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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 Islands are Boat
Trips, Boathouse Restaurant, Sheila's Cottage
Heritage Centre, three Walking Routes, and Ulva
Mansion, under 1 mile south of the Pier, will
be opened as a Hotel in 2027.
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, with
Staffa being about 9 miles out.
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 specializing
in fresh local fish.
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.
1,200 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, an Irish Missionary, 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 MacQuarie are recorded as
owning the Islands of Ulva, Staffa, Gometra,
and parts of Mull, little evidence can be found
on how they managed to take control.
Kelp Seaweed, Potato's, and Sheep were the
Islands main Economy.
1762 - Lachlan Macquarie was born on
Ulva, nephew of the Clan Chief. 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 MacQuarie Chief sold his land on
Ulva, Gometra and Mull to pay off his debts,
with the MacDonald's of Staffa taking over much
of the land.
The Clan Chief then joined the British Army,
age 63, before retiring on the Island of Mull
at Glenforsa, living to age 103.
1790 - the MacDonald's built Ulva Mansion
where the MacQuarie House had been located,
under 1 mile south of the Pier on Ulva.
1830s - Ulva had 16 small Villages with Shoe
Makers, Boat Builders, Carpenters, Tailors,
Weavers, and Blacksmiths, with a population of
around 800.
1835 - Francis William Clark, a Lawyer from
Stirling, bought Ulva and Gometra then began
the Clearance of many Crofters, with many of
their Homes Burned.
1841 - the population of Ulva and the
neighbouring smaller Island of Gometra was
about 600, 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.
1946 - the Clark's sold the Islands to
Edith, Lady Congleton for £10,000, with
her family gaining their wealth from their
involvement in the Canadian Pacific
Railway.
There is a Memorial on the south side of the
Island, on top of a Hill, built for the
Clark's.
1954 - Ulva Mansion was destroyed by
fire.
1956 - Ulva Mansion was rebuilt.
2011 - the population on Ulva was 11, and
Gometra 2.
2018 - a Local Community raised money to buy
Ulva and Gometra from the Congleton's so they
could re-populate the Islands and make them
more suitable for Tourism.
2027 - Ulva Mansion is to be
operated as a Hotel after a long
restoration.
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