Ulva

Ulva is a small island in the Inner Hebrides off Mull’s west coast, separated by a narrow strait and linked to Gometra by a bridge. Its rugged basalt columns rise from Cenozoic lava flows, and the island’s coastline is indented with bays like Port a' Bhàta and Tràigh Bhàn. The highest point, Beinn Chreagach, reaches 313 metres, while Loch Tuath and Loch na Keal cut deep into the land on its north and south-east sides. The island’s past stretches back to the Mesolithic, with Neolithic remains and Norse traces still visible today. Once home to over 800 people, Ulva’s population fell to five by 2019 after the 19th-century Clearances. Writers like Walter Scott drew inspiration here, and wildlife thrives, with whales often seen offshore and over 500 plant species recorded. A community buyout in 2018 aimed to revive the island, where tourism now supports the few remaining residents. Visitors find a quiet landscape of moorland and dramatic coastal rock formations, including the raised sea cave A' Chrannag. The island’s geology tells of ancient volcanoes and glacial carving, while nearby Gometra and Staffa add to the scenery. The Loch na Keal National Scenic Area protects this unspoiled setting, where the interplay of land and sea creates a peaceful retreat.