gometra sailboat

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Call: +39 348 8508979

Specifications:

Designer: Alfred Mylne

Shipyard: Bute Slip Dock Co.

Length Over All: 13.11 m

Length Water Line: 8.53 m

Beam: 2.81 m

Draft: 1.85 m

Sail Area: 88.00 m 2

Displacement: 10.00 t

Electric motor: 13kW – 72Vdc

Gometra is planked in Norway Pine on frames of Iroko and Acacia.

Commissioned to Alfred Mylne by Admiral James Farie in 1925 for British coastal waters, Gometra bears the name of a small island off the coast of Mull. She began her racing career in the American Firth of Clyde based in Port Bannatyne. In 1928, during the West Highland Race to Inverary, Admiral Farie, a widower, met his second wife and in 1930 Gometra first sailed south to Falmouth in Cornwall and then to Lymington in Hampshire where, Unfortunately, she proved too big for her mooring on the river.

Gometra was then purchased by Lieutenant William Blaine Luard, a talented sailor, navigator and writer who praised the virtues of sailing Gometra in his book “Where The Tides Meet” . Gometra later became the property of Leonard Reynolds and was moved to the Menai Straits, near Bangor in North Wales. It was probably at this time that some changes were made, and her sides were changed from the original blue to white.

In 1939, at the outbreak of World War II, Gometra was reported in Scotland, Greenoco near Glasgow, was owned by James F. Lang but when Norway was attacked by the Nazis Gometra ‘s fate became clear.  She was chosen to carry the Norwegian gold reserves to safety in Canada.  Bra Kra and his crew were ordered to continue sailing to safety in the event that the cargo were sunk by a U-Boat. ( Focus )

Once arrived in Halifax and having completed the mission by transporting the precious cargo out of Hitler’s reach, she was bought by Commodore of the Nova Scotia Royal Yacht Squadron, Ernes A. Bell and began to earn the praise of many sailing enthusiasts including Charles Rawlings. The latter wrote about Gometra in an article for the magazine Yachting Magazine in 1941 . Rawlings and the then skipper of Gometra, the famous naval architect William J. Roué struggled not just to rebuild her troubled history.

After the war Gometra was purchased by Gus Ortengren and made her way to the west coast with the Canadian Pacific Railway. In 1948 she was owned by Elmer Palmer and Kenneth Glass and underwent a major restoration. It was during this period that in 1952 the naval architect Ben Seaborn designed the new sail plan and  restored the hull to its original deep blue. She spent many happy years as the flagship of the Royal Vanocouver Yacht Club participating in the series of annual Swiftsure Race. Often such events as these, saw guests on board.

Elmer Palmer sold Gometra in 1968 to Alec Manson who kept her at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club until 1973 when he ceded her to the Scottish-born David Millis involved in the trans-Pacific race of 2300 miles from Canada to Hawaii-Maui Victoria in 1976 and Swiftsure races in 1978. He made a small odyssey between Canada, Hawaii and California that led Gometra to the waters of Mexico. In her new base in Baja California, Gometra continued to attract admiring glances and triumph in the home race, Bandaras Bay International Regatta.

The owner’s health problems meant that Gometra was left inactive in the ‘black hole’ of La Paz, “Port of Illusions” where Molly Holt made her acquaintance. After a year of work, despite the interruptions due to hurricanes Ignacio and Marty and with the help of his friend Yohan, Molly, together with two sons Ishbel and Arran and his faithful dog, were ready to leave for a cruise on the Sea of Cortez.

From that moment Gometra has traveled about 2500 miles off the coast of Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador. She then remained for some years in Bahia del Sol after the sons of Molly were “mutineers” demanding a less nomadic life. In 2006 Gometra was shipped back to Europe arriving in Toulon, from where she sailed to Nice… But that’s another story.

Restoration:

All the work was done and directed by Giovanni Ambrosetti, one of the most skilled woodworkers and craftmen in Italy.  Despite the bad initial aspect nearly 80% of hull and deck could be saved, just the frames (bended and shaped) and fore and sternpost were replaced for structural reasons but saving the keel and iron ballast. Most of the internals were saved and restored as well as deckhouse and skylights, mast and boom.

The restoration had been completely philological according to original plans from A. Mylne and with the as-same-as-possible wood and same constructive techniques. Structural analysis had been conducted on original wood planking and structures and it resulted sometimes even stronger than what requested from regulations for new essences.

The only changes regard the deck finiture layer that is no more in painted tissue but an 8mm teak cover, and the engine that as is now a full electric motor with Lithium battery energy storage: 100% green and silent!

300.000 Euro

For further information and details please visit http://www.gometra1925.it/2/

Direct contact Matteo Rossi, mob.: +39 348508979

mail: [email protected]

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Southern Hebrides of Scotland

A Guide to the Southern Inner Hebridean Isles of Argyll

Isles of Ulva and Gometra- Peaceful Life

The islands of Ulva and Gometra are located east of the Treshnish Isles, south of the northern part of Mull with Loch Tuath in between, and north of the Isle of Staffa with it’s famous Fingal’s Cave. Just south of Ulva is the uninhabited island of Little Colonsay, Inch Kenneth is a little further to the south-east and further south is the Ross of Mull.

Ulva’s history goes back a long way, in fact Ulva has been inhabited for thousands of years. The standing stones and a shell in Livingston’s cave are the witnesses of these early inhabitants. It’s hard to imagine that a long time ago over 600 people inhabited the islands of Ulva and Gometra untill the potato famines and clearances reduced the population to around 100 in the late 1800s. From there onwards the population declined even further and nowadays the islands are inhabited by around 20 people.

Ulva belonged to the MacQuarries from the 10th century until the 19th century whereas Gometra belonged to the monastery of Iona before it came into the posession of the Duke of Argyll. Samuel Boswell wrote about the MacQuarries when he visited Ulva in 1773: “M’Quarrie’s house was mean; but we were agreeably surprised with the appearance of the master, whom we found to be intelligent, polite, and much a man of the world. Though his clan is not numerous, he is a very ancient chief, and has a burial place at Icolmkill. He told us, his family had possessed Ulva for nine hundred years; but I was distressed to hear that it was soon to be sold for the payment of his debts.” Nowadays Ulva is owned by Mrs Jean Howard and managed by her son, Jamie Howard. Gometra has been sold in 1991 by Mr Roc Sandford.

