Ferry to Tobermory

A small group from Ardnamurchan Community Archaeology travelled to Tobermory this morning to talk to some of those most closely involved in the Mull Historical & Archaeological Society - website here. They have considerable experience both of setting up and running the excellent Mull Museum in Tobermory's Main Street, and also organised the major excavation of the early chapel at Baliscate. We are anxious to set up an archive for West Ardnamurchan, and we also wish to organise further archaeological training for our members, so we had much to learn from them.

A trip across the Sound to Tobermory is always enjoyable - except if I'm going to visit the dentist - and we were fortunate today that the weather continued bright and warm. One of the pleasures is spotting ships along the way, of which there were plenty today, starting with the Glenmhor, a workboat ferrying materials from Mingary Pier to the Maclean's Nose fish farm.

Another workboat heading towards Maclean's Nose was the Beinn Airein, a fish farm servicing boat. She's relatively new - see Press & Journal article here.

The members of the Mull Historical & Archaeological Society could not have been more hospitable nor more helpful. We came away from the meeting full of enthusiasm, and very grateful for all the advice and encouragement we had been given.

This is the Dawn Treader, a creel boat which is to be seen almost daily - and in almost all weathers - in the Sound. She's another ship which is very obviously maintained with pride. She works out of Tobermory.

The Mull Museum is an excellent museum and well worth a visit, the more impressive because it has been created and is run by volunteers.  What we had not appreciated was that the Museum owns the whole building, which includes a library and extensive archive which are available to members, membership being £10 per annum.

As we approached Tobermory we were passed by the Viking Caledonia, a small fish carrier. Beyond her is the Ullapool registered Atlantia, a scalloper which hand-picks high quality scallops.

The Ardnamurchan Community Archaeology group is organising several events during the spring and summer - details to follow - but if anyone wishes to join ACA please contact the Diary at kilchoandiary@btinternet.com.