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Erraid An
excursion to the tidal island lying just of the south west corner of the
Ross of Mull. It has historical connections with the relatives of the
famous writer Robert Louis Stevenson, who was part of the "Stevenson
lighthouse family." |
Click on the images to enlarge
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Route Details
OS pathfinder 341
Iona and Bunessan 353 Torran rocks, South Mull coast. A car is required
for the 5 minute drive from Seaview.
On
leaving Seaview travel east for 50 yards, then turn right leaving the main
road at the Knockvologan signpost. Follow the road for 4 miles until you
come to a closed gate. Park you car in the painted boxes besides the sheds
on the left.
Stout walking gear required. The crossing to the island is tidal so your
maximum time on the island (at large tides) would be approximately on hour
either side of low tide. You can ask John for advice on current conditions
before setting off.
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| When
you leave your car, go through the gate, passing the fields and farm
steading on the right. Walk over the hill for a few hundred yards to the
end of the tar road. Looking south you will find a distant, splendid,
panoramic view of Jura with the isolated, desolate "Torran Rocks" in the
foreground. Continue down the track to the silver strands of the
Knockvologan beaches stretching out to the east and west below the machair.
An ideal spot for a bit of sunbathing! Turn right and follow the beach west
until you come to the sandy channel running north - south between mainland Mull
and Erraid. Follow the channel on the Mull side to it's
north end and cross over the wee stream (at low tide) to the North East
point of Erraid. A well defined grassy track will take you west above the
estuary and ½ mile further on, on a slope above the estuary you come to
expertly built granite houses, outhouses, pier and walled gardens. |
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Constructed superbly of the grey Erraid granite the houses served as the landbase for the construction of "Dhu Heartach"
lighthouse, built by Thomas Stevenson (Robert Louis Stevenson's father)
and completed in 1874. The quarry for the grey granite lies to the west
above the houses. The absolute symmetry of the joints and blocks of the
buildings lay testament to the skill of the stonemasons at the time of
construction. The cottages became the lighthouse
keepers family homes. |
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| Robert
Louis Stevenson spent part of his childhood on Erraid, being a member of
the great Stevenson Family, renowned for lighthouse engineering. In Stevenson's
"Kidnapped", the hero, David
Balfour is shipwrecked and comes ashore on the south coast of Erraid at a sandy
bay (known as Balfour's Bay).
In "Treasure
Island" Jack
Hawkins chart bears a resemblance to Erraid. |
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| On
the west side of the houses go through a gate and follow the grassy path
up the slope and through the quarry. The path then forks. Take the left
fork and the track rises quickly and steeply to the top of a hillock.
Perched here is the renovated, now disused, signal station for the
lighthouse. |
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| The views
from here are breathtaking. To the north and west you will see Iona, the
Abbey and the sound of Iona below. To the north east you see The Ross of
Mull with Benmore in the distance. To the south,
the "Torran Rocks". From here on a clear day you can see the lighthouse
some 12 miles to the south west, standing 126ft on an exposed reef 50ft
high. Return to your car by the way you came making sure you allowed
enough time for the tides. 2 hours maximum time is recommended at big
tides! |
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Wildlife Watch
All year:
Seals, otters.
Summer: Corncrake, lapwing,
skylark.
Passing: Hen harriers, merlin,
peregrine, sanderling, sandpipers, ruff, godwits, shelduck, migrant
waders.
Winter: Barnacle geese.
MAP OS EXPLORER 373 Iona, Staffa and The Ross of Mull |
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Last amended
16/01/2007
© 2000 - 2007 |