There are two peaks on the western side of Ulva, the Bein Eolasaray and Beinn Chreagach, with 313 metres the highest point on the island. The eastern side of the island is more sheltered and has some beautiful woodland. Most of the island however is covered in bracken and heather. Wildlife is plenty here and many species of birds can be found at any given time on the island. There are good numbers of Red deer, seals and hares and also the fauna is quite exceptional with 500 recorded species. Ulva is one of the last refuges of the beautiful red and black Scotch burnet moth, which is extinct elsewhere, and Ulva is also home to the exceptionally rare blue dragonfly.

Access to Ulva is available for passengers only, except on Saturday’s so I’m told. To summon the ferry you have to uncover a red panel on the side of the building. Ferry fares are £5.00 for adults, £2.00 for children and a bike is £.50 extra.

Gometra was at one time known as the granary of Iona. A granary is a storehouse for grain or animal food. On the south west of the island is Gometra House, with it six bedrooms, has been unoccupied since 1983 but it was renovated and reoccupied in 1993. It has extensive outbuildings and a walled garden. The old schoolhouse still stands near the shore and the most easterly of the cottages near Gometra House is called Teacher’s Cottage. It has occasionally been occupied by a resident caretaker and his wife and family. The four dilapidated cottages beside Gometra harbour were formerly occupied by MacBrayne’s Staffa boatmen, who used to row passengers out to the steamers which were unable to come alongside. There is a graveyard behind these old cottages. (quote from Hamish Haswell Smith)

Images of Ulva/Gometra Copyright: coffeeshop Mick Garratt Gometra south coast Op Deo and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

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Introduction

Gometra, a private island south side of Mull with locked gates and high fences!

Information

My visit to Gometra was long awaited. We nudged into Gometra harbour and set anchor on a blissful sunny calm evening. My trip ashore was a quick one of only one hour. In that time I had to draw the conclusion that this was an island that was not really opening its arms to welcome visitors.

Geology and neighbouring islands

Gometra is like much of the landscape to the south west of Mull made of tertiary layers of lava flows, weathered over the millennia and shaped by glaciers. From Gometra you can see a host of islands including; Little Colonsay, Erisgeir, Jura, Colonsay, Islay, Iona, Staffa, Dubh Artach, Tiree, Dutchman’s Cap, Dioghlum, Skerryvore, Lunga, Fladda, Gunna, Coll, South Uist, Ulva & Mull.

Gometra Harbour

Gometra Harbour was once the main landing point for the island with the only remains being a line of stones that once served as the landing pier.

First Sign and Locked Gate

A few steps from the landing point I came face to face with the first of many hand-written signs. The sign requested, ‘for safety reasons’ the open grass area between cottages was not to be entered. Pedestrians were asked to follow the fence line to the track. The ‘safe’ fence line was over bouldered ground in deep chest high bracken. What’s more, it was no doubt full of ticks.

Once the bracken had been hacked-through I came upon on a rough track suitable for a quad bike or tractor. It is here that you are presented with a combination locked gate. To the side of the locked gate is a small style gate for pedestrians. The gate was overgrown with bracken and required a good heave to open it against the thick intertwined foliage. Not a great start and an ominous introduction to Gometra.

Rubha Dun Lasgain point

I set off from the harbour to follow the only track that is shown on OS maps. The track passes the old burial ground and on past Rubha Dun Lasgain point. From there the old Dun fort was visible from some wonderful sandy rocky foreshores.

Gometra House

Further along the track I came to a row of small white cottages. There you are greeted with a sign asking visitors not to enter the private area. I obliged and took the path away to the left. This entailed a further fight with more thick bracken which in turn led to an open field. I crossed the field and made for the top corner that was close to the main Gometra House. There was no sign of life at all. I was on a tight time schedule and there was a distinct feeling of ‘bugger off’. I decided to veer off and follow the separation in the bracken on towards the north west corner of the island.

Route to summit blocked

The high point of 155m was above and to my right. I decided to look for grass shoots or gullies that I could nip up or contour upwards to what looked like heather and bracken wilderness.

On finding a narrow crag I scrambled up onto the next flat layer of lava bed. To my dismay I was greeted by a 2.5 m deer fence that ran all the way to the north and back to the south.

There was no way up so reluctantly I turned and set off down the steep slopes back the main track. I followed it on for a few yards and stopped overlooking Lon Mor bay. There was a small shed and beside it a beached yacht standing upright on large vertical wooden stobs. The clock was ticking, and I was by now thoroughly unimpressed with Gometra.

When is a gate not a gate?

On the way back I came to an absurd closed gate. The gate was made of ornate ironwork and of a design to impress. On top was set an anchor. The anchor looked ready to drop on your head. This was no bucket of water om the open door trick! Rather than risk being ‘anchored’ I stepped round the stone wall and carried on. By now I was giggling to myself!

Beyond the gates stood a splendid summer house with views out to The Treshnish Isles, Staffa , Dutchmen’s Cap , Iona and beyond.

Return run to Gometra Harbour

I ran back the two miles or so the harbour. On the way I passed the island coup (dump). An old JCB and tractor stood rusting and rotting away alongside a sheets of discarded metal. It was a rather sad end to my visit.

Further on I saw two people and a dog near a beached rubber dinghy. I stood on a high clump of rock and heather and looked down and waved. One instinctively knows when people are head down, and staring at the sand and their feet rather than acknowledge another person’s presence. So what, and I made for the beach and Springtide.

So that was Gometra, I ran on back to the dinghy and paddled back out to Springtide for a beer and to lament on a very unsatisfactory visit to Gometra.

Gometra (Scottish Gaelic: Gòmastra) is an island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, lying west of Mull. It lies immediately west of Ulva, to which it is linked by a bridge, and at low tide also by a beach. It is approximately 425 hectares (1.64 sq mi) in size.

According to Gillies (1906) Gometra is from the Norse gottr + madr + ey and means “The good-man’s island” or “God-man’s island”. The Norse Goðrmaðray may also mean “warrior priest’s island”. The Gaelic Gu mòr traigh meaning “only at low tide” has been proposed as the meaning of the name. Mediaeval charters render the name “Gomedrach”.

