Lochbuie

Lochbuie (Locha Buidhe, yellow loch) is a tiny settlement on Mull in the Scottish Inner Hebrides. It's in a small fertile patch amid boggy rocky uplands, miles from anywhere. The population might be a couple of dozen, outnumbered 1000 to 1 by the midges.

Get in

 * "We came without any difficulty, at evening, to Lochbuy, where we found a true Highland Laird, rough and haughty, and tenacious of his dignity; who, hearing my name, inquired whether I was of the Johnstons of Glencroe, or of Ardnamurchan." - Samuel Johnson and Boswell visited in 1773.

You need a car, or to be a keen cyclist: Lochbuie is 20 miles from Craignure down a long lonely lane with no public transport.

Get around
The village sights are all within a short walk.

See

 * is a well preserved prehistoric stone circle. It's within the grounds of Lochbuie House but you can walk to it via a boggy path. The house was built in the 18th century and once hosted Johnson and Boswell; it's private.
 * St Kilda's is the small chapel, built 1876; Episcopal (Anglican) services are occasionally still held here.
 * is the tidal island that shelters the village. It's just rough grazing but has views.
 * is reached by a two-mile hike south of the village. It's medieval but re-built in 1864.
 * is reached by a two-mile hike south of the village. It's medieval but re-built in 1864.

Do

 * The best beach is Laggan Sands, east of the tidal island. Walk south along them to visit the MacLaine clan mausoleum.

Buy

 * The Old Post Office has food essentials.

Drink
Bring your own.

Sleep

 * Camping is only permitted above the beach just beyond the Old Post Office; no caravans.

Connect
You might just about get a signal on Vodafone outdoors, but not on O2, EE or Three, as of May 2020.

Go next
The only road leads back to the junction with A849 at Inverlussa. Turn east for Craignure and Tobermory, or west to Fionnphort for the short crossing to Iona.