Ulva

Island intro

Named “Wolf Island” by the Vikings, Ulva has been inhabited for at least 7,000 years and, despite a turbulent period affected by the Highland Clearances, this gem of the Inner Hebrides has retained its community and, following a community buy-out, is beginning to transform once more.

Ask an Islander

We asked island Rhuri Munro about some of Ulva’s highlights, starting with the best places to walk.

“Ulva’s south side is probably the most beautiful,” Rhuri tells us. “There are views out to Iona, Staffa and the Treshnish Isles, as well as the island’s only sandy beaches. There are multiple inlets where you can watch seals, otters, eagles and other wildlife. There are also many ruined crofts and villages, which tell a poignant story of the island’s history.”

Ulva is bursting with fresh, local produce, as Rhuri tells us. “We are incredibly lucky on Ulva to be spoilt by fantastic produce. We have the best creel caught shellfish in the world – prawns, lobster and brown crab. There are also several apple and pear trees on the island as well as delicious chanterelle mushrooms that grow wild in our woodlands.”

Growing up in Ulva, Rhuri knows all too well the benefits of an island upbringing. “As a child, I enjoyed the freedom that came with growing up here. I was able to spend hours out playing in the woods with my siblings and cousins or taking my dog out and sailing around all the smaller islands.

“Now as an adult, I appreciate the beauty of the island and as a parent now bringing up my own children on the island I grew up on, I am thankful that they are still able to enjoy a similar upbringing to the one I had, despite the way the world has changed in the past few decades. They have a freedom that most children nowadays cannot enjoy and have a great interest in their island and the environment around them!”

Gaelic / Gàidhlig

The Gaelic name for Ulva is Ulbha.

Want to say ‘good morning’ to someone in Gaelic? That’s ‘madainn mhath‘!

Getting Here

Ulva is open to visitors from Easter to October when an on-demand private ferry makes the short crossing between Ulva and Ulva Ferry on the Isle of Mull. The island is closed on Saturdays but open on Sundays from June to the end of August.

The Ulva Ferry Community Bus runs a bookable service between Ulva Ferry and Craignure on Mull, where CalMac Ferries operates multiple daily sailings to Oban on the mainland.

Find out more about getting to Mull.