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Ulva is a small Island next to the Isle of
Mull. Ulva is joined to the smaller Island
of Gometra by a Causeway and Bridge. There are
no Tar Roads on the Island, only suitable for
Off Road vehicles. The main Attractions on the
Island are Boat Trips, Boathouse Restaurant,
Sheila's Cottage Heritage Centre, and three
Walking Routes.
For Images on Mobile swipe right
Click on Map for Area Attractions
Camping & Touring Parks in
area
The image top right is from the west coast
road on Mull looking north towards the Island
of Ulva.
The second image is of the car park on Mull
for the short Ferry crossing to the Island of
Ulva. The Minibus here is for Boat Tours on the
Turus Mara.
The third image is of the Turus Mara for boat trips to
the Treshnish Isles, and Staffa for Fingals Cave.
The fourth image is of the small ferry to
the Isle of Ulva. This runs most of the day
whenever needed.
The Boathouse is a Restaurant at the landing
on Ulva.
Sheila's
Cottage Heritage Centre is close to the
boathouse, giving information on Island
life.
There are three Walking Routes
on Ulva that take between 3 and 5 hours
following the coast and over moorland past
ruins of many Croft's and Kilvekewen
Church.
The highest hill on Ulva is Beinn Chreagach
at 313m / 1,027ft.
The Highest hill on Gometra is named Gometra
at 155m / 508ft.
Ulva History
10,000 BC - Ulva was populated by humans
with remains of Buildings and Stone Circles
dating to that period.
1200 BC - Celts from Europe were in control
of the Area.
300s - Picts were in control of the Area,
and most of Northern Scotland.
500s - the area was controlled by Dalriada
Kings including Western Scotland and some
Western Isles. Dalriada people were said to be
Irish Gaels.
500s - St Columba set up a Monastery on the
Isle of
Iona a few miles south, the start of
Christianity in Scotland.
800s - Vikings took control of the Area.
1200s - Scots Kings began taking control of
all Scotland, forcing the Vikings out of the
Western Isles and uniting the many Kingdoms of
Scotland under one King.
1400s - Clan MacQuarrie are recorded as
owning the Islands of Ulva, Staffa, Gometra,
and parts of Mull.
Kelp Seaweed, Potato's, and Sheep were the
Islands main Economy.
1746 - Clan MacQuarrie fought at the
Battle of Culloden on the losing
Jacobite side against the Government
Troops.
1762 - Lachlan Macquarie was born on
Ulva. He became a top Military man serving for
the British Government throughout the World. He
became known as the Father of Australia, being
Governor of New South Wales from 1809 -
1821.
1777 - the MacQuarries sold their land on
Ulva, Gometra and Mull.
1835 - Francis William Clark bought Ulva and
Gometra then began the Clearance of many
Crofters. About two thirds of the Islands were
Cleared within a few years, with many of their
Homes Burned.
1830s - Ulva had 16 small Villages with Shoe
Makers, Boat Builders, Carpenters, Tailors,
Weavers, and Blacksmiths.
1841 - the population of Ulva and the
neighbouring smaller Island of Gometra was
about 850, mainly in the 16 small Villages.
The explorer David Livingstone's
Grandparents lived on a Croft on the south side
of Ulva.
1840s - the Highland Potato
Famine led to more Families leaving the
Island.
1848 - the population of Ulva and Gometra
had reduced to around 150, due to the
Clearances and Potato Famine.
1940s - the Clark's sold the Island. There
is a Memorial on the south side of the Island,
on top of a Hill, built for the Clark's.
2011 - the population on Ulva was 11, and
Gometra 2.
2018 - a Local Community began raising money
to buy Ulva so they can re-populate the Island
and make it more suitable for Tourism.
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