Page 139 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Scotland
P. 139
THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS 137
The picturesque kaleidoscope of houses in Tobermory, one of Mull’s most favoured tourist stops
9 Mull the summer months the abbey 0 Coll and Tiree
has a large influx of visitors.
Argyll. * 2,700. g from Oban, Argyll. * 950. g from Oban. ~
Lochaline and Kilchoan; from If the weather is fine, head from Glasgow to Tiree only. n Oban
Fionnphort, on Mull, to Iona. to Fingal’s Cave on the Isle of (01631) 563122. ∑ visitcoll.co.uk
n Craignure (01680) 812377. Staffa (see p21). A true natural ∑ isleoftiree.com
wonder, the cave is surrounded
The largest of the Inner by “organ pipes” of basalt, the Despite frequent notices of
Hebridean islands, Mull features inspiration for Mendelssohn’s winter gale warnings, these
rough moor lands, the rocky Hebrides Overture. Boat trips run islands, the most westerly in
peak of Ben More and a splen there from Fionnphort and Ulva, the Inner Hebrides, often record
did beach at Calgary. Most and to the seven Treshnish more hours of sunshine than the
roads follow the coast line, Isles. These uninhabit ed isles are rest of Britain. They offer beautiful
affording wonderful sea views. a sanctuary for thousands of beaches and impressive surf.
On a promontory to the seabirds, including puffins, razor Tiree’s soil is 60 per cent shell
east of Craignure lies the 13th bills, kittiwakes and skuas. Lunga sand, so no trees can grow. As a
century Duart Castle, home of is the main stop for tour boats. result, it is perhaps the wind iest
the chief of Clan Maclean. You place in Scotland. Wild flowers
can visit the Banqueting Hall, E Mull Aquarium flourish here in spring.
State Rooms and the dungeons Taigh Solais, Tobermory. Tel (01688) Breacachadh Castle, the
that once held prisoners from 302876. Open Easter–Oct: daily. 15thcentury home of Clan
a Spanish Armada galleon, sunk 7 limited. ∑ mullaquarium.co.uk Maclean until 1750, over looks
in 1588 by one Donald Maclean. + Duart Castle a bay in south Coll but is not
At the northern end of Mull Off A849, near Craignure. Tel (01680) open to the public. Tiree has
is the town of Tobermory, with 812309. Open Apr: 11am–4pm Sun– two free museums, the Trenish
its brightly coloured buildings Thu; May–Oct: 10:30am–5pm daily. Isles Exhibition, about the
along the seafront. Built as a & - = ∑ duartcastle.com natural history of this group of
fishing village in 1788, it is now islands that are visible from
a popular port for yachts. The } Fingal’s Cave and Treshnish Isles Tiree, and the Skerryvore
harbourside Mull Aquarium 4 Easter–Oct. Tel (07831) 885985. Lighthouse Museum in Hynish
provides an insight into the Timetable varies, call for details. & – the lighthouse stands 20 km
workings of the port and the ∑ staffatours.com (12 miles) offshore.
local natural history. With its
touch pools and cinema, it
holds great appeal for kids.
Environs
The small and very beautiful island
of Iona is one of the biggest
attractions on Scotland’s west
coast. A restored abbey stands
on the site where Irish missionary
St Columba began his crusade
in 563 and made Iona the home
of Christianity in Europe. In the
abbey grave yard, 48 Scottish
kings are said to be buried. During A traditional croft building on the island of Coll
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