The village of Fionnphort which means 'Port of the White Sands' in Gaelic and is pronounced something like 'fin-ny-firt'  is on the south west peninsula of Mull, known as the Ross of Mull. ('Ross' is the Scottish word for peninsula). Fionnphort takes its name from the splendid, white, sandy bay which is overlooked by Seaview providing a wonderful foreground to the Isle of Iona and its many stunning sunsets. Many of our guests comment on the views we have from Seaview and they often tell us that by staying with us they have the best of both worlds – not least our very welcoming hospitality but also the amazing views they have of the Sound of Iona and the Abbey, whilst enjoying breakfast and dinner. We agree with them – as inviting as Iona is, the view from Iona back across the water to Fionnphort isn’t quite the same!

Fionnphort today

Fionnphort is a small thriving community and is more than just a passing through point for the ferry across to Iona and the boat trips out to the Treshnish Isles – it is also the home and workplace to approximately 100 people. With only 45 homes in the village, Fionnphort and her residents support an astonishing number of visitors from around the world who travel through Glen More from Craignure to the Ross of Mull, whatever the weather, 365 days a year. The land and coastal waters around the Ross of Mull, (including other out lying villages and communities) supports the traditional farming, crofting, fishing and forestry industries as well as the important industries of tourism, hospitality, service and retail which are so vital to the local economy. Further information about the fishing industry.

21^st century Fionnphort

For such a tiny hamlet, Fionnphort is pretty cosmopolitan in its own unique and hardy way. Visitors staying at Seaview come from around the world and despite its island location, our guests have always been delighted at the diverse range of services we personally offer along with the facilities and services offered in and around the village. Fionnphort isn’t chic, trendy or fashionable in a ‘slick city’ kind of way but it has a certain charm and heaps more to offer than one might expect. Long term plans for this small, vibrant and bustling Hebridean community include a harbour as well as forming the epicentre of the UK’s first National Marine Park.

One well known tourist information guide published a rather short sighted comment that Fionnphort was ‘merely for passing through……after all what was there to stop for?’ Had the writer stopped to find out, he or she would have discovered for themselves!

Recent guests of ours commented that the tourist information book referred to above, that she was reading had got it all wrong – and that in fact Fionnphort was a gem of a place and well worth stopping for; not just to observe a real Hebridean community at work and at play but a rare opportunity to join in with the island life and sample the warm and friendly hospitality on offer and a unique and memorable experience to take home with them. One can’t receive a better accolade than that.

Fionnphort Community Life

Our local grocery store The Ferry Shop & Post Office is owned and run by Alan & Rhona Lindsay who along with their staff sells an amazing array of goods from fresh produce and dried goods right through to fresh bread every morning. A supermarket it isn’t but it offers a diverse range of food items including freshly baked bread & croissants, takeaway coffee, delicatessen products, local cheeses, fresh fish, local meat products and fresh fruit, salad and vegetables. All this, as well as the local post office, newsagent, art, craft & gift shop showcasing local crafts and art work plus an ATM machine in the front foyer. With an impressive range of local history books on offer as well, plus internet, email and fax facilities and a hardware store at the back, there isn’t much that can’t be bought here. Alan and Rhona are also very obliging at ordering stock in for you. Tel: (01681) 700470


The Keel Row Pub & Restaurant is a traditional Hebridean crofters cottage which has been converted into a pub and is owned and run by Marilyn & Brendan along with their staff. The Keel Row offers a warm and inviting welcome to everyone and is family friendly offering a wide and comprehensive menu catering for most tastes and budgets. The pub is open at lunch time for soups and sandwiches and serves evening meals from 6 pm in the restaurant. Reservations cannot be made as a 'first come-first served' system is operated. Food is plentiful and outdoor seating offers the opportunity to watch some spectacular sunsets whilst enjoying a wee dram or two; alternatively a wood burning stove sits tucked away in the fireplace in the pub giving off a cosy heat for those chillier evenings and days. Tel: (01681) 700458

HM Coastguard provides an important role in the community – the building can be found on the left on the way down to the pier. Coastguard callouts for search & rescue teams and medivac operations are all facilitated by local residents who volunteer their services even though they are busy with their businesses and work. The team at Fionnphort are called out several times a year to assist in a number of emergency callouts in all weather and at all times.

