A trip to the Isle of Mull in the Hebrides

A trip to the Isle of Mull in the Hebrides November 8, 2024

We have just returned from a wonderful week researching wildlife on the Isle of Mull, the second largest of the Inner Hebridean islands. We caught the CalMac ferry from Oban and stayed at Knock House on the Benmore Estate.

It was the perfect location to explore the island and to experience an immersive connection with nature. We were surrounded by glorious autumn colours all around us. The week was spent exploring the beautiful beaches with their white shell-sands, like Ardalanish, Calgary and Knockvologan. We got about on foot, by boat and by car and saw miles of the spectacular rugged coastline. We even did a spot of fishing!

We visted Fingall’s Cave on Staffa which is an uninhabited island. We were looking for marine life and decided to check out the sea cave. It is quite an extraordinary sight, formed from hexagonal basalt columns about 60 million years ago!

One day, I’d like to sculpt diving gannets. I spent ages watching them plunge into the sea at the rate of knots! At the moment, I’m sculpting otters, which Mull is teaming with, but I failed to see one at all – even with a trail camera! I probably spent too much time out on the hills looking for deer. I even wore through a trusty old pair of Meindl boots.

My next sculpture is going to be a life size Highland cow. I have already measured one at Adam Henson’s Cotswolds Farm Park local to me, and needed some photographs in a suitably Scottish environment. This docile herd on Mull couldn’t have been more obliging. I’ve got some cracking shots of all the details, what I call ‘jigsaw pieces’ that will help me make this sculpture.

At this time of the year on Mull, it is the mating season for red deer, known as the rut. We could hear them roaring for dominance throughout the corries and glens as we spied them. I have a plan to sculpt a life size red stag in his full splendour in the manner of Landseer’s Monarchof the Glen. Red deer are such an interesting species especially when the rut is in full swing. I love watching animal behaviour, and working out the pecking order and what’s going on.

Mull was a truly inspirational trip. The island is teeming with wildlife. Studying my subjects in their natural habitat really helps me get a true feeling of what they are about. This connection to nature is a vital part of my sculpting process. I look forward to visiting Mull again.

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