The island is agricultural, formerly growing grain for the monastery on Iona. Once home to a population of over a hundred, it is now down to a tight-knit community of a handful of people, up to a thousand black face sheep, highland cattle, pigs, horses, a flock of feral goats, and red deer. Historical sites on the island include an old burial ground, the remains of two duns and old settlements. It has no school, doctor, or ferry.

Gometra changing ownerships

The island became part of the Kingdom of the Isles, during the Norse era. Whereas nearby Ulva and Staffa belonged to the MacQuarries from the 10th century, Gometra became a possession of the Iona monastery prior to passing into the hands of the Duke of Argyll.

In 1821 Ulva was sold by the trustees of the MacDonalds of Staffa to Lt-General Charles MacQuarrie (brother of General Lachlan MacQuarrie), and after his death was bought in 1835 by Francis William Clark of Ulva, a lawyer from Stirling who began a brutal clearance of a substantial proportion of the inhabitants of Ulva within a few years. However the MacDonalds of Staffa retained Gometra until 1858 when it was sold to Donald MacLean, who built Gometra House.

In 1932, the island was sold to the English mountaineer Hugh Ruttledge, who had taken early retirement from the Indian Civil Service and planned a life as a farmer. While living on the island, Ruttledge led two British expeditions to Mount Everest, in 1933 and 1936, and took up sailing. In 1950, he moved to Dartmoor.

Gometra House had fallen into disrepair and parts were near collapse by the 1980s, but was reoccupied and restored as a family home in the 1990s. There are currently four households on Gometra, and the islanders are dedicated to a low-impact lifestyle, living off-grid.

Scotisland Neighbours

Scotisland Neighbours: Staffa   Erraid   Dutchman’s Cap

Lical Information: Wiki    Gometra (Official!!)

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Expedition from the Backdoor

An Island Life Wildly Off-Grid

Living on an island, off an island, off an island….off an island!

We try and write a new piece each year to add to this bit, so the passages below get sequentially older.

August 2018

Most people have never heard of the Island of Gometra, even those who live on Mull. The name itself sounds strange and not typically Scottish or Gaelic. Among the few people who do live on the remote northwest coast of Mull, and know Gometra, for them this island is definitely ‘off the beaten track’ and somewhat a mystery. We won’t give a history of the island and its name, because its current owner has written a precise history on his website Isle of Gometra – a Peopled Wildness . What we can describe is the challenging nature of the access to the island.

Among the Scottish Archipelago, there are obviously islands that are further away from mainland services and take longer by sea to reach. However there may be few islands where the access is so difficult, and according to Gometra’s historian, it has always been so.

Getting to Gometra starts fairly straightforwardly, by travelling to Oban along Scotland’s West coast, to pick up the ferry from Oban to Craignure, on Mull. Even by train it is easy as the station at Oban discharges passengers about as close to the Ferry port as its possible to get without getting wet. The crossing to Craignure is a 45 minute to 1 hour passage depending on weather. From Craignure, you can drive the 10 miles up to Salen and then 9 miles West along single track roads across the middle of Mull to Ulva Ferry – which can be busy during the tourist season. Travelling without a car, its a bus to Salen and then you can walk, as I did in May 2016, from Salen to Ulva Ferry (where I slept amongst the bracken on the north shore of Loch na Keal, but where there is a campsite by the loch if you prefer).

It’s from Ulva Ferry that the access begins to get more difficult. The sound between Mull and the Isle of Ulva is only 500 yards, which is crossed by a small ferry operated by Donald during the tourist season. The rest of the year there is a school run for the two children on Ulva twice a day that also doubles up as a post delivery service. The rest of the time, you will need your own boat, but just be careful as the crossing can be rough should the weather turn bad.

When Ulva Primary school – which is on the mainland of Mull at Ulva Ferry – was threatened with closure, parents pointed out that the children needed to be near the ferry so that they could be got back home quickly otherwise they risked being ‘stranded’ on Mull. There is a Youtube video that shows precisely how the short crossing can become impossible to cross in rough weather. ( Ulva Sound in a Storm )

Once on Ulva and standing by the Boathouse, your options become far fewer. Firstly you have to find your way around the main settlement on Ulva and the unexpected mature beech woodland to find, what is called, the ‘main road’. ( For many years there were no signs on Ulva that pointed the way to Gometra .)

The start of the walk to Gometra requires the steepest ascent in you entire trip past the reservoir. Its then a short walk to the only route decision on the way to Gometra, which is: do you turn South to the Livingstone Caves – which most visitors do – or do you turn North and carry on the north side of Ulva to Am Bru and the causewayed crossing between Ulva and Gometra. Our twelve year old daughter, Katy, who has walked this route to and from school, claims that your journey to Gometra starts at this cross road.

Although its called the ‘main road’ its a misnomer as the track is now very rough, rocky in places, rutted and usually very wet. Its not a very mountainous track, however, as it keeps to the north coast – more, short sharp ups and downs that are common on most coastal paths.

For first-timers on the track to Am Bru, it seems to go on forever. Every headland that you spy in the distance you fool yourself into believing is the headland above Am Bru, but which turns out to be false. If the weather turns foul, there is only one old barn to find shelter in, the only other options are the ruined and unroofed ‘black houses’ that line the track in places, but at least the main mass of Ulva protects you from the worst of a southwesterly gale. However, in any wet weather, the track quickly turns into a mass of deep puddles and stream crossings, as the water rushes down from the high ground of Ulva.

Once you become familiar to the track, it becomes a friend, and on a warm sunny day, its a pleasure to walk with views across Loch Tuath towards the Treshnish Wilderness on Mull.

On reaching the causeway at Am Bru, it feels like a real change of scenery. You cross the metal bridge on to Gometra – checking first that its sitting on its supports (it has been known to be dislodged in high winds and it has even been completely blown away, necessitating an expedition to collect it from the bottom of Sm Bru at low tide).

One fact that takes a couple of trips to realise, is that when you have crossed the causeway at Am Bru, you are not nearly there. Most of the houses on Gometra are at the Western end, and therefore its another 3 miles on perhaps the roughest tracks so far to the main habitation area. Also, you switch to the South side of Gometra and therefore are now exposed to the winds and rain should it be one of those days. We have been known to take shelter at the glorious gallery and honesty shop at Baileclaidh because the weather has beaten us on our way to the house.

