Kilvickeon Old Church & Beach

Kilvickeon Beach

Distance - 1 mile

Time - 1 hour
OS Map Explorer 373
Grading - Easy
Terrain - Grassy track to beach

Turn off the Craignure to Fionnphort road just before Bunessan, signposted to Scoor. Keep going along a gravel road at the end of which there is a parking space.

The church can easily be seen to the right. There are then two gates to go through. This is the only medieval parish church on the Ross of Mull, of which there are many worthwhile remains. The entrance to the church, an archway, was on the north side and is still intact. The door could be secured by a draw-bar and the sockets for this can be seen in the right hand wall as you enter. On the left, about a metre above eye-level is a very worn piece of carved sandstone believed to be a 'sheela-na-gig' - either a suggestive figure placed on an outer wall said to terrify and ward off evil powers or a medieval fertility symbol. For more information on the church see the Mull Historical and Archaeological Society website which has some excellent information on the site.

Go back up to the track and ascend down to Kilvickeon beach where there are lots of sandy coves to explore and the chance to see seals and numerous sea birds. Garbh Eilean is a tidal island on the stunning beach at Kilvickeon, connected by a sand bar - a geological feature called a tombolo. A great place too for a picnic. Return the same way.