The capital of the Isle of Mull, Tobermory, is probably better know as Balamory from the popular Children’s television programme. And yes, the houses really are as brightly coloured as that.
It is a lovely setting around a sheltered bay with views across to the Ardnamurchan peninsula. It is now a popular destination for cruise ships, which can be regularly be seen anchored in the bay.
The harbour area is now a marina, although Calmac ferries still leave from the pier for Kilchoan on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula. It still has a lifeboat station.
Tobermory derives its name from the gaelic ‘Tobar Mhoire’ meaning the Well of Mary. Mary’s Well was said to have medicinal properties. Near was the medieval St Mary’s Chapel. The ruins of this can still be seen (with the eye of faith) as raised bumps in the ground in the old cemetery at the top of the hill overlooking the town.
John Knox, agent of the British Fishing Society visited Mull in 1786 and thought its natural harbour would be suitable for one of the three proposed new fishing settlements in Scotland . (The others were Ullapool and Lochbay on Skye.) The only flat area of land was at Ledaig, where the distillery and aquarium are.
The steep hillside round the bay had to be cut away and removed. The grid street plan was designed by Thomas Telford and can still be seen at the top of the town.
Telford was also responsible for building the original Church of Scotland church in 1828, which was funded by government money.
A small pier and customs house were the first structures to be built, so that the salt could be landed and taxes levied. (Most fish was transported in salt to preserve it, and salt was taxable and a profitable source of income.) Other buildings soon followed including an inn (where the Co-op now stands).
The new village was intended to attract people currently working on the land and to develop their skills into being fishermen and tradesmen. This never really worked, as few local people had either the knowledge or finance to build boats or to head out to sea to catch the herring.
In the early C19th, kelp was harvested for processing into soap and glass and the pier had to be extended and this increased trade.
After the collapse of the kelp trade, tourism became increasingly important after visits by Mendlessohn and his Hebrides Overture as well as a visit by Queen Victoria from her Royal Yacht. Enterprising Steamship Companies used this in their advertising. A new deep water pier had to be built.
The granite Clock Tower by the pier was built in 1905 in memory of Henrietta Amelia. Bird who died of typhoid in Tobermory in 1880.
During the Second World War, Tobermory was a Royal Navy Training Base. Many officers and men (and women) worshipped in the Church at above the town each Sunday, and could be seen marching up from the bay in smart military formationThey donated a lectern to the church in gratitude for the care they received from the minister of the time, the Rev John Menzies.
The Mull Museum is in a small building tucked in between the bank and chandlery shop near the pier and records the history and social history of the island.
There is a good walk from the end of the pier past the RNLI shop and along the shore to Tobermory Lighthouse.
The current Church of Scotland Church on Argyll Street at the top of the town, dates from 1897 and replaced the earlier Telford Parliamentary Church. It is a splendid Victorian Gothic church with tall offset tower.
The interior is almost unchanged since it was built and has very little in the way of adornment. Many of the items of church furniture were given as memorials.The brass memorial above the altar is dedicated to the dead of World War One. The circular east window is in memory of A W Graham who was lost at sea in 1897.
On the wall of the nave is is a lovely brass memorial to James Alexander who died of heart failure when playing polo.
Next to the church is the original Victorian school which is now An Tobar, a cultural centre with art exhibitions, theatre and cafe.
Near it is the Roman Catholic Church, Our Lady Star of the Sea. This can be glimpsed from the road and is a rather insignificant red wooden building dating from 1973. It has been described as more Scout hut than church...
At the other end of the bay at Ledaig is Tobermory Distillery which opened in 1795 and is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland. As well as producing two very different malt whiskies, it now also distills gin. According to their website, this includes a splash of the spirit from Tobermory whisky stills to create a unique character... There are distillery tours as well as dedicated tasting sessions.
The Aquarium near the Distillery is currently closed and is unlikely to reopen as plans to refurbish it are 'unaffordable in the current climate.
