West Coast Walks - day two

Everyone was frantically checking the weather forecasts over breakfast, although the poor wi-fi in the hotel didn't make it easy. Our leader quickly concluded, however, that the planned walk up Ben More was a non-starter due to the low cloud hanging over the top of the mountain - plus the forecast heavy rain. Never one to take no for an answer, Ian, however, was still determined to give it a go and John agreed to go with him.

We thought it would be best to go round to the foot of Ben More anyway to check the actual conditions, but this merely confirmed Ken's fears. So it was that we split in to two separate groups. Ken would lead us on a low-level walk around the adjacent island of Ulva and we would meet up with Ian and John later.

It's a very short ferry ride across from Mull to Ulva - and it's done on a "call-up" basis using the sliding panel on the building on the Mull side:

The Ferryman duly arrived:

He's been doing this job for the local Laird for 23 years. It prompted a rock trivia question - Who Pays the Ferryman? Initial guesses of Sandy Denny/Fairport Convention were subsequently proven to be wide of the mark - it was a 1977 BBC series with a theme tune composed by Yannis Markopoulos.

Anyway, there was a welcoming sight at the pier at Ulva:

Tea/coffee and Empire Biscuits was the most common order before we set off on our walk. The geologists amongst us admired the basalt columns:

The walk took us past beautiful bluebell and primrose fields and woods:

Today's (partial) team photo was taken in the ruins of David Livingstone's parents' house:

Back at The Boathouse, we stopped for a spot of lunch - the fresh langoustines were terrific, especially when washed down with:

Dave did some research which revealed that Colonsay is the smallest island with a brewery, and also the island with the highest percentage of its population working in the brewery - and you thought trivia was dead?

For the statisticians, the walk round Ulva was just short of 13 kms - virtually the same distance as yesterday - http://www.mapmywalk.com/routes/view/712778459

Back on Mull, we were halted along the road by this poser, who stood stock still just a couple of feet from our car. We think he knew he was beautiful - in a bovine kind of way:

Back at the hotel, we met up with Ian and John, who had made a valiant effort to reach the top of Ben More, but the lack of visibility at the summit, the high winds and the dodgy track made it far too dangerous and they had to turn back just a couple of hundred feet from the top.

We had time to enjoy the pool and the spa, which included an outdoor jacuzzi - a strange experience in the drizzly rain.

Ken had arranged a mini-cab to take us in to Tobermory in the evening. It was damp but the town is instantly recognisable:

Prior research had revealed that Macgochans was the place to go for beer - and it was too, with 3 Isle of Mull ales on handpump. We plonked ourselves down in a handy 8-seater booth for the team photo(s):

Dinner was at the Gallery. We sat up at a high table and had a good laugh. Great day all round.