Salen

Salen is a small Village on the centre of the Isle of Mull. The largest town on the Island, Tobermory, is 10 miles north, and the Ferry Port village of Craignure 11 miles south. Salen is popular as a base for exploring the island and bike hire.

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Camping & Touring Parks in area

The image top right is looking north along Salen Main Street in the direction of Tobermory. The road left leads to the scenic West Coast of Mull. The building on the left is a Restaurant.

The second image is of On Yer Bike where you can hire Bikes to explore the scenic West Coast.

The third image is of the Cafe named the Coffee Pot.

Salen Church is across the road from On Yer Bike

Salen Hotel is also in the Village centre, an ideal base for exploring Mull with Ben More mountain only 4 miles southwest.

Salen History

500s - Saint Columba visited Salen then preached from rocks behind where the Salen Hotel is today. He is said to have been disappointed by the number of locals that attended.

1200s - Aros Castle was built 2 miles north of Salen to help control the Sound of Mull. This Castle was built for the MacDougalls, with it later passing to the MacDonalds. The Castle is now a ruin.

1800s early - the Laird of Gruline and Ulva, Lachlan Macquarie, laid out Salen Village and Harbour so as to connect his Estates to Shipping in the Sound of Mull.

The Mailboat service from Oban to Mull then called at Salen Pier en route to Tobermory.

1964 - new larger Ferries began using Craignure, 11 miles south, as the main Ferry Terminus on the Island, leading to the end of Salen as a Mailboat destination.

1965 - the Glenforsa Grass Airfield was built by the owners of the Glenforsa Hotel just over one mile south of Salen. The website states: Livestock may be on the Airstrip weekdays from October 1st to April 30th.

The Airfield was built for the small Cottage Hospital in Salen to serve as Mull’s only fixed-wing air ambulance evacuation facility.The Glenforsa Airfield used to have a regular service to Glasgow, a 30 minute trip. Airfield History.

1968 - the Glenforsa Hotel burned down, leading to the present day Hotel being built as a Norwegian Lodge style Hotel.

1975 - Christmas Eve, a visiting 55 year old Pilot named Peter Gibbs had dinner with his girlfriend at the Hotel before going for a Night Flight in his Cessna Plane around the area, never to return.

1976 April - Gibbs body was found on a hill about two miles from the Hotel. His Plane was found a few years later in the Sound of Mull, east of the Airfield. How his Body and Plane were found so far apart, has never been explained. Full Story.

1984 - the Psychiatrist Angus MacNiven FRSE was buried in Salen Churchyard.