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A weekend on Mull

On Friday morning (18th April) Cath and I set out across country towards Oban, one of the main ferry ports in the West of Scotland. We had booked 3 nights in a Tobermory hotel on Mull, an island we had not previously visited. This was not planned as a 'neolithic' trip, just a chance to look round somewhere we had not been to before. However, studying the maps showed that there are a lot of easily accessible sites close by the various little roads around the island (almost exclusively single-track) and so I had high hopes of visiting a few. Cath is pretty tolerant of my obsessions, as long as she's not expected to trail for miles - she'll happily sit in the car and read as I charge about the landscape! The weather was glorious, and the forecast for the whole weekend was good.

The crossing takes around 45 minutes from Oban to Craignure, and on disembarking from CalMac's 'Isle of Mull' we set off on what is just about the only stretch of twin-track road north towards Salen. To the west of the road at a farm called Scallastle I made my first stop, asking permission to visit the site. This was happily granted despite lambing ewes in the field, and I had a good look at this strange little clump - one upright, a recumbent, and several stones which appeared to be kerbs around the base of a small mound. An interesting little site. Then it was on up the road to Salen, where the road becomes single-track, and up towards Tobermory. Just outside the largest town on the island is the site called Balliscate, which consists of two upright stones with a recumbent one between, forming a cross-shape. The view from up here was terrific, although across on the Ardnamurch peninsula we could see the smoke rising from the moorland fires there - visible in one of the photos. And then on to our hotel, on a promontory overlooking the harbour. A couple of pints, a meal, and then a walk round the harbour before bed.

Saturday we had decided to visit Iona, which lies on the SW tip of Mull, almost diagonally opposite Tobermory. For those unfamiliar with island roads, it can be a bit demanding - we weren't in any hurry but it took 3 hours to reach Fionnphort, where the ferry takes about 5 minutes to cross to Iona. En route I had a quick look at the Gruline stone, which was guarded by a rather large looking bull. I didn't enter that field! Neither of us are particularly religious, but enjoyed looking around the various parts of the old abbey, the Reiligh Odhran, viewing the various Celtic crosses and visiting John Smith's grave. How different things might have been had he survived and Blair never gained high rank... Enough politics, and we sat on one of the white sand beaches before crossing back over and driving back towards Tobermory.

This journey gave me a chance to look at a few stones on the way back, however. First call was just outside Fionnphort itself, where a 2m tall stone sits in the driveway to a guest house. Then on a bit further to Tiraghoil, where another stone sits in a field, and finally to Taoslin, where the stone sits proud just below the crest of a small hill, with a magnificent view out over the island. Back to the hotel for more drink, food and a wander round the upper reaches of Tobermory as the sun went down.

North from Tobermory in the morning, to Glengorm Castle, which is a monumental Victorian pile - but with a neolithic treat within the grounds. Permission asked and granted, we set out across fields of Highland cows and lambing ewes to the setting of Glengorm, a magnificent arrangement of three tall upright stones and a kerb, measuring around 13m by 8m. This is a truly spectacular group of stones, and set off well against a magnificent seascape in the background. This was a great start to the day.

From here we headed SW to the Dervaig group, near the centre of the island. Having decided against the woodland hike to Maol Mor (Dervaig A) we settled for B and C. Parking next to a spectacular viewpoint over Dervaig itself, a small path leads across to the forest where, just at the end of a short avenue, Cnoc Fada (Dervaig B) can be seen through the trees. This comprises two large uprights and three recumbents, in a very peaceful wooded setting. Just down the hill from here, partially built into the wall of the new cemetery, is Glac Mhor (Dervaig C), a row which has been disrupted over the years.

From Dervaig we drove west past the beautiful Calgary Bay, and then south across country to drive along Loch Tuath, opposite the island of Ulva. We stopped just short of Kilninian to eat our picnic lunch, in blazing sunshine and with beautiful views to the south and east. A few hundred metres SE of where we stopped is the standing stone of Tostarie (Kilninian), with a pronounced northerly lean. A superb setting for this stone, which is much-used as a rubbing post by the local sheep.

Then came a long scenic drive across Mull and down to the south west quadrant, via a rather meandering track, to Lochbuie. This is the most significant area of Mull in neolithic terms, and set in a 3/4 bowl which even Burl was moved to comment on - "Few rings could be more evocative". Druid's Field, as it is known, comprises: one standing stone, a circle, not one but two outliers, and a ruined kerb cairn. We spent quite some time looking around here, enjoying the scenery and the warm breeze, before slowly traipsing back towards Tobermory, for dinner and a good bottle of wine. A terrific day out!

Monday dawned and we had to catch the ferry back to Oban. After filling up the tank (Oban petrol is 10p per litre cheaper than on Mull...) we decided on a slight diversion, as we could see the clouds starting to gather and the good weather we had enjoyed was obviously not going to last! Taking the Glen Cruitten road east out of Oban towards Taynuilt, we drove up past the Strontoiller Stone and kerb cairn, pausing to take a few photographs. Then on into Glen Lonan and the Glenamachrie Stones. Setting out east into what had become a rather damp day in a very short space of time, we drove back towards Dundee and home. Having had but the briefest taste of what Mull has to offer, we're already planning a longer return!

Scallastle — Fieldnotes

22.04.03ce
Ask permission at the farm, parking is easy at the road end as there is plenty of room. Not visible from the road from Craignure, you can only see this heading south from Salen.

