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Ardtun Fossil Leaf Beds and Columnar Basalt Cliffs

OS Explorer 373 Iona, Staffa and The Ross of Mull 1:25000

Approx 2 miles; about 2 hours.

View to Burg from
cliffs at Ardtun

An easy short coastal walk below and above basalt cliffs with interesting geology and spectacular views. Ground tending to be wet and slippery, good waterproof walking boots required.

By car from Seaview, drive back towards Bunessan from Fionnphort. Drive through Bunessan village round the sharp bend and turn off first left over the little bridge and left again immediately after it. A quarter mile further on you enter the Ardtun area and to your left there are magnificent views north west over Loch na Laitaich and Eilean na Liathanaich (grey island) with its little lighthouse perched at one end. To the west is Bunessan pier used by the local shell fishermen and extremely important to the areas economy. In the distance on a good day you can pick out the pillar island Staffa to the north.

Spouting cave
at Ardtun

After approximately one mile there is a turning off to the left and you see a picturesque view of Eorabus township, Ardtun, nestled around Traigh Mor Bay

Follow the road nearly to the end and just before the last 2 houses there is a gate facing north on the right hand side of the road. Park your car and go through the gate.

Basalt rock
formations

Follow the sheep track north through a field and on to the open moor. In the mid distance there is a little flat topped hill with a cairn on top (Dunan Mor). Walk to the cairn and then carry on past it descending north down to the fields above the shore. 

Here you pass through ruined croft houses and enclosures. On your right above the notable columns of basalt cliffs become grander as you walk north east. The sheep track takes you to a steep gorge with the sea funnelling into it.

At this point you have to go up onto the tops of the cliffs. Now follow across the headland and ahead of you in the distance is the magnificent mass of The Ardmeanach Peninsular.

After a short walk you will reach a shallow open gully between the cliffs well above sea level and with easy access. In the gully sides you will sea fossils of leaves of oak ,hazel and plane trees. Return either by the same route or follow along the top of the cliffs the whole way back to the cairn.



 

Ardtun sea cave

Ruins at Ardtun

Basalt columns

Last updated 27/06/2010
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