Ben More and the Ross of Mull
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From the southern shores of Loch na Keal, which almost splits Mull in two, rise the terraced slopes of Ben More (3169ft) - literally "big mountain" - a mighty extinct volcano, and the only Munro in the Hebrides outside of Skye.Stretching for twenty miles west of Ben More as far as Iona is Mull's rocky southernmost peninsula, the Ross of Mull, which, like much of Scotland, appears blissfully tranquil in good weather, and desolate and bleak in bad climes.
The road ends at FIONNPHORT, facing Iona, probably the least attractive place to stay on the Ross, though it has a nice sandy bay backed by pink granite rocks to the north of the ferry slipway. Partly to ease congestion on Iona, and to give their neighbours a slice of the tourist pound, Fionnphort was chosen as the site for the St Columba Centre (Easter-Sept daily 10.30am-1pm & 2-5.30pm; free); inside, a small exhibition outlines Iona's history, tells a little of Columba's life, and has a few facsimiles of the illuminated manuscripts produced by the islands's monks.
If you're in need of a B&B in Fionnphort, try the granite Seaview (tel 01681/700235, www.holidaymull.org/seaview/seaview.htm; under £40), or the whitewashed Staffa House (tel 01681/700677; £40-50; March-Oct), both of which are close to the ferry, and have views over to Iona. The basic Fidden Farm campsite (tel 01681/700427; April-Sept), a mile south along the Knockvologan road by Fidden beach, is the nearest to Iona.
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