Island of the Week: Isle of Mull

Published on 12/07/2012 18:31

In this week’s edition, we look at The Isle of Mull.

Location: Inner Hebrides, North West Scotland.

Population: 2,667

Gaelic Name: Muile

History

Part of the Inner Hebrides, evidence on Mull points to being inhabited during the bronze age, with more fort-like structures appearing during the Iron Age.

The ownership of the island has varied, with the Clan MacLean and Clan Campbell both taking turns to hold the area.

During the Highland Clearances, the population was decimated, going from around 10,000 to less than 3,000.

Mull has also played a crucial part in the defence of the British Isles. During World War 2, Tobermoray Bay was made into a Naval base and the entire island was declared a restricted zone. The base specialised in training British forces in anti-submarine warfare.

These days the island relies heavily on tourism to support the local economy, but also of crucial importance is the herring fishing industry.

Attractions

Fans of outdoor pursuits can enjoy a day of cycling, fishing, hiking, or just taking in the sights.

Many of the ancient castles and chapels make for an interesting glimpse into history. Duart Castle is a popular attraction; the ancestral home of the Clan Maclean overlooks the Sound of Mull.

Mull has a number of standing stones, and several stone circles; thought to have been made between 5000 and 2000BC.

And of course, for whisky enthusiasts there’s always Tobermory distillery - the oldest commercial whisky distillery in Scotland.

How to get there

There are regular ferries to Mull run by Caledonian Macbrayne. Full information can be found here http://www.calmac.co.uk/destinations/mull.htm

Related Articles

• Queen’s birthday honours 2012 full list

  Take That star Gary Barlow, actors Kate Winslet and Kenneth Branagh and the designer behind the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress are recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list today.

  12 Comments

• The essential guide to Scotland's castles

  HUMANS have lived in Scotland for 11,000 years. For the first 8,000 years, they seemed able to live mostly in peace. Then the climate cooled, and men were forced to fight over the fast-diminishing good ground for their survival. They littered the Highland glens and Lowland valleys with huge hillforts. In the far north and west, they built towering stone structures we call brochs.

• Best boat trip

  1 'DOON THE WATTER' ON THE WAVERLEY

• How did we cope?

  ON TUESDAY 8 January, 1963, this newspaper led with a dramatic story about a string of rescue missions across southern Scotland.

• Peter Ross: Slip sliding away

  THE decision, when it comes, is understated, unwelcome, delivered beneath the branches of an old knotted yew, and spreads like a killing frost through the crowds on the frozen surface of the Lake of Menteith, near Aberfoyle.