The track also becomes more spectacular as it winds its way between the cliffs of Gometra and the rock shore, in places the space in which it does this becomes measurable in feet in single figures. Last Winter there was a landslide quite close to the causeway on Gometra that covered the track completely with large boulders and soil, which meant that the landrover being driven down the track had to be reversed for half a mile before it could be turned around, and meant bringing a JCB all the way from Ulva to clear it. However, apart from this event, the island has never been cut off from Ulva during storms….supposedly!

The final climb up from the beautiful beach from the ‘Bay of the Longships’ on to the flat area where the cottages are located, can be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, but there is not a sight lovelier than finally seeing the cottages, particularly on a warm day when the row of four white and creamy cottages stand out like beacons against the dark cliffs behind them. However, if you are not staying, you also might need to turn around and head back towards Ulva Ferry, in which case, take the chance to experience the wonder of the trip all over again.

What’s it Like in the Winter? November 2018.

The Winter sorts those out who are going to stay permanently and those who leave.

Roc says that most people who try to live permanently on Gometra, stay for 18 months and then leave. I would presume that is because of not wishing to stay another winter. But I can’t tell you why for certain as we have never met any of those old residents, only Rhoda who has been here for over eleven years.

Obviously it is ‘different’ during the winter as there are no visitors who come to Gometra after the end of September and after a season of visitors – who are lovely, and we don’t have many – it’s good to have the island to ourselves for a while.

As I write this at the end of November, Yvette and Katy are away in Shropshire, but someone has to remain to look after the animals. So the last time I saw another human being was five days ago, and if I wasn’t to travel off the island to get supplies, it would be probably months before someone came here, i.e. the shepherdess to check the flock.

That is not say it feels lonely. I think you need other humans around to ignore you to feel lonely. It’s much better when Yvette and Katy are here, but a little bit of isolation is fine. As long as you don’t mind talking to yourself, or the animals…or the Island!

The other thing is the lack of electricity, so wood provides our heat and candles provide our light. I have to admit that we don’t miss mains power, and collecting firewood from the drift wood that washes up on the beaches becomes second nature. All that you have to bear-in-mind is keeping an eye on your stocks of wood, knowing when to light the fire and if today is a collecting firewood day rather than a ‘other job’ day.

Some days during the Winter require lighting the fire when you get up. Some days you won’t light it until 4pm. We have got a little camping gas stove, so heating water for tea and coffee can be done without lighting the big fire. However to cook does require it, so we get it lit at least two hours before we need it, or it’s bread and cheese for dinner. Which some nights is just easier.

You won’t grow fat here!

You have to regulate yourself, because nearly everything you do takes physical work, and therefore there is a danger that you can expend a lot of energy without substantial reward. So obviously we work, maintaining and repairing bits of the island, working in the garden, foraging for drift wood or shellfish, building things or working on craft projects for the new season. But in the Winter you will work less The summer is the time for 18 hour days.

Moreover, in Winter it gets dark at 4pm, and as there is no artificial light to see with, most jobs stop then.

The animals still demand breakfast a 6am. It’s not worth getting up too early, though, as candles cost money and require fetching. Therefore, it pays to wait until the morning light has begun to show at about 7.30am. In December it will be dark some days until 9am, but usually not pitch black.

It’s a good life during the winter, because it’s just us and the island, but obviously its great to find the days lengthening again and perhaps some sunnier weather. Although that’s not guaranteed at any point during the year.

Anyway that’s enough, its 7.30pm and I’m off to close the barn up and check outside before heading to bed as tommorrow I’ll be off before sunrise on the hour trip by quad bike to Ulva Ferry to meet Yvette.

Winter Storms of 2020

It’s now February 2020 and so this is our second winter of permanent living on Gometra. What has changed?

Not much in truth, except that we don’t feel as close to disaster as we did a year ago. We have more capacity, we have learned more and understand more about what it takes to live on Gometra year round.

Certain things have changed practically in that we have a larger camping gas oven so that we don’t have to rely on the old wood burning range so much. We have just brought in, very carefully, a larger solar panel so that we are not having to ration electricity to only essential use during the winter in order to recharge mobile phones. (The only thing we use electricity for, and our only means of communication).

Other than that, we are very comfortable in our way of life. Most would consider us poor, if not extremely poor, but we would say that we the richest people in the world. Our life is about creativity and invention as we find ways to live life on Gometra. We wake up in the morning and the weather tells us what we are going to do that day.

Sometimes we fall into old habits and put huge stress on ourselves over getting enough done, and we have to rethink and remember that living on Gometra is about following a natural rhythm. Try and force that rhythm to fit to your own tune and the Island will gets its revenge.

I remember somewhere amongst the prose above saying that Gometra rarely if ever gets cut off during stormy weather. Well Storm Brendan back in January proved that it can and does happen. There is a blog about Storm Brendan, but that night we were totally cut off as the tide swept over the small bridge at Am Bru and huge waves were breaking over the track between Fairy Mound and Jane Anne’s Bothy. We were asleep!

We are still dealing with the after affects from that storm mostly because it requires a lot of roof repairs, but on the flip side, for us who rely on driftwood for fuel, a big storm is an opportunity – as long as you are not greedy, greed on Gometra is dangerous. It is interesting that a big storm like Brendan upsets the sea for about two weeks, and during that time all manner of things appear on the coast. Sometimes stuff that has obviously been at sea for a long time.

Anyway I am heading back to Gometra after visiting my dad’s old house where I was brought up, for the last time. In anticipation of that, whilst checking the weather forecast, I noticed that I might be lucky to get back as winds are set to rise to 50-60 knots again and remain there for four days.

Storms and winds are just part of our life during the winter, we make judgements about what is safe to do and where the line of acceptable risk is. Most of the time it is better to accept less risk and take more time and discomfort.

Time is something we have an abundance of, but only have one life!

February 2021

We have been here for three to four years now and each year we learn more. This Winter has been the coldest one so far causing the unprecedented (or at least very very rare) phenomenon of frozen pipes. The water comes from a spring above the cliffs behind the house, which catch any morning sun, but in spite of clear sunny skies they froze up day after day.