Set out on a low mound, with a couple of possible kerb stones still in situ, there is one upright stone (about 1.3m tall) and one recumbent here. The 'kerb stones' may in fact be other recumbents - it's a bit hard to tell. Have a look at the photographs and make your own mind up! The stones are aligned NW/SE. There are no significant markings on any of the stones.

Scallastle — Images

22.04.03ce
<b>Scallastle</b>Posted by nickbrand<b>Scallastle</b>Posted by nickbrand<b>Scallastle</b>Posted by nickbrand

Balliscate Stones — Fieldnotes

22.04.03ce
Park at the Mull Pottery and take the track just north of the buildings which leads west up-hill. The stones are around 400m in, on a raised platform. There are 3 stones here, the centre one being recumbent. The northern stone is the larger, being just over 2.5m in height. The row runs roughly N-S, and the southern stone is well under 2m. The central recumbent stone looks as if it would have been the largest, it's around 3m long in its current position.

This is a pretty impressive viewpoint, and worth waking up to on a clear day. Unfortunately our view of the Ardnamurchan Peninsula on the mainland was a bit obscured by smoke from burning moorland, which is clearly visible in one of the photographs.

Balliscate Stones — Images

22.04.03ce
<b>Balliscate Stones</b>Posted by nickbrand<b>Balliscate Stones</b>Posted by nickbrand<b>Balliscate Stones</b>Posted by nickbrand

Gruline — Fieldnotes

22.04.03ce
As can be seen from the photograph, this field was occupied, so I didn't make an issue of it and took the bull's photograph along with the stone, which is over 2m in height and very slim.

Gruline — Images

22.04.03ce
<b>Gruline</b>Posted by nickbrand

Fionnphort — Fieldnotes

22.04.03ce
The owner of the guest house here has no problem with people viewing the stone - just ask. This stone is over 2m tall, and stippled with quartz.

Fionnphort — Images

22.04.03ce
<b>Fionnphort</b>Posted by nickbrand<b>Fionnphort</b>Posted by nickbrand

Tiraghoil — Fieldnotes

22.04.03ce
This stone is in a field just off the Fionnphort road. It is aligned N-S, and has no markings or carvings, and stands just over 2m tall. Magnificent views all around!

Tiraghoil — Images

22.04.03ce
<b>Tiraghoil</b>Posted by nickbrand<b>Tiraghoil</b>Posted by nickbrand

Taoslin — Fieldnotes

22.04.03ce
Canmore debates whether this stone is prehistoric, or whether it is merely a way-marker for pilgrims en route to Iona. It certainly looks genuine to me!

Around 2m in height, aligned NNW-SSE, with a slightly sloping top, it has some field clearance boulders at the base and appears to be yet another popular sheep rubbing post.

Taoslin — Images

22.04.03ce
<b>Taoslin</b>Posted by nickbrand<b>Taoslin</b>Posted by nickbrand

Glengorm — Fieldnotes

22.04.03ce
A magnificent site, though according to Canmore only one stone was upright in 1800, and the others re-erected at a later date. The kerb around them looks fairly ancient but may in fact have been added at the time the stones were re-erected. It does not detract from their setting, however, and this is a site well worth a look. All three stones are over 2m in height, and quite dramatic in effect.

Glengorm — Images

22.04.03ce
<b>Glengorm</b>Posted by nickbrand<b>Glengorm</b>Posted by nickbrand<b>Glengorm</b>Posted by nickbrand<b>Glengorm</b>Posted by nickbrand<b>Glengorm</b>Posted by nickbrand<b>Glengorm</b>Posted by nickbrand

Glengorm — Folklore

22.04.03ce
Glengorm was originally known as Sorne. In 1850, the new landlord, one James Forsyth, began to 'improve' his estate in the usual fashion in the Highlands - by clearance. The main house was replaced by a large and imposing baronial 'castle'. Forsyth sought advice on a new name for the estate from one of the few remaining tenants of the land, an old lady, and she suggested Glengorm, meaning Blue Glen. Little did he suspect that the name would commemorate, for all time, the days when the glen was indeed blue with smoke from the burning homesteads.

Dervaig B — Fieldnotes

22.04.03ce
This stone row sits just inside a wood on the hillside above Dervaig, and is signposted. Originally 5 stones, oriented NNW-SSE, only two are now upright, but it is still quite a stirring sight. Both the upright stones are around 2.5m in height. Looking down the avenue formed by the trees, they are rather evocative.

Dervaig B — Images

22.04.03ce
<b>Dervaig B</b>Posted by nickbrand<b>Dervaig B</b>Posted by nickbrand<b>Dervaig B</b>Posted by nickbrand<b>Dervaig B</b>Posted by nickbrand<b>Dervaig B</b>Posted by nickbrand<b>Dervaig B</b>Posted by nickbrand

Dervaig C — Fieldnotes

22.04.03ce
Three stones, aligned approximately NNW-SSE, the most northern of which is now included in the dyke... and used to anchor some wire fencing. These stones are not being treated as well as their kin just up the hill at Cnoc Fada! They lie just a short distance from the new cemetery, on the brow of a ridge.

Dervaig C — Images

22.04.03ce
<b>Dervaig C</b>Posted by nickbrand

Loanhead of Daviot — Images

25.08.01ce
<b>Loanhead of Daviot</b>Posted by a23
nickbrand Posted by nickbrand
22nd April 2003ce
Edited 23rd April 2003ce


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