Ferry into Mallaig from Skye and then we took the picturesque route south into the Ardnamurchan Peninsula
The train line viaduct at the end of Loch Nan Uamh.
We had a couple of trips over this pretty part of the line as the steam train had to have a couple of goes at getting up the hill!
Heading along the Ardnamurchan peninsula is Ben Hiant, an old volcano.
Being shy here, hiding in the clouds
Mingary Castle - No visitors, I wonder why.
Ardnamurchan Campsite, Kilchoan.
Mull is over the water
Mull in a rainbow
Lighthouse at the tip of Ardnamurchan Peninsula
Glad about the traffic control
hmmm, a big hooter
Thought goats ate grass
Waiting for the ferry at Kilchoan to go Tobermory (Mull)
Ben Hiant now visible in the background
Isle of Mull
Approaching Tobermory
Coloured Houses of Tobermory
Pays to read the small print
and to check out the boat before hiring
Pretty picture, near Knock, Loch Na Keal
Nice place to stop for a cuppa
Congestion, nearly!
So where is the strong road?
I'm sure geologists could explain this
Fidden Farm campsite, near Fionnphort. Paradise
Evening visitors
I spy with my little eye, something beginning with B
Famous split rock in Fionnphort - Its big!
We took the very quick foot ferry over to Iona. The atmosphere is something I have not experienced anywhere else and can't put into words. There is a small but strong community which lives on, delivering charity across the world.
They renovated, pretty much rebuilt, the abbey.
Abbey, founded by St Columba in 563AD.
This sea grass growing in the wall is a good thing! It shows that all the renovations have not prevented the wall from breathing, which is good.
Not everything is in such good condition
Celtic cross, a trademark
Beach on Iona
We then took a boat to Staffa, not one of the many double decker plastic ones, but a traditional wooden boat which turned out to be run by men from Iona. Such kind generous people eeking out a living after CalMac took over all the ferry routes.
Same rock formation (basalt, I think) as the Giant's Causeway, N Ireland.
Fingal's Cave, inspiration for Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture when he visited these parts.
Mrs M didn't fancy the path up onto Staffa
so she was given a personal tour of the island by boat
while I checked out the puffins
and the sights.
Mull from top of Staffa
Mrs M had to share her cruise with other on the trip home
and a little chillax as the sun sets back at paradise camp site
Did we like school or not? Local children probably don't appreciate their primary school!
National speed limit - at last we can let Bongo have his head on these "A" roads
though I suspect there must be a turning somewhere
Ducks, didn't anybody tell you it is too busy to play on the A849
Have a coffee and homemade scone instead.
Ben More, highest peak on Mull
Ben = mountain. More = big.
Back to Craignure for the ferry
with a stop off to go round Duart Castle
new bathroom
definite improvement over the original gardrobe (at the end on the right). That corridor is the thickness of the wall - they meant business
At the start of the holiday we drove to the top of Loch Linnhe. Here we are looking up the other end of the Loch from Duart Castle on Mull.
Unfortunately the camp site in Craignure was full, didn't fancy any wild camp possibilities so slummed it in the Isle of Mull Hotel and Spa. Couldn't complain about the view.
And we were glad we had booked the ferry to Oban. For once it was busy
A parting view of the southern tip of Lismore (I think), which we could not squeeze into the itinerary during the Fort William days.
