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Hi, my name is Linda Crossley and with my
young son Innis I own and run Dunvegan Cottage, a B&B offering
quality budget accommodation on the Isle of Mull, off the west coast of
Scotland. Open all year Dunvegan Cottage is situated in the village of
Salen, which is in a central location for access to the whole island.
Dunvegan Cottage is an early Victorian granite house renovated during
the winter of 2000/2001 with a large garden and terrace to the rear with
sea views of Salen Bay towards the ruins of Aros Castle and up the Sound
of Mull to the hills of Morvern. Graded 2 star by the Scottish Tourist
Board.
I pride myself on having a friendly and
relaxed atmosphere with no restrictive house rules except no smoking in
the house.
I offer three options of
accommodation and breakfast prices in two rooms, one has three single
beds and is decorated and furnished in Victorian
style and the other which has a double and a single is decorated more
cottage style. Both bedrooms have a feature Victorian fireplace
uncovered during renovation.
Option one – Bed only £10.
Option two – Bed and cereal/toast breakfast £12.
Option three – Bed and full breakfast £15.
Children under 3yrs free, children 3 to
11yrs half price.
These prices are based on a minimum of
two adults sharing a room.
Bathroom facilities are shared, there is
a hairdryer available and there are clothes washing and drying
facilities. There is full central heating from the Rayburn stove in the
kitchen and an open fire in the sitting room for those cooler evenings
when it’s just nice to sit by the fire and chat to other guests. There
is a tea/coffee tray in each room although you can help yourself in the
kitchen at any time. I have private parking and a shed for those who
arrive on push bikes. There is a bike hire shop in the village for those
who feel like leaving the car behind for a day or two or for those
arriving by bus that would like to get around. There is also car hire
available at Craignure and Tobermory. There is a petrol station at Salen
also at Tobermory, Craignure and Fionnphort. Dunvegan Cottage is just
100yds off the road from the bus route that goes from the main ferry
terminal at Craignure to Tobermory.
There are eating places in the village
including the local pub, which serves bar meals and a coffee shop, which
serves very good pizzas and a variety of other meals. I can recommend
the pizzas and they also have good coffee. There are also two village
shops and a post office. Salen Church has services every Sunday. There
is also the doctor’s surgery close by and the dentist although there
is a mobile unit the main surgery is at Tobermory.
At Salen is the Macquarie Mausoleum where
lie the remains of Major-General Lachlan Macquarie who is known as ‘The
Father of Australia’ who was born on Ulva and lived on Mull. Also at
Salen are the ruins of Aros castle which once belonged to the Macdonald’s
who were known as ‘Lords of the Isles’ and can be seen across Salen
Bay from the rear of Dunvegan Cottage.
 Salen has it’s own show down by Aros
Bridge with horse/pony classes, highland cattle, sheep, children’s
pets, fairground rides, food stalls, children’s activities, events for
adults and even a demonstration of sculpting with a chainsaw. There is
also a bluebell woods just outside Salen which is worth a visit when the
bluebells are out in May.
The Isle of Mull is a very beautiful
island with breathtaking scenery and lots of things to see and do. It
always amazes me that lots of visitors come to Mull and stay just one
night and consider themselves to have done the island.
There are beautiful beaches, caves,
waterfalls, castles, standing stones, crannogs (ancient loch dwellings),
fantastic walks including Ben More which is Mulls only munro at 3169
feet and whose scree slopes are the remnants of a volcano which exploded
60 million years ago. Wildlife safaris, fishing trips, boat trips to
neighbouring islands such as Staffa for Fingals cave and the Treshnish
isles for the sea birds and seals. Also, why not visit the Isle of
Erraid that is accessible from Mull at low tide that was home to R.L.
Stephenson and his family when he wrote Kidnapped. It is also said that
Balfour bay on Erraid and the surrounding islands were the inspiration
for Treasure Island.
Spend a day on Iona the birthplace of
Christianity and visit the abbey, there is also a tearoom a very
interesting book shop and more beautiful beaches.
Take a 2min-ferry ride to the island of
Ulva and Gometra for the lovely walks and visit the tearoom before
returning back to Mull. Visit Duart Castle at Craignure, seat of the
MacLean clan, which houses much of the MacLean memorabilia, the story of
the MacLean chiefs, staterooms and the dungeons.
Also at Craignure is Torosay Castle,
which is a Victorian mansion built in 1858 and has twelve acres of
fantastic ornamental gardens. The house is open to the public and well
worth looking round. There is also a tearoom.
A miniature railway-unique on the
islands-runs between the old pier at Craignure and Torosay Castle.
The main town of Tobermory is well known
for the brightly painted buildings of its seafront. There are shops and
restaurants. The Tobermory distillery has daily tours and the Isle of
Mull museum is situated on the main street.
Tobermory has its Highland Games in July.
Just outside Tobermory is Aros Park, which is owned by the forestry
commission. There are walks and fishing and regular family activities
arranged through out the spring and summer.
There are two golf courses on Mull, one
at Tobermory and the other at Craignure.
This is just a selection of the variety
of things to see and do on the island of Mull. I have leaflets and
information at the house but l will not just hand you these and expect
you to waste your valuable holiday time making the arrangements, l will
do that for you. Any information I don’t have, I will make a point of
finding out.
See
Linda's article on Major General Lachlan Macquarie here |
