Unspoilt
coastal landscape |
Mull lies at the centre of a group of islands off the west coast of Scotland,
and is treasured for its unspoilt landscapes, fascinating geology and diverse
wildlife. It's a mecca for bird spotters, whale watchers and those looking
for wild habitats. | | Mull's wildlife
adventure starts here |
Mull boasts a wide range of scenery
from beaches and sea caves to waterfalls, mountains and forests. The main
town on Mull is Tobermory, characterised by its multi-coloured shops and attractive
harbour which is a good starting point for wildlife trips on land and by sea.
The southern peninsula of Mull is known as 'the Ross of Mull', and is renowned
for its granite landscape and spectacular beaches.
Marine life The
western coast of Scotland is one of the richest marine habitats in Europe, and
the Isle of Mull is especially blessed.
With a coastline measuring over
300 miles, Mull is a great place to see porpoises, dolphins and whales. Twenty
four species have been recorded off these shores from basking sharks to killer
whales. Minke Whales are commonly sighted in these waters, affectionately
known as 'stinky minke' because of their fishy breath! A whale watching
boat trip can be an unforgettable experience with some operators using sonar to
spot the Minke Whales, which are amongst the least understood whales on the planet. Each
whale can be uniquely identified from its dorsal fin, and 65 individual whales
have already been named and recorded off the west coast of Scotland. A good
time to catch pods of the whales is between April and October when the waters
off the west coast of Scotland are alive with food for these magnificent mammals.  Bird
life
Mull is also a haven for birds - it's a big hot spot for White
Tailed Sea Eagles, one of Scottish biggest and rarest birds of prey with a six
feet wingspan. They are easy to spot with their distinctive brown body and
white tail - look for them taking fish from the surface of the water and plunging
to find food. Another good place to see them is on rocky ledges which act
as perches. These birds were non existent in 1975 but a re-introduction
programme has been a great success and there are now 30 pairs. The best
location to watch them is from a public hide run by the Forestry Commission, RSPB
and others at Loch Frisa on Mull. Habitat heaven Venture
inland and you'll find a very different type of wildlife living the island's forests
and mountainous regions.
Look out for Highland cattle, one of the area's
hardiest residents. Mull is also a Mecca for geologists with its famous
igneous rocks and landscapes created by volcanic activity 60-50 million years
ago. The island has also been shaped by the Ice Age which left deep 'U'
shaped valleys and lochs. | 
