Rubha nan Gall, a short walk from Tobermory.

Start. Tobermory.

Route. Tobermory - Life Boat Station - Rubha na Lrip - Rubha nan Gall - Rubha na Lrip - Life Boat Station - Tobermory.

Notes. The weather was on a down hill spiral, not good for the rest of the week, not to be deterred we headed across the island, the scenic route to Salen, grabbed a bite to eat before driving on to Tobermory, the capital of the island. It might be the capital but is a most picturesque town with colourful harbour front buildings, even on a grey day the scene was charming. Tobermory (Well of Mary) was built as a fishing port in 1788 on a design by Thomas Telford, the town curves around the bay and climbs the steep wooded hillside.

It was the wooded hillside this impromptu ramble was about to take us, a window in the weather tempted us to lace up our walking boots, throw a waterproof in the bag and head out on the trail. In this case the trail was to Rubha nan Gall (Strangers Point) a lighthouse built in 1857 by the Stevenson brothers, David and Thomas. It's a popular walk, with seasoned walkers, day trippers and families, some pushing prams all treading the excellant path, built to service the lighthouse, I confess we've trod this ground before but I don't recall it being this busy.

After wandering along the colourful harbour front we joined a wide path next to the Life Boat Station, behind the Ferry Terminal, this guided us through woodland with stolen views across the Sound of Mull to the Ardnamurchan Peninsula and Loch Sunart. We stopped at a conveniently placed view indicator before wandering on to Rubha nan Gall to be gifted with even better views.

That was that all we had to do was re-trace our steps, with the map and compass on the back seat of the car that's what we should have done, but oh no we thought we'd be clever. Part way back a set of sleeper steps climbed the hill, I seemed to remember a higher path running parallel to a golf course, up we went. With limited visibility we soon got disorientated, we turned right at the top of the steps, we should have gone left on a very faint path, when we realised our mistake it was raining, it seemed to make sense to descend the steps to the main path and wander back under the tree cover, which is exactly what we did.

view route map.

home.

The harbour front Tobermory.

Our route across the wooded hillside....

....a path, built to service the Lighthouse.

Stolen views across the Sound of Mull, guarding the entrance to Loch Sunart, Ben Hiant and Beinn Bhuidhe.

Ben Hiant seen from the view point near Rubha nan Gall.

Calve Island and a stunning view down the Sound of Mull.

Guarding the small headland since 1857 Rubha nan Gall Lighthouse.

Ben Hiant seen from the view point near Rubha nan Gall.

Rubha nan Gall (Strangers Point), the lighthouse built in 1857 by Daivd and Thomas Stevenson was automated in 1960.

Rubha nan Sealbhaig seen over Bloody Bay, like to know more. Bloody Bay takes it's name from a savage naval battle that took place here in the 1480s between John MacDonald of Islay the Lord of the Isles, and chief of Clan Donald, so many men were lost it is believed it changed the course of Scottish history.

Views from Rubha nan Gall, west through the Sound of Mull with Mull to the left and Ardnamurchan the right, in the centre, over the horizon the Atlantic Ocean.

The Lighthouse Keepers Cottages, now holiday accommodation.

With the next pulse of heavy rain blowing in from the east it's time to head back.

Moody views over Auliston Point.

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