A PEAK AT MULL

Jack P Harland finds the stunning view of the island from the top of Ben More is well worth the effort

The drive to the foot of Ben More, Mull’s highest mountain, is a memorable experience. The single-track road hugs the shore where oystercatchers, eider ducks and curlews go about their business in the yellow kelp. Old wooden fishing boats in various states of disrepair have been drawn up on to the pebbles, telling stories of days when they were in their prime and the seaways were rich with fish.

Park just beyond the bridge over the Abhainn na h-Uamha and begin walking up the lovely Gleann na Beinne Fada. A notch in the skyline marks the bealach between Beinn Fada and A’ Chioch. Head for this and from there begin scrambling up the bare rock to A’ Chioch, a pointed top on Ben More’s northeast ridge.

This is a fine place to view Mull’s fantastic landscape, one shaped by dramatic geological events. To the east of Ben More, prolific Tertiary basalt volcanoes collapsed under their own weight, forming giant calderas. The volcanic activity increased and

Climbing Ben More will require most hillwalkers to expend a good amount of energy