seabank Villa on the lochside at Kilfinichen Bay is the type locality for the mineral mullite.^[3]

Geology

Loch Scridain to the Ardmeanach peninsula is a lava landscape in which the lava flows have created a layered effect. Basalt lava is rich in minerals and the land between the crags is green and fertile. Later you'll see black basalt, stained orange in places. The orange colour represents the top surfaces of the flow, weathered by the tropical climate of 60 million years ago. Towards the end of the walk, you'll reach the fossil tree, with a cave to its right, a large boulder on the shore just below, and a small area of columnar basalt on its left. The cast of the tree is a hollow half-cylinder about 4ft wide, starting just above ground level. Just beyond the tree, you'll cross a black sand beach, and as you cross it you may notice in the basalt shoreline slab some older boulders overwhelmed by the lava flow of 60 million years ago.

Settlements

Loch Scridain is remote and its coastline only sparsely populated. On the south coastline, the main crofting and tourist township of Bunessan, lies just east of the mouth of the loch, located on the southeastern corner of embayment of Loch na Làthaich. Fionnphort is further west along the coast overlooking the Sound of Iona. There are few settlements on the northern coastline other than the occasional farmhouse.

References