Isle of Eigg & Tobermory, Isle of Mull

After leaving Inverie and Loch Nevis we headed for the Isle of Eigg. Breakfast was spent watching the seabirds circling past. The Manx Shearwater that breed on the nearby Isle of Rum, were skimming the waves and gannets shot from the skies into the waves like bullets.

On Eigg we were greeted by the island piper Donna and her dog Pibroch. She played the bagpipes whilst the dog sang along to her tunes. (See picture) We explored the island on foot and by minibus, taking in the views of Laig beach and the lush landscape of the island. Many of us were tempted by the wee craft shop and the café with its homemade cakes.

During lunch we sailed south, past the most westerly point of the British mainland, Ardnamurchan Point. Alan Stevenson’s lighthouse stands sentinel on this exposed spot, followed just before Tobermory by another lighthouse ‘Rubha nan Gall’. During our journey David Barnes (expedition leader and historian), provided us with entertaining and informative background to Celtic Christianity, as we will be visiting the island of Iona tomorrow, which is sometimes called the cradle of Celtic Christianity.

On reaching Tobermory on the Isle of Mull, I gave a ‘city’ tour of the village. With a population of nearly 1000, it’s the ‘capital’ of Mull and a lively place with many interesting shops, lots of history and some pretty private gardens. This was followed by a coastal walk with David Barnes and Ian Bullock (naturalist) with fabulous views and many photo-opportunities.

After our evening re-cap and dinner the beautiful Tobermory’s multi-colored houses tempted many of us for another stroll, which for some finished off at the Mishnish Hotel (see author’s photograph), quite a famous pub in Tobermory. Meanwhile the sun was coloring the sky into the most amazing shades of sunset.