Isle of Mull
Day 2
The Isle of Mull is very lush and green. Almost a tropical feeling to it, if not for the weather not being so tropical. The roads are for the most part single track with passing places. Some of the roads would qualify as not even being single track! and you must watch out for sheep, cattle, and pheasants in the road.
As we headed north from Tobermory, our first stop was at the Isle of Mull Cheese Shop. Lovely place. The Glass Tea Room was not open for service that morning. They did have cheeses for sale on an honor system with a box for your payment. We did not buy any cheese as we were out and about for the entire day with no cooling bags.
The Isle of Mull Cheese Shop, enter through the "kissing gate". Took us a minute to figure out that one.
Beautiful gardens to the cheese shop
Cheese shop. On the other side were windows where you could watch them make the cheeses. The employee working there was singing a merry song, must like his job as cheese maker.
Dick at the kissing gate
Later down the road toward the loch we came across this cow near the cheese sign. I walked over to the cow as close as I could until she was so disturbed by my presence that she raised her head so I could get this perfect shot!
As I mentioned the roads are quite small and sometimes just dirt, so the driving was slow going.
Sometimes stopping for sheep in the road or cows and driving speeds to the max of about 20mph.
We decided that it was best not to try to reach Calgary Bay at the far north point of the Isle and head back towards the southern portion of the Isle
so we would have time to see the other villages and tour Duart Castle
Duart Castle is on a high crag nead the end of peninsula Dubh Ard which in Gaelic means Black Point. It vistas out to the Sound of Mull. This castle is of the Clan Maclean
The inner courtyard depicts what the earliest castle was dating to the 1200s
This signage in the courtyard explains scottish life in the 1100s when they went barefoot and wrapped themselves in a long piece of wool clothe
Up on the castle walkways with vistas on a clear day which will bring into view Ben Nevis, 35 miles away.
I really enjoyed touring this castle. Of course, photos are not allowed inside the castle. Part of the castle is still occupied by Maclean. The Maclean Clan has annual meetings here with Macleans from all over the world attending. The photos of the families throughout the years showed beautiful and intelligent generations. During the Jacobite Rebellions, the Macleans took care of their lands and people to protect them from as much harm and loss as possible. Each Chief of the Clan seemed to perform his perfect duty for his time.
After a short drive further south, we decided there was not enough time and so headed back north toward Tobermory with a lovely stop at Glenforga Lodge on Salin Bay for lunch. We were the only people here...just us, the chickens, and two of the staff serving us lunch.
The primary reason to rush back to Tobermory was so that I could play the Tobermory Golf Course (the reason we had our golf clubs with us on this trip).
We had viewed the golf course early in the day and Dick had walked to the top of this first hole to see the lay of the land. It was very apparent that this was a golf course he could not walk.
So at about 3:30pm I teed off alone on this first hole, where you drive to the top of the hill and hope you can then find your ball.
I did find my ball just at the edge of the next precipice
Tobermory Golf Club is described as the best views in the world from a golf course. It is almost a 240 degree vista of the seas and Isles and then back to the village.
I took pictures of almost every hole so that when I got back to Tobermory, I could share the experience with Dick.
This is the view from the 6th hole which I parred looking out to the 7th hole. It began to rain and then it began to really RAIN HARD!! There were no more pictures. After playing the 7th hole, I could no longer wear my glasses, golf glove, or hat. Every part of my equipment and self was soaked to the bone. I finished the last two holes in not so great form. Playing Tobermory was an experience I will not soon forget.
That night we again ate at Fish Cafe. This time Dick had the Mull Lobster with crab gratin and I had the fish stew. Fabulous. Dessert shared this night was Tobermory Whiskey Chocolate Pot. If we were to have stayed another night, we agreed dinner would again have been at Fish Cafe.
The Isle of Mull is very lush and green. Almost a tropical feeling to it, if not for the weather not being so tropical. The roads are for the most part single track with passing places. Some of the roads would qualify as not even being single track! and you must watch out for sheep, cattle, and pheasants in the road.
As we headed north from Tobermory, our first stop was at the Isle of Mull Cheese Shop. Lovely place. The Glass Tea Room was not open for service that morning. They did have cheeses for sale on an honor system with a box for your payment. We did not buy any cheese as we were out and about for the entire day with no cooling bags.
The Isle of Mull Cheese Shop, enter through the "kissing gate". Took us a minute to figure out that one.
Beautiful gardens to the cheese shop
Cheese shop. On the other side were windows where you could watch them make the cheeses. The employee working there was singing a merry song, must like his job as cheese maker.
Dick at the kissing gate
Later down the road toward the loch we came across this cow near the cheese sign. I walked over to the cow as close as I could until she was so disturbed by my presence that she raised her head so I could get this perfect shot!
As I mentioned the roads are quite small and sometimes just dirt, so the driving was slow going.
Sometimes stopping for sheep in the road or cows and driving speeds to the max of about 20mph.
We decided that it was best not to try to reach Calgary Bay at the far north point of the Isle and head back towards the southern portion of the Isle
so we would have time to see the other villages and tour Duart Castle
Duart Castle is on a high crag nead the end of peninsula Dubh Ard which in Gaelic means Black Point. It vistas out to the Sound of Mull. This castle is of the Clan Maclean
The inner courtyard depicts what the earliest castle was dating to the 1200s
This signage in the courtyard explains scottish life in the 1100s when they went barefoot and wrapped themselves in a long piece of wool clothe
Up on the castle walkways with vistas on a clear day which will bring into view Ben Nevis, 35 miles away.
I really enjoyed touring this castle. Of course, photos are not allowed inside the castle. Part of the castle is still occupied by Maclean. The Maclean Clan has annual meetings here with Macleans from all over the world attending. The photos of the families throughout the years showed beautiful and intelligent generations. During the Jacobite Rebellions, the Macleans took care of their lands and people to protect them from as much harm and loss as possible. Each Chief of the Clan seemed to perform his perfect duty for his time.
After a short drive further south, we decided there was not enough time and so headed back north toward Tobermory with a lovely stop at Glenforga Lodge on Salin Bay for lunch. We were the only people here...just us, the chickens, and two of the staff serving us lunch.The primary reason to rush back to Tobermory was so that I could play the Tobermory Golf Course (the reason we had our golf clubs with us on this trip).
We had viewed the golf course early in the day and Dick had walked to the top of this first hole to see the lay of the land. It was very apparent that this was a golf course he could not walk.So at about 3:30pm I teed off alone on this first hole, where you drive to the top of the hill and hope you can then find your ball.
I did find my ball just at the edge of the next precipice
Tobermory Golf Club is described as the best views in the world from a golf course. It is almost a 240 degree vista of the seas and Isles and then back to the village.
I took pictures of almost every hole so that when I got back to Tobermory, I could share the experience with Dick.
This is the view from the 6th hole which I parred looking out to the 7th hole. It began to rain and then it began to really RAIN HARD!! There were no more pictures. After playing the 7th hole, I could no longer wear my glasses, golf glove, or hat. Every part of my equipment and self was soaked to the bone. I finished the last two holes in not so great form. Playing Tobermory was an experience I will not soon forget.That night we again ate at Fish Cafe. This time Dick had the Mull Lobster with crab gratin and I had the fish stew. Fabulous. Dessert shared this night was Tobermory Whiskey Chocolate Pot. If we were to have stayed another night, we agreed dinner would again have been at Fish Cafe.
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