Ulva

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.

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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 and 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.