This is the start of a lovely walk to Aros Park.
It is a lovely setting around a sheltered bay with views across to the Ardnamurchan peninsula. It is now a popular destination for cruise ships, which can be regularly be seen anchored in the bay.
The harbour area is now a marina, although Calmac ferries still leave from the pier for Kilchoan on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula. It still has a lifeboat station.
Tobermory derives its name from the gaelic ‘Tobar Mhoire’ meaning the Well of Mary. Mary’s Well was said to have medicinal properties. Near was the medieval St Mary’s Chapel. The ruins of this can still be seen (with the eye of faith) as raised bumps in the ground in the old cemetery at the top of the hill overlooking the town.
John Knox, agent of the British Fishing Society visited Mull in 1786 and thought its natural harbour would be suitable for one of the three proposed new fishing settlements in Scotland . (The others were Ullapool and Lochbay on Skye.) The only flat area of land was at Ledaig, where the distillery and aquarium are.
The steep hillside round the bay had to be cut away and removed. The grid street plan was designed by Thomas Telford and can still be seen at the top of the town.
Telford was also responsible for building the original Church of Scotland church in 1828, which was funded by government money.
A small pier and customs house were the first structures to be built, so that the salt could be landed and taxes levied. (Most fish was transported in salt to preserve it, and salt was taxable and a profitable source of income.) Other buildings soon followed including an inn (where the Co-op now stands).
The new village was intended to attract people currently working on the land and to develop their skills into being fishermen and tradesmen. This never really worked, as few local people had either the knowledge or finance to build boats or to head out to sea to catch the herring.
In the early C19th, kelp was harvested for processing into soap and glass and the pier had to be extended and this increased trade.
After the collapse of the kelp trade, tourism became increasingly important after visits by Mendlessohn and his Hebrides Overture as well as a visit by Queen Victoria from her Royal Yacht. Enterprising Steamship Companies used this in their advertising. A new deep water pier had to be built.
The granite Clock Tower by the pier was built in 1905 in memory of Henrietta Amelia. Bird who died of typhoid in Tobermory in 1880.
During the Second World War, Tobermory was a Royal Navy Training Base. Many officers and men (and women) worshipped in the Church at above the town each Sunday, and could be seen marching up from the bay in smart military formationThey donated a lectern to the church in gratitude for the care they received from the minister of the time, the Rev John Menzies.
The Mull Museum is in a small building tucked in between the bank and chandlery shop near the pier and records the history and social history of the island.
There is a good walk from the end of the pier past the RNLI shop and along the shore to Tobermory Lighthouse.
The current Church of Scotland Church on Argyll Street at the top of the town, dates from 1897 and replaced the earlier Telford Parliamentary Church. It is a splendid Victorian Gothic church with tall offset tower.
The interior is almost unchanged since it was built and has very little in the way of adornment. Many of the items of church furniture were given as memorials.The brass memorial above the altar is dedicated to the dead of World War One. The circular east window is in memory of A W Graham who was lost at sea in 1897.
On the wall of the nave is is a lovely brass memorial to James Alexander who died of heart failure when playing polo.
Next to the church is the original Victorian school which is now An Tobar, a cultural centre with art exhibitions, theatre and cafe.
Near it is the Roman Catholic Church, Our Lady Star of the Sea. This can be glimpsed from the road and is a rather insignificant red wooden building dating from 1973. It has been described as more Scout hut than church...
At the other end of the bay at Ledaig is Tobermory Distillery which opened in 1795 and is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland. As well as producing two very different malt whiskies, it now also distills gin. According to their website, this includes a splash of the spirit from Tobermory whisky stills to create a unique character... There are distillery tours as well as dedicated tasting sessions.
The Aquarium near the Distillery is currently closed and is unlikely to reopen as plans to refurbish it are 'unaffordable in the current climate.
This is the start of a lovely walk to Aros Park.