The RNLI are equally important and is a charity well supported by the village through fund raising events and a very popular book stall located in the garage of Trevor, one of the local posties. (You can find it on the right on your way from the back car park). Other facilities in the village include the Calmac ticket office for the ferry across to Iona, and the ferry terminal with a tea room with public toilet facilities.


Wild Fionnphort

Along with the many white sandy beaches, coves and bays offering visitors hours of beachcombing and discovery, the surrounding area has bird life galore, flora and fauna, walks for the uninitiated and the more experienced, and stunning views and scenery waiting to capture your heart and hopefully some amazing photographs too. The folks back home just won’t believe the beauty of the place.

Marine life is also abundant – Sammy the seal can often be seen in the bay especially when the fishing boats are in and landing their catch of lobsters, crabs and fish. Hand fed by the fisherman, Sammy sometimes appears with another seal but we don’t know if he’s a pal or a girlfriend. We are still waiting for a baby Sammy.

Dolphins, porpoise and basking sharks have all been seen in the waters around Fionnphort swimming up and down the Sound of Iona; line fishing for crab and mackerel are enjoyed by youngsters (old and young) on the pier – freshly caught mackerel BBQ’d is something else.

Here at Seaview we work on ‘Mull’ time – the pace of life is a lot slower and much more relaxed. When we are asked what time it is – we often say with tongue in cheek ‘light o’clock’, ‘dark o’clock’, ‘eat o’clock’ or ‘sleep o’clock’– time isn’t really that important to us and we try to enjoy each moment each day. If we are asked what day it is, we say “We don’t know but it ends in the letter ‘y’”. We aren’t being cheeky when we say this, we just believe that there are other choices to how one can live their life and we choose to prioritise ‘differently’ to some other folk. It may sound quirky but it suits us and our guests appreciate our approach as it helps them to relax, unwind and enjoy their time on the island – and very often when checking out, guests discover they have ‘lost’ a day or two!

Fionnphort Granite

Fionnphort is the home of the world famous Red Granite.  From this robust and decorative material many important civil engineering works were constructed and across the Sound of Iona is a lasting monument and tribute to this material…………..Iona Abbey.

Half a mile north across the moor land heather is the Tor Mor Quarry which once produced the unique red granite building blocks. Our home, Seaview is constructed of this granite and the superb workmanship of past local stonemasons can be seen on the front face of the house. The stone was popular because it was free of flaws and grain and would take intricate carving as well as a good polish – an excellent example of this can be found on the Seaview nameplate on the pillar at the front gate.

Other more auspicious building works that have used Fionnphort Granite include Blackfriars Bridge, Holburn Viaduct and the Albert Memorial in London, along with buildings in New York and Liverpool docks, Manchester City Hall and many others. 

Near to the quarry on the Mull side of the Sound of Iona is the small island of Eilean nam Ban or ‘Island of the Women’. Legend has it that when St. Columba founded Iona he banished the women to this island – little did he realize what good swimmers the men were!

KINTRA

A tiny picturesque village situated round a small enclosed bay on the north west tip of the Ross of Mull. Founded by the 5^th Duke of Argyll who tried to provide an income for himself and his tenants through fishing. 12 crofts were inhabited but the distance from mainland markets led to the scheme’s downfall.

However, the nearby granite quarries of Tormor and Dearghport provided some employment for the village people. When the quarries closed, some families emigrated and some were evicted. The village became depopulated until, in the 1920’s, there were only two people left. The village is now coming back to life albeit half of the houses are now holiday homes, with 4 or 5 families living and working full time in the area.

OS Grid reference: 315 254     1:25,000 OS Explorer Series.

MAP OS EXPLORER 375 WEST MULL

About one and a half miles outside Fionnphort from the main Fionnphort-Bunessan road. A849 turn north at the sign for Kintra and follow the road to the end, here lies Kintra.