Loch Na Keal
Encyclopedia
Loch Na Keal meaning Loch of the Kyle, or Narrows, also Loch of the Cliffs, is the principle sea loch
on the western, or Atlantic coastline of the island of Mull
, in the Inner Hebrides
, Argyll and Bute
, Scotland
. Loch na Keal is a large loch which extends far inland, almost bisecting Mull, and extending within 3 miles of the eastern shore.
and Ulva
to north of the cone, into a narrow inner loch. The outer loch starts at the boundary with Staffa
, with the inner loch containing two smaller islands, Inch Kenneth
at the mouth of the loch, and Eorsa
in the inner loch.
The outer loch northern coastline around Ulva is made of basalt
ic ridges and many rocks and islets, with many different types of vegetation. The southern coastline, bounded by the Ardmeanach Peninsula, is a coastline of cliffs, land slips
and slopes that are monumental in scale, and covered in scree
.
The inner loch coastline is bounded on both sides by Mull, with the north shore, steeply sloped, with a number of inconsequetial hills, with Killichronan Wood to the east. The souther shore, consists of cliffs and slopes leading to the Munro
and extinct volcano
of Ben More
and Scarisdale Wood to the south east.
On the far northern coastline, in outer Loch na Keal, bounded by Ulva and Mull's western shoreline, lies the sea loch Loch Tuath
. Consisting of a large number of small bays, overlooked by gentle slopes, contrasts markedly with the wildness of the outer loch.
To the northwest of Ulva and Staffa, at the outer boundary of the loch, lies the Treshnish
islands.
located 2.5 miles northeast across the isthmus, at the eastern end of the inner loch. Also at the eastern end of the loch, lies Gruline, which is a small scattered township
, primarily consisting of crofting
and tourist homes.
Loch
Loch is the Irish and Scottish Gaelic word for a lake or a sea inlet. It has been anglicised as lough, although this is pronounced the same way as loch. Some lochs could also be called a firth, fjord, estuary, strait or bay...
on the western, or Atlantic coastline of the island of Mull
Isle of Mull
The Isle of Mull or simply Mull is the second largest island of the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland in the council area of Argyll and Bute....
, in the Inner Hebrides
Inner Hebrides
The Inner Hebrides is an archipelago off the west coast of Scotland, to the south east of the Outer Hebrides. Together these two island chains form the Hebrides, which enjoy a mild oceanic climate. There are 36 inhabited islands and a further 43 uninhabited Inner Hebrides with an area greater than...
, Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute is both one of 32 unitary council areas; and a Lieutenancy area in Scotland. The administrative centre for the council area is located in Lochgilphead.Argyll and Bute covers the second largest administrative area of any Scottish council...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Loch na Keal is a large loch which extends far inland, almost bisecting Mull, and extending within 3 miles of the eastern shore.
Geography
Loch Na Keal consists of a wide cone shaped outer loch, divided in two by the island groups of GometraGometra
-Etymology:According to Gillies Gometra is from the Norse gottr + madr + ey and means "The good-man's island" or "God-man's island". Mac an Tàilleir offers "Godmund's island".-Geography:...
and Ulva
Ulva
Ulva is an island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, off the west coast of Mull. It is separated from Mull by a narrow strait, and connected to the neighbouring island of Gometra by a bridge. Much of the island is formed from Tertiary basalt rocks, which is formed into columns in places.Ulva has...
to north of the cone, into a narrow inner loch. The outer loch starts at the boundary with Staffa
Staffa
Staffa from the Old Norse for stave or pillar island, is an island of the Inner Hebrides in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The Vikings gave it this name as its columnar basalt reminded them of their houses, which were built from vertically placed tree-logs....
, with the inner loch containing two smaller islands, Inch Kenneth
Inch Kenneth
Inch Kenneth is a small grassy island in the parish of Kilfinichen and Kilvickeon, Argyllshire. The island is situated at the entrance of Loch Na Keal, off the west coast of the Isle of Mull, Scotland, to the south-southeast of Ulva...
at the mouth of the loch, and Eorsa
Eorsa
-Geography:Eorsa lies in Loch na Keal on the west coast of the Isle of Mull, to the east of Ulva. It is part of the Loch Na Keal National Scenic Area, one of 40 in Scotland.-History:...
in the inner loch.
The outer loch northern coastline around Ulva is made of basalt
Basalt
Basalt is a common extrusive volcanic rock. It is usually grey to black and fine-grained due to rapid cooling of lava at the surface of a planet. It may be porphyritic containing larger crystals in a fine matrix, or vesicular, or frothy scoria. Unweathered basalt is black or grey...
ic ridges and many rocks and islets, with many different types of vegetation. The southern coastline, bounded by the Ardmeanach Peninsula, is a coastline of cliffs, land slips
Landslide
A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments...
and slopes that are monumental in scale, and covered in scree
Scree
Scree, also called talus, is a term given to an accumulation of broken rock fragments at the base of crags, mountain cliffs, or valley shoulders. Landforms associated with these materials are sometimes called scree slopes or talus piles...
.
The inner loch coastline is bounded on both sides by Mull, with the north shore, steeply sloped, with a number of inconsequetial hills, with Killichronan Wood to the east. The souther shore, consists of cliffs and slopes leading to the Munro
Munro
A Munro is a mountain in Scotland with a height over . They are named after Sir Hugh Munro, 4th Baronet , who produced the first list of such hills, known as Munros Tables, in 1891. A Munro top is a summit over 3,000 ft which is not regarded as a separate mountain...
and extinct volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
of Ben More
Ben More (Mull)
Ben More is the highest mountain and only Munro on the Isle of Mull, Scotland....
and Scarisdale Wood to the south east.
On the far northern coastline, in outer Loch na Keal, bounded by Ulva and Mull's western shoreline, lies the sea loch Loch Tuath
Loch Tuath
Loch Tuath is a sea loch in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland that separates the isle of Mull and the island of Ulva.-Notes:...
. Consisting of a large number of small bays, overlooked by gentle slopes, contrasts markedly with the wildness of the outer loch.
To the northwest of Ulva and Staffa, at the outer boundary of the loch, lies the Treshnish
Treshnish Isles
The Treshnish Isles is an archipelago of small islands and skerries, lying west of Mull, in Scotland. They are part of the Inner Hebrides. From north to south, the larger islands include:* Cairn na Burgh Beag* Cairn na Burgh Mòr* Fladda...
islands.
Settlements
Loch Na Keal has no main villages or large settlements. The closest large village is SalenSalen, Mull
Salen is a settlement on the Isle of Mull, Scotland. It is on the east coast of the island, on the Sound of Mull, approximately halfway between Craignure and Tobermory...
located 2.5 miles northeast across the isthmus, at the eastern end of the inner loch. Also at the eastern end of the loch, lies Gruline, which is a small scattered township
Township
The word township is used to refer to different kinds of settlements in different countries. Township is generally associated with an urban area. However there are many exceptions to this rule. In Australia, the United States, and Canada, they may be settlements too small to be considered urban...
, primarily consisting of crofting
Crofting
Crofting is a form of land tenure and small-scale food production unique to the Scottish Highlands, the Islands of Scotland, and formerly on the Isle of Man....
and tourist homes.