Loch Bà, Isle of Mull, Scotland

Even now, most of my explorations of Mull have been along its coastline with only one real foray on foot into its hilly interior. That was in June 2005, and it took me across the island from Salen to Gruline before I made for Knock and Loch Bà while en route into Glen Clachaig. That brought me possibly within peering distance of Ben More, Mull's only Munro (height over 914.3 metres or 3000 feet above sea level). The western end of the loch felt more civilised with evidence of habitation along with a smattering of trees and cattle lazing in the sunshine. As I continued further east, signs of human influence were far fewer, and it allowed for moments of restorative solitude before I began to retrace my steps, albeit with a call to the Macquarie mausoleum where Lachlann Macquarie, viewed by many as the father of Australia, is buried. In hindsight, I need not have followed the B8035 as I did because there is an off-road track between Salen and Killiechronan that would have avoided it altogether. As it happened the road was quiet, and I even was offered a lift on the way back; in the event, I chose to stay walking because I was not short of time and had plenty of time around Salen while awaiting the return bus to Craignure from where I caught the ferry back to Oban again. Since then, other prospects like Glen Forsa and Beinn Talaidh have become know to me so already have at one other excuse to looking around here again.