| Isle of Mull | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
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| OS grid reference | NM590354 |
| Names | |
| Gaelic name |  Muile (help·info) |
| 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 (2001) | 2,667 |
| Population rank | 8 out of 97 |
| Main settlement | Tobermory |
| Groupings | |
| Island group | Mull |
| Local Authority | Argyll and Bute |
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| References | [1][2][3][4] |
| If shown, area and population ranks are for all Scottish islands and all inhabited Scottish islands respectively. | |
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 more tourists. Much of the population lives in Tobermory, the only burgh on the island until 1973, and its capital.
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.
In 1588 one of the ships of the Spanish Armada, Florenica, was moored in Tobermory Bay and blown up there, reputedly with £300,000 of gold bullion on board. In 1773 this island was also 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 and several primary schools. Pupils from the south-western tip of the island (from Bunessan to Fionnphort) attend Oban High School and board Monday to Thursday in Oban. The rest of the island attend secondary at Tobermory High School.
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 (3,170 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.
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 Mull from Fionnphort 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.[5]
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.
The BBC children's TV series Balamory features the town of Tobermory on the island.
Mull Theatre is a professional theatre company based in a new (2008) theatre production centre in the village of Druimfin near Tobermory.[6] 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.[citation needed]
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.[7]
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.
Mull is also currently serving as the location for The Sea Change, which began filming towards the end of 2008.[8][9]
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.[10][11]
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)[12] 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.[13]
References
- 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
- ^ "Transport Links" The Glen Forsa Hotel. Retrieved 14th July 2008.
- ^ "Druimfin, the new home for Mull Theatre". Mull Theatre. http://www.mulltheatre.com/centre_building.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-26.
- ^ "Eagle Island with Gordon Buchanan" Mike Birkhead Associates. Retrieved 21 June 2008.
- ^ "The Sea Change" theseachange.wordpress.com. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
- ^ "The Sea Change" tailormadeproductions.com. Retrieved 30 December 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
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mull |
- 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
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