Given the unique nature of isolation this year we haven’t had visitors since September 2019 – almost a year and half ago – but we aren’t lonely or missing people. When the tourists do start to revisit, it will be interesting to see how we have all changed.

We have visited the mainland (Oban) about two times during the last year, and I have to say that both times it was actually quite daunting getting used to people walking towards you along a pavement. It’s one of those situations where I think we no longer know how to react, as we have only had the news to tell us what has been going on ‘out there’ and we stopped listening anyway as it was making us miserable.

However, Covid has allowed us and perhaps pushed us to become more innovative and to experiment with even more sustainable technologies and self-sufficiency ideas. We did feel that perhaps we were relying too much on the outside world and there is nothing like an emergency to really make you challenge that sense of comfort.

One example: we discovered a much better and larger dinghy in an old shed, along with an outboard, that were both in a better state of repair than our own. So, during last Spring, we repaired the holes in the new dinghy, where rats had eaten the material, and overhauled the outboard. Little did we realise how important that dinghy would become to us during lockdown, and an essential part of how we remained in contact with the outside world.

We have plans to build a solar water heater, rocketmass heater and a compost toilet and use the ‘compost’ as manure. As such, our life is quite straight forward: it’s about keeping us warm, feeding ourselves, and giving us somewhere to poo!

Our daughter also had to spend quite a considerable amount of time at home trying to home school from the island, (just like everyone else). Not an easy task from Gometra, however, as there isn’t any access to broadband or mains electricity. Our internet wafts in across the sea from somewhere on Mull that we have yet to locate. This involves standing by the kitchen window, which seems to act as some strange internet booster, and doing all your calls or digital stuff from there. This is actually an improvement from when we first came to Gometra, as then the only means of contacting anyone was to go and stand on the headland on the Western side of the island and converse via the transmitter on the island of Coll – one of windiest places on earth for a conversation.

Anyway, as the window can be a fairly cold place to try and conduct business, we managed to afford a mobile router eventually. So now we can sit in a chair and chat… sometimes, but most often that doesn’t work and we resort to the window. Our internet is like the tide, it comes and goes. Some days it’s quite high, and some days it’s very very low.

Coupled with this is that we also still have very limited access to electricity since all our power comes from two solar panels, (we generate about one percent of the average electrical usage of a small UK house), therefore in Winter, as you might expect, we are careful.

Winter Zoom meetings for us, as the new way of doing things, are quite a challenge as an hour on zoom is a day’s worth of recharging. This shows the level of consumption that the internet takes and something we all should note – the internet is not without its own significant environmental impact.

One upside of Winter is, however, that we can keep food for longer. A lot of our food we preserve ourselves, but food that comes from the small Spar shop on Mull, we have to stick in the ground to try to keep cool. This means that in Summers, we don’t eat a lot of shop bought meat or dairy as we can’t store it for long periods of time. That isn’t much of an issue, as the garden is producing a lot of veg, and the sea gives us crab, lobster, cockles, clams, mussels, scallops etc – and of course, seaweed.

And that is it for another year. There is plenty more to talk about, but I crushed my finger today collecting firewood and therefore typing isn’t the best remedy.

People ask us if we will ever leave. The answer is not willingly, as we still love this little very remote island, no matter the trials it puts us through. We still have so much to do, to learn and experiment with. The only thing that does worry me is if my life is long enough to do all I want to do here.

If you want to read more about our life on Gometra and how we came to live here, please read through the numerous blogs and the about page.

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Dirona Around the World

Gometra harbour.

More than two months after we dropped anchor off the Isle of Gigha , we departed north for Stornoway to refuel and replenish our deep stores. The anchorage had worked out well and the islanders had taken good care of us, but this was by far the longest we’d ever been at anchor in any one place and we were excited for a change of surroundings. We enjoyed the spectacular Scottish scenery through the Sound of Islay and retraced some of our 2017 British Isles cruise on a 68nm, 8-hour run to beautiful Gometra Harbour near the Isle of Mull in the Inner Hebrides. It was great to be underway again after so long.

Below are trip highlights from June 1st through 3rd, 2020. Click any image for a larger view, or click the position to view the location on a map. And a live map of our current route and most recent log entries always is available at mvdirona.com/maps .

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4 comments on “ Gometra Harbour ”

Thank you James. It Looks like you have reduced the risks considerably . I only asked the question because I have a good friend who lost two of his sons some 30 years ago on one of his Shrimp Trawlers when a propane cylinder leak caused an explosion and blew the boat up, and unfortunately his sons. They were much bigger cylinders than you have, and were attached outside behind the pilot house. I wished they had something like what you have, as to alarms, back then. Thanks again. Jerry

The alarms are good but setting the tanks up in an closed area where the propane is drained off the bottom overboard also ensures that build up is minimal on a fault (propane is heavier than air). However, the best possible solution is “don’t” when it comes to propane and boats. If we did a new build, we would go with an electric induction cook top and BBQ.

First time for me with a Reply. Love all the information you are providing. I’m an old Honeywell Aerospace Production Control guy who worked with many types of Engineers, and I do appreciate how methodical your explaining of everything.

These questions may have been asked before: As to the propane gas cylinders; where do you store them? I’ve got to believe that’s a huge safety issue, as you know what can happens if one starts leaking. Do you have a monitor close by, and some type of automatic engine cut offs, if detected? Do you test the tanks for leakage? I’m probably being over cautious, but why didn’t you separate half the tanks to a different location?

Thanks for the feedback and, wow, lots of good questions. Our gas storage does have a leak detector with audible alarm. We have an electronic valve that allows us to turn the propane off at the tanks so the house system is not pressurized. We use it and, to ensure we remember, if left on for more than 60 min there is an warning light in several locations throughout the house and we both get sent email. If on for more than 90 min, there is an audible alarm. The propane storage area is designed to seal with one opening in the bottom that drains directly out a through hull at the water line. Designing a safe storage system that seals up with a direct drain overboard is work and takes space so we only have 1 and keep all the propane there.

We feel like we have covered the basis from a safety perspective but, even with all that care, were to do it again, we would take an induction cooktop and electric BBQ and not equip the boat with propane at all. In fairness propane, we have had propane on boats for 21 years and never had a leak or slipped up in safe handling but still, we would go electric if building a new boat today.

