![\"Isle](\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/map01.jpg\")
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Craignure<\/h6>\n
Train to Oban via<\/em> Glasgow (note the change in cuisine). \u00a0Ferry to Craignure and a night at the campsite there. \u00a0A nice spot with great clean facilities, including a common room with wood-burning stove.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The bus services on Mull are great, and the Craignure – Tobermory route uses a double decker so you can get a great view. \u00a0The majority of the roads are single track with passing places, so it’s a nice slow journey. \u00a0Spent some time watching gannets diving into the sea while waiting at the bus stop. \u00a0I was told that the ones around here nest on St Kilda; that’s 140 miles as the gannet flies, a long way for a fish supper.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Rainy day activities: distillery and museum.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A boat trip to Staffa via<\/em> the Treshnish Isles, featuring a white-tailed eagle, gannets, kittiwakes, shags, seals, a minke whale and maybe some porpoises. \u00a0And exciting rocks, of course. \u00a0Very smart boat and knowledgable crew from Staffa Tours<\/a>, happy to spend time detouring to follow the minke.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Amazing\u00a0campsite at\u00a0Fidden farm<\/a>, right above the beach. \u00a0The sun came out and the sea was irresistible. \u00a0And freezing, obviously.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Moonrise and sunset.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Views from Fionnphort. \u00a0The strange shaped island beyond Iona is The Dutchman’s Cap, one of the Treshnish Isles. \u00a0The others were named by Vikings, not contraceptives.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The tidal island of Erraid as featured in Robert Louis Stevenson’s Kidnapped<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n First stop the nunnery. \u00a0A carving over a window shows a voluptuous and accommoddating woman, apparently keeping those inside safe from such temptations. \u00a0One tiny room of the whole complex had heating – they must have been some tough nuns. \u00a0Today\u00a0was very sunny (i.e.<\/em> I got burned) but required all layers and a hat because of the wind, and that was the tail end of summer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Abbey; journey’s end for many, be they pilgrims, coach trippers or important dead people. \u00a0In front of the abbey in the grass is the Street of the Dead (Sr\u00e0id nam Marbh), after it passes the burial area (R\u00e8ilig Odhrain). \u00a0There is an exhibition of ancient stone crosses, where I learnt that the circle was an addition to support the lateral arms which could otherwise be heavy enough to cause the stone to break.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Views from Dun I, the highest point on the island (101 m, so just a HuMP). \u00a0Excellent visibility, Cullins of Skye spotted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There is a green colour in the rocks found in abundance in St Columba’s bay, apparently from chlorophyll. \u00a0I should have brought my accommodation with me, it would have been a lovely spot for the night.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n A short-ish but tussocky and boggy walk followed by a very wild camp. \u00a0Nice evening with ever-increasing wind. \u00a0Met an adder shortly before pitching for the night on the only vaguely suitable ground. \u00a0Previous choice was under a sheltered rock, but a deer had obviously had the same thought when it was unwell and consequently expired there.<\/p>\n A peg was blown out into the burn at 5 am, so that corner of the tent was anchored with the\u00a0water bottle and I waited in the sleeping bag for enough light to pack up and walk down towards Loch Buie. \u00a0I serendipitously found the peg while rinsing out my mug before I left. \u00a0Walking to the main road I missed the bus by a minute or so, the next one was two hours later so I sat by a sort of estuary where the river Lussa enters (the sea) Loch Spelve, watched the birds and had tomato soup. \u00a0I think<\/em> I spotted an eagle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Back to\u00a0reality…the first establishment encountered on disembarking from the ferry in Oban is a Weatherspoons. \u00a0But the place did have some more individual touches.<\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\nTobermory<\/h6>\n
<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a>\u00a0<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a>\u00a0<\/a> <\/a>\u00a0<\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\nFionnphort<\/h6>\n
<\/a> <\/a> \u00a0<\/a><\/a>\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0<\/a> <\/a> \u00a0<\/a><\/a>\u00a0<\/a><\/h6>\n<\/a>\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> \u00a0<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nIona<\/h6>\n
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<\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/h6>\n<\/a>\u00a0<\/a> <\/a>\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a>\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\nThe three lochs<\/h6>\n
<\/a> <\/a> <\/a>\u00a0<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\nOban<\/h6>\n