Hidden beaches - Isle of Mull
Summer signals my annual return to the wilds of Scotland, one of my favourite places to visit. This year was different in that i was spending the whole time on the beautiful Isle of Mull. I have been there before, but only short one or two days before heading further up the coastline, i was really looking forward to exploring this stunning island.
As normal the holiday started with the Basking Shark swim trip, two days of swimming with the plankton eating sharks, some so large they literally take your breath away. This year the Orca's where around and appeared to be travelling up and down the side of the country and to and from Ireland, the sharks were lying low as was all other aquatic life on that trip. I felt for the others on the boat but we can never rely on mother nature to provide for us, after last years trip of being surrounded by 60 sharks i suppose we were due a quiet trip this year.
Returning to Mull it was fab to see the weather taking a turn for the better, others also staying on the Island and myself met up for a drink or two...well it would be rude not to...and then relax....bliss. There is nothing like the fresh Scottish air to redden the cheeks and make you sleep well.
Grabbing a map of the island it was time to explore and sure enough a small group of us came across heaven in the form of white sands and crystal clear blue seas. The first visit was more of a ...oh whats down there', a dip in the sea showed us its glory but the heavens opened as we exited the water and a trundle back to the car in our swim kit ensued, the second we came armed with swim kit, food, refreshments etc....we didn't risk bringing suntan lotion.....that surly would tempt the mother of all storms too head our way!
Having parked up we had a short walk to a track....follow the track to the bottom a gentle Scottish lilt told us....its owner seeing we were appropriately kitted up, leaned in closer and told us quietly....if you want peace and quiet...don't stay at the first bay, found the hills a few times and each bay gets better, the final bay is the one you want!!!
Heaving swim bags onto our shoulders we trundled down the track and within 5 minutes the first bay appeared, like kids at a firework display we coo'd in appreciation. Walking up the small hills our only company the occasion bleat of the sheep in the distance. Cresting the brow of the hill we found the second bay, breathtaking and exciting more cooing from us....yes i know we are adults but its water.....we love water!!!
We arrived about 10 am and found our spot to place our kit, getting changed we headed into the water, it really is a clear as it looks and its gentle slope hold no hidden currents. We were able to walk/swim to the nearest smaller islands, clamber all over them then dive into the crystal depths and head to the next island. Running out of smaller islands we sat on the last one looking out Erraid Island....do we swim to it or not, we had been warned about the currents at this part but also been told that at low tide we can wade/swim out (we later found out this last part was untrue). We swam back to where we had stored our lunch, two seagulls joined us hoping for titbits to be thrown. Sitting in the sun, enjoying our food the tranquillity, it really was bliss.
We stayed watching the tide slowly recede, the expanse of white sands growing more with each passing hour, the white sand exposing themselves to be even more beautiful than seen through goggles whilst swimming. No rubbish, sharp stones nor jellyfish, literally a swimmers heaven.
This time walking towards the largest island we discovered coves previously hidden by the water, off exploring we came across little inlets not seen before when swimming.
Returning to Mull it was fab to see the weather taking a turn for the better, others also staying on the Island and myself met up for a drink or two...well it would be rude not to...and then relax....bliss. There is nothing like the fresh Scottish air to redden the cheeks and make you sleep well.
Grabbing a map of the island it was time to explore and sure enough a small group of us came across heaven in the form of white sands and crystal clear blue seas. The first visit was more of a ...oh whats down there', a dip in the sea showed us its glory but the heavens opened as we exited the water and a trundle back to the car in our swim kit ensued, the second we came armed with swim kit, food, refreshments etc....we didn't risk bringing suntan lotion.....that surly would tempt the mother of all storms too head our way!
Having parked up we had a short walk to a track....follow the track to the bottom a gentle Scottish lilt told us....its owner seeing we were appropriately kitted up, leaned in closer and told us quietly....if you want peace and quiet...don't stay at the first bay, found the hills a few times and each bay gets better, the final bay is the one you want!!!
Heaving swim bags onto our shoulders we trundled down the track and within 5 minutes the first bay appeared, like kids at a firework display we coo'd in appreciation. Walking up the small hills our only company the occasion bleat of the sheep in the distance. Cresting the brow of the hill we found the second bay, breathtaking and exciting more cooing from us....yes i know we are adults but its water.....we love water!!!
The warmth of the sun adding the day, i really couldn't wait to see the final bay, so far we had encountered no other human being...bliss!!! Another 5 minute walk and there it was in all its crowning glory in front of us, the one mile in total distance Erraid Island which featured in the novel Kidnapped by Robert Lewis Stephenson and has been used in numerous film productions for its apparent likeness to exotic locations .....where water temperatures i am sure are a lot warmer than we get in our Scottish waters. Words can not describe how breathtaking this location is and it appeared that we were the only ones there!!!!
Walking down the sand dune it turned out we were not the only ones there, a lone female situated on a rock appeared to want her solitude and privacy and vacated the area returning to her tent overlooking the bay, a more idyllic spot one could not have chosen, i did slightly envy her.
We arrived about 10 am and found our spot to place our kit, getting changed we headed into the water, it really is a clear as it looks and its gentle slope hold no hidden currents. We were able to walk/swim to the nearest smaller islands, clamber all over them then dive into the crystal depths and head to the next island. Running out of smaller islands we sat on the last one looking out Erraid Island....do we swim to it or not, we had been warned about the currents at this part but also been told that at low tide we can wade/swim out (we later found out this last part was untrue). We swam back to where we had stored our lunch, two seagulls joined us hoping for titbits to be thrown. Sitting in the sun, enjoying our food the tranquillity, it really was bliss. 
With the light starting to fade we ate the last of our food (this time giving the spare to the birds), packed our kit up and very reluctantly and slowly i might add made our way back the the car. Did i envy the lone female her camping spot, i certainly did, had we a space to sleep i know we would have stayed the night and taken advantage of the full moon to do a night swim on the returning tide......something we can leave for the next adventure maybe.!!!!
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