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Region: United Kingdom (1394) , Scotland (481) , Argyll and Bute (152) , Inner Hebrides (64) , Isle of Mull (22) og Gometra House (3)

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View towards inlet and Staffa visible top right

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A very small "Honesty shop" is available onshore Gometra

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Updated on 6. Jan 2023. Update mooring .

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The wind forecasts come from yr.no (Norwegian Meteorological Institute), and was last updated 42 minutes ago (Saturday 16 March 05:47 PM). The next night score shows you the worst hour between 22:00 and 08:00 the next night. We recommend that you check multiple sources for wind forecasts. windy.com is a good website to show larger wind systems.

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by Christine Feb 25, 2023

Gometra is an enchanting island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland that beckons adventurers seeking a break from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Nestled west of the Isle of Mull, this remote paradise boasts a rich cultural and historical heritage that dates back to ancient times. The island is linked to the neighboring Ulva by a bridge and a sandy beach that reveals itself during low tides.

Despite being a small island, Gometra packs a lot of punch with its impressive size of approximately 425 hectares. It is crowned by a hill that offers a stunning panoramic view of the surrounding areas, making it a paradise for hikers and mountain climbers. The summit of the hill, which is also called Gometra, is a Marilyn, making it a must-visit destination for mountain enthusiasts.

Gometra is believed to be the Norseman Goðrmaðrey, which translates to "Good-man's island." This name is attributed to the possibility that the island was owned by a wealthy Viking in ancient times. The island's name is also derived from the Scottish Gaelic "Gòmastra," which means "Gometra" in English.

The island has been owned by Roc Sandford, a wealthy environmental campaigner since 1991. Despite living mostly in London, he spends part of the year on Gometra, ensuring that the island remains pristine and untouched by human activities. As a result, the island's population stands at a meager two inhabitants, making it one of the least populated islands in Scotland.

Gometra's natural landscape is as enchanting as its history. It features an array of flora and fauna, including seabirds, wildflowers, and rare butterflies. The island is also surrounded by pristine waters that host an array of marine creatures, making it a perfect spot for snorkeling and diving enthusiasts.

In conclusion, Gometra is a gem hidden in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland that offers a unique blend of cultural and natural beauty. From its rich history to its stunning landscape, the island is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking an escape from the monotony of modern life. With its pristine environment and awe-inspiring natural beauty, Gometra is a place that is sure to leave visitors feeling rejuvenated and refreshed.

Gometra, the picturesque Scottish island in the Inner Hebrides, has a fascinating etymology that has puzzled historians for centuries. While there are different theories about the origin of the name, each offers a unique insight into the island's rich history and culture.

According to one theory, Gometra is derived from Old Norse, where 'gottr' means good or God, 'madr' means man, and 'ey' means island. This translates to "The good-man's island" or "God-man's island," suggesting that the island was once inhabited by a noble and virtuous community.

Another theory proposed by Mac an Tàilleir is that the name comes from the Norse 'Goðrmaðray,' meaning "warrior priest's island." This suggests that the island may have been home to a religious or military community in the past.

Interestingly, the Gaelic 'Gu mòr traigh,' meaning "only at low tide," has also been proposed as a possible meaning of the name. However, this may be an example of folk etymology, as there is little evidence to support this theory.

Historical charters from the medieval period render the name "Gomedrach," indicating that the name has undergone several transformations over the centuries.

Regardless of its true etymology, Gometra is a unique and enchanting island that has captured the hearts of locals and tourists alike. Its rugged landscapes, stunning coastline, and rich history make it a must-visit destination for anyone interested in Scottish culture and heritage.

Gometra, like many other islands in the region, owes its formation to a series of volcanic eruptions that took place during the early Palaeogene period. The island is almost entirely composed of basalt lavas that flowed out of the earth's crust and solidified into hard, dark rocks. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule, as a couple of dykes cut through the basalt layers, indicating that they were formed after the initial volcanic activity.

These dykes are part of the "Mull Swarm," a group of igneous intrusions that are aligned northwest–southeast. They were formed when molten rock, or magma, was forced into pre-existing cracks in the earth's crust, solidifying into hard rock as it cooled. The presence of pipe-amygdales, or small cavities in the rock that were filled with mineral deposits, adds further evidence to the volcanic history of the island.

The basaltic rocks of Gometra, Mull, and Ulva are an important part of Scotland's geology, as they are some of the oldest and most extensive lava flows in the country. They have also been used as a source of building material for centuries, with many of the island's structures made from the dark, durable stone.

Despite its rocky exterior, Gometra is also home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, with many species adapted to the harsh conditions of the island. The rugged coastline and exposed cliffs provide nesting sites for seabirds such as puffins and kittiwakes, while the heathland and peat bogs are home to rare plants such as bog myrtle and sundew.

In summary, Gometra's geology is characterized by its basaltic rocks, formed during the early Palaeogene period. The presence of dykes and pipe-amygdales adds to the island's volcanic history, while its rugged exterior provides a habitat for a range of hardy plant and animal species.

Gometra is a small, picturesque island located off the west coast of Scotland. The island is mainly agricultural, and in the past, it was known for growing grain for the nearby Iona Abbey. While it was once home to a population of over 100 people, the community has dwindled to a tight-knit group of only a handful of individuals. However, the island is now home to a large number of animals, including up to a thousand blackface sheep, highland cattle, pigs, horses, feral goats, and red deer.

Gometra has a rich history, with several historical sites on the island, including settlements, a burial ground, and the remains of two dun forts. Despite its small size and isolated location, Gometra even has its own weekly postal service and issues its own local carriage stamps.

While Gometra may be isolated, it is also stunningly beautiful. The island is part of the Loch Na Keal National Scenic Area, which is one of 40 such areas in Scotland. The landscape of Gometra is dominated by the island's basalt formations, which were formed by lava flows during the early Palaeogene period. These formations are aligned northwest-southeast, and some locations even contain pipe-amygdale formations.

Access to Gometra is limited, and the island has no ferry service. However, there is a bridge connecting Gometra to the neighboring island of Ulva, making it possible to reach the island by foot or by boat. Despite its remote location and limited access, Gometra is a unique and fascinating place, rich in history and natural beauty.

