Isle of Mull

Isle of Mull (? Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Muile or Muile / i; short Mull ) is an island of the Inner Hebrides, off the north west coast of Scotland, part of the Argyll & Bute Council.

Geography

The highest elevation of the island is the 966 meter high Ben More. The center of the island is Tobermory with about 990 inhabitants ( 2004 estimate ). Total living on the island about 2700 people.

Geology

The entire island is the result of long-standing erosion of the past 30 to 40 million years. It consists mostly of basalt. The aluminosilicate mullite, an important raw material in the ceramic industry, was named after the island of Mull, because the mineral was discovered in 1924 for the first time.

History

Microliths show that Mull was inhabited since about 6000 BC ( Mesolithic ). During the Stone or Bronze Age inhabitants built, among others, the stone fort Dun Ara, Stone Circle ( Stone Circle Loch Buie ), four rows of stones ( Baliscate ) and built more than a dozen menhirs. In the Iron Age Broch created two. Later, the Castles Aros Castle, Ardtornish Castle, Calgary Castle, Duart Castle, Dunstaffnage Castle, Dunollie Castle, Glengorm Castle, Mingary Castle, Moy Castle and Castle Torosay followed.

In the 14th century Mull became part of the Lordship of the Isles. After the collapse of the Lordship in 1493 the rule of the island was taken over by the clan of MacLean, who resided in Duart Castle. In 1681 it was replaced by the clan of the Campbells. During the Clearances in the 18th and 19th century the number of inhabitants declined from 10,000 to less than 4,000.

Infrastructure

Meanwhile, Mull is a well-developed tourist island and a stopover for many pilgrims who arrive on Mull to Iona. From the ferry port, coaches across the island. The roads are mostly single track.

Mull can be reached by ferry from Oban, Lochaline and Ardnamurchan from. From Mull of excursion boats run to the islands of Iona and Staffa. From 1983 to 2010, the miniature railway Isle of Mull Railway between Craignure and Torosay Castle was in operation.

Economy

Nationally known is the Tobermory Distillery Whisky distillery, founded in 1798. It has been renamed several times over the years, closed and reopened. Since 1983 she has been by Burn Stewart Distillers Ltd.. adopted and has since worked continuously. It produces whiskey under the brand names Tobermory and Ledaig. The Ledaig is peated and therefore has a very smoky aroma of Tobermory on the other hand is ungetorft.

Born Here personalities

• Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of the British colony of New South Wales