Have you ever heard of the tiny Island of Lismore? No, I hadn't either. This tiny Island is just off the West Coast of Scotland, close to Oban, Mull and Fort William.
I recently visited Lismore for a while, as it is a place that someone special to me holds dear in their heart. This island is the definition of peace and quiet with only 10 square miles of land, the island has one narrow road that can hold one car at a time. The population of Lismore is little more than 200 people, meaning if you venture out you might not see more than ten people whilst you wander.
To get to Lismore you can either take the car ferry from Port Oban which takes just under an hour to get across, or the ferry from Port Appin which only takes about five minutes - this is not a car ferry however. If you wanted to simply take a bike to the island then I'm sure you could easily still get around with only ten miles to travel from one end to the other.
This is the ruins of a broch found on a rocky hill on the east coast of the island. The broch is thought to be Iron Age in origin and in nice weather Ben Nevis can be seen to the North of the island which always makes a beautiful view. A broch for anyone who doesn't know is a hollow drystone tower that is found only in Scotland. There is great debate however form archaeologists as to the purpose of a broch. Some believe that it was for military defensive or offensive purposes, whilst some argue that it was for the purpose of holding livestock and the community in unfavourable weather conditions. Another theory is that this is a symbol of wealth for an important family in the community. As I say though, there is no conclusive evidence to prove any theory and therefore the debate rages on as to the actual use of these stone structures.
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| Views from the Isle of Lismore |
I recently visited Lismore for a while, as it is a place that someone special to me holds dear in their heart. This island is the definition of peace and quiet with only 10 square miles of land, the island has one narrow road that can hold one car at a time. The population of Lismore is little more than 200 people, meaning if you venture out you might not see more than ten people whilst you wander.
To get to Lismore you can either take the car ferry from Port Oban which takes just under an hour to get across, or the ferry from Port Appin which only takes about five minutes - this is not a car ferry however. If you wanted to simply take a bike to the island then I'm sure you could easily still get around with only ten miles to travel from one end to the other.
If you wanted to go for a wander on the island then here's a couple of things to visit.
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| Top 3 Photos - Castle Coeffin/ Bottom 2 Photos - Tinefour Castle |
Tirefour Castle
This is the ruins of a broch found on a rocky hill on the east coast of the island. The broch is thought to be Iron Age in origin and in nice weather Ben Nevis can be seen to the North of the island which always makes a beautiful view. A broch for anyone who doesn't know is a hollow drystone tower that is found only in Scotland. There is great debate however form archaeologists as to the purpose of a broch. Some believe that it was for military defensive or offensive purposes, whilst some argue that it was for the purpose of holding livestock and the community in unfavourable weather conditions. Another theory is that this is a symbol of wealth for an important family in the community. As I say though, there is no conclusive evidence to prove any theory and therefore the debate rages on as to the actual use of these stone structures.
Castle Coeffin
If you go to the North-West coast of the island, you will find the ruins of Castle Coeffin, thought to be built in the 13th Century on a Viking Fortress. Just to the side of the castle you can find a tidal fish trap, which the fish swim in but when the tides change, they cannot swim back out again. The castle sits a bit away from the road; if you have a car I would highly suggest (unless you have a 4x4) leaving your car in the grassy area above the hill and just walking down. You'll understand the reason when you reach the stone road that leads down to the castle.
Salen
If you head down to Salen, you'll find a beautiful little beach line with wonderful views (and some highland cows). The little area is perfect to just sit with a picnic or wander about. There is some ruined cottages around the area which are not much more than four walls now apart from one, which still has all of its windows and doors. If you look through the windows you can see the fireplace in the two rooms that the cottage has. Across from the ruined cottages you can see the old lime kilns with the lime quarries behind, that were once used when the islands main industry was lime for fertiliser in the eighteenth century. The industry closed its doors in 1934 however and the kilns have been left to the peace of the island since.
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There is more to see on Lismore and if you plan on visiting, it's definitely worth reading about the history of the little island. So the next time you want to go away to see historical sites or if you just want a weekend away from the hustle and bustle of life, then could I recommend Lismore as your next destination? There are plenty of little holiday cottages on the island to stay in; with a little shop open during the week, you don't have to leave the island. But if you did want to venture slightly further, then Mull and Oban are right there waiting for your next adventure.
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