Nestled in the heart of the Scottish Hebrides, the history of Gometra is a fascinating tale of ownership, religion, and political power. During the Norse era, Gometra was part of the Kingdom of the Isles, and whilst nearby Ulva and Staffa were controlled by the MacQuarries, Gometra fell into the hands of the Iona monastery. Eventually, the island passed into the ownership of the Duke of Argyll, and in 1612 John Monipennie wrote about Gometra as a two-mile-long, one-mile-broad stretch of land.

Despite being omitted from Dean Monro's 'A Description of the Western Isles of Scotland' in 1549, the island continued to grow in stature, and it remained a possession of the MacDonalds of Staffa until 1858. It was then sold to Donald MacLean, who built Gometra House, a grand estate that has since become a treasured part of the island's history.

However, the story of Gometra is not just one of ownership, but also of the devastating impact of the Highland Clearances. In 1821, the MacDonalds of Staffa sold Ulva to Lt-General Charles MacQuarrie, who began a brutal clearance of the inhabitants within a few years. Yet, whilst Ulva suffered under the hand of MacQuarrie, Gometra remained in the ownership of the MacDonalds of Staffa, and thus avoided a similar fate.

Throughout its history, Gometra has remained a peaceful and agricultural island, with a tight-knit community and a rich cultural heritage. Today, it is home to up to a thousand Scottish blackface sheep, highland cattle, pigs, horses, a flock of feral goats, and red deer. Visitors can still find historical sites on the island, including settlements, a burial ground, and the remains of two duns. Gometra's isolation is both a blessing and a curse, and whilst it has no ferry service, it does boast a weekly postal service, and it even has its own local carriage stamps.

In recognition of its stunning natural beauty and cultural significance, Gometra is part of the Loch Na Keal National Scenic Area, one of 40 in Scotland. Whilst its history may be tumultuous, Gometra's beauty and resilience are evident in every blade of grass and every gust of wind that whistles through the rugged terrain. It is a place of peace and serenity, where history and nature merge to create a truly unique experience that is not to be missed.

Current ownership

Gometra, a remote island off the coast of Scotland, has a fascinating history of ownership that has seen the island change hands multiple times. The island was purchased by the English mountaineer Hugh Ruttledge in 1932, who retired from the Indian Civil Service to pursue a farming lifestyle on the island. Ruttledge led two British expeditions to Mount Everest and took up sailing during his time on the island. In 1950, he moved away from Gometra to Dartmoor.

By the 1980s, Gometra House, which was once a grand residence on the island, had fallen into disrepair and parts of it were near collapse. However, it was reoccupied and restored as a family home in the 1990s by millionaire and environmental campaigner Roc Sandford, who currently owns the island. Sandford lives off the grid on Gometra for one third of the year and spends the rest of his time in London with his family.

Gometra and its inhabitants were recently profiled in the TV show Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over, which explored their commitment to Extinction Rebellion and the challenges of living on a remote, unserviced island. However, the island has not been without its challenges, as concerns were expressed by islanders in 2012 about the siting of a large fish farm by the Scottish Salmon Company in Loch Tuath to the north of the island.

Despite the challenges, Gometra remains an intriguing and unique destination, with a rich history of ownership and a current owner who is committed to sustainable living and environmental activism. The island's remote location and natural beauty make it a paradise for those seeking an escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life. As such, Gometra is a true gem of the Scottish Isles, a place that is both steeped in history and alive with contemporary issues and debates.

Gometra is a remote Scottish island that presents unique transportation challenges to its residents and visitors. With no bridges connecting it to the mainland, getting to Gometra involves a journey by boat or track, depending on one's location.

The journey to the ferry landing stage on Ulva, from the houses on the west of Gometra, takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes by track, weather and tides permitting. However, this time can be reduced to 50 minutes by using a quad bike. For those located on the north coast of Gometra, the journey to Ulva only takes 20 minutes by boat from Acarseid Mhòr.

While the journey may be time-consuming, the stunning views that greet visitors along the way make it all worthwhile. The north coast of Gometra, as seen from Mull, is a breathtaking sight that leaves a lasting impression on those who witness it.

Despite the challenges of transportation, the inhabitants of Gometra have found ways to adapt and make the best of their situation. The use of 4x4 vehicles and quad bikes, as well as boats, are just a few examples of how they have creatively solved their transportation woes.

For those seeking adventure, the journey to Gometra is an exciting part of the experience. Whether traveling by track or by boat, visitors are sure to enjoy the unique experience of reaching this remote island. And with the stunning scenery that surrounds them, they are bound to create memories that will last a lifetime.

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Gometra Gallery & Shop

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

GOMETRA GALLERY & SHOP: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

• (8.20 mi) Cill-Mhoire Lodges
• (7.95 mi) Druimnacroish
• (8.23 mi) Sycamore, Cill Mhoire Lodges
• (8.02 mi) The Ballachroy Hotel
• (8.23 mi) Rowan, Cill Mhoire Lodges
• (4.64 mi) The Boathouse
• (7.73 mi) Am Birlinn
• (8.06 mi) Ar Bord
• (3.86 mi) The Hen House
• (8.07 mi) The Bellachroy Restaurant

Gometra1925

- the gold ship - design n° 308 by alfred mylne, gometra - "the gold ship".

   Once arrived in Halifax and having completed the mission by transporting the precious cargo out of Hitler’s reach, she was  bought by Commodore of the Nova Scotia Royal Yacht Squadron, Ernes A. Bell and began to earn the praise of many sailing enthusiasts including Charles Rawlings. The latter wrote about Gometra in an article for the magazine Yachting Magazine in 1941 . Rawlings and the then skipper of Gometra, the famous naval architect William J. Roué struggled not just to rebuild her troubled history.     After the war Gometra was purchased by Gus Ortengren and made her way to the west coast with the Canadian Pacific Railway. In 1948 she was owned by Elmer Palmer and Kenneth Glass and underwent a major restoration . It was during this period that in 1952 the naval architect Ben Seaborn designed the new sail plan and   restored the hull to its original deep blue. She spent many happy years as the flagship of the Royal   Vanocouver Yacht Club participating in the series of annual Swiftsure Race. Often such events as these , saw guests on board .             Elmer Palmer sold Gometra in 1968 to Alec Manson who kept her at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club until 1973 when he ceded her to the Scottish-born David Millis involved in the trans-Pacific race of 2300 miles from Canada to Hawaii-Maui Victoria in 1976 and Swiftsure races in 1978. He made a small odyssey between Canada, Hawaii and California that led Gometra to the waters of Mexico. In her new base in Baja California, Gometra continued to attract admiring glances and triumph in the home race, Bandaras Bay International Regatta.   

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Ulva and Gometra

• Thread starter Romeo
• Start date 17 Mar 2019
• 17 Mar 2019

Well-known member

I am a lucky fella who is going to be staying on the shores of Loch na Keal for a week, and will have a dinghy at my disposal. Looks like some great water for exploring in a small boat. Has anyone taken a tender through the tidal gut between Ulva and Gometra? Just wondering if it is something that might be possible. Anyone got any photos they could share?  

Can't see why not, the Antares Chart shows the gut drying for about 2/3 of the passage , it is narrow, and the North bay is rock strewn and not safe as an anchorage but it is just the sort of exploration for a small boat, tides are very strong in Ulva Sound so worth sorting out the best time, if you plan to circumnavigate. There was a short episode of 'Coast' on the box last week ( can't remember which Channel) featuring Gometra and Inch Kenneth, Little Colonsay looks interesting too.  

A great area for exploring with a small boat. There are some really remarkable inlets, particularly along the south shores of both Gometra and Ulva. Cragaig Bay etc. Go and enjoy. Been through Ulva Sound with a 60 footer, but I've never been through between the passage between Ulva and Gometra. There is a bridge between the two, with very restricted headroom, so you won't get through with a mast.  

Romeo said: I am a lucky fella who is going to be staying on the shores of Loch na Keal for a week, and will have a dinghy at my disposal. Looks like some great water for exploring in a small boat. Has anyone taken a tender through the tidal gut between Ulva and Gometra? Just wondering if it is something that might be possible. Anyone got any photos they could share? Click to expand...

JumbleDuck said: It's a lovely area. As NormanS says, there is a low bridge across the sound. It used to be a set of planks but seems to have a more bespoke solution now: Pace Quandary, I haven't anchored at the north end, but the older CCC books list it as an anchorage, although possible some distance from the entry. While you are there, do try to eat at Ballygown ( www.ballygown.co.uk ) if you possibly can. It's outrageously wonderful. At this time of year they are open for parties of six only, but if they have been booked I expect they would fit in more. You can anchor or beach a dinghy right in front of the restaurant. Click to expand...

Romeo said: That is very helpful thank you. It confirms that circumnavigation is possible but challenging......... Goldilocks tides needed.... not too much, not to little, and the mast needs to be lowered and raised again! All good fun for a challenge. And if you can get a 60 footer through the sound of Ulva, I should not be worrying so much as I am about getting a 14 footer through the sound to complete the circumnavigation! Click to expand...

Think the website for the restuarant is http://ballygownmull.co.uk/ . Looks fantastic! Click to expand...

• 18 Mar 2019

JumbleDuck said: It's a truly lovely area. We have spent two years playing round there and will be back, weather permitting, this summer. If you haven't read it already, Dr Johnson's account of his highland journey is worth reading - he stayed at Ulva House and on Inch Kenneth. The book is available in various formats (HTML, ePub, Kindle) from Project Gutenberg at http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2064 Taster: Inquiring after the reliques of former manners, I found that in Ulva, and, I think, no where else, is continued the payment of the Mercheta Mulierum; a fine in old times due to the Laird at the marriage of a virgin. The original of this claim, as of our tenure of Borough English, is variously delivered. It is pleasant to find ancient customs in old families. This payment, like others, was, for want of money, made anciently in the produce of the land. Macquarry was used to demand a sheep, for which he now takes a crown, by that inattention to the uncertain proportion between the value and the denomination of money, which has brought much disorder into Europe. A sheep has always the same power of supplying human wants, but a crown will bring at one time more, at another less. ​ Click to expand...

• 20 Mar 2019

Having been away from this forum for years with illness, family issues etc., and returning today, my eye was instantly drawn to 'Ulva and Gometra' so thought I'd share a little anecdote which is etched into my memory forever. It was early/mid 70s, and an old school pal wrote to invite me on a 'lads sailing holiday' in the summer. Jumped at the chance, and duly met in Glasgow, before heading to Loch Melfort where 'Skipper' had chartered a Tomahawk 25 for 2 weeks from what was Arden Yachts. My first ever keelboat experience, weather was amazingly brilliant for W Scotland, and having pootled around close to Oban and Loch Etive for a day or two, waiting for the 4th member to join us by train, we headed over to Iona. then Staffa, then 'lets find an anchorage for tonight'? We entered the inlet between the islands from the South, and guided by the old CCC SDs, the navy hardback, all-in-one edition, dropped the hook over on the East side. Glorious sunny evening, and 'Skip' was on galley duty = 'About an hour then we'll eat!' - so into the tender on my ownsome and off to explore the Gometra shore. After struggling to row through a forest of kelp, I reached terra firma, dragged the inflatable out of the water, and began to climb the small hill ahead. Within a minute or two, I was joined by an energetic Jack Russell, dancing around me, clearly wanting me to follow, which, as he seemed to going in my direction, I did. And there, sitting atop the knoll (it was hardly a hill after all) was his mistress, a weather-beaten lady of about 50-ish, I suppose, sitting with an old wooden shepherd's crook, watching the yachts (we'd been joined by a second boat) in the inlet below. Exchanging 'Good Evenings' I sat down with her, and her conversation went like this, in that wonderful musical Highland and Islands lilt, 'You're from the white yacht, then?' 'I am indeed. On holiday with some old school pals!' 'It's not your yacht though?' 'No, we've chartered it for a fortnight!' Long pause - a couple of minutes, so I prompted 'It's a lovely evening, isn't it?' - Another long pause! She then came out with 'It's the therty-second yacht that's been in here this year!' (I spelled it that way to reflect her speech, which I could have listened to for hours!) 'It was also the twenty-fourth, and the seventh!' Pause again. 'And the blue yacht is the therty-fifth, and it's been here too, before, the nineteenth! So it's on hire, too!' 'Oh really? We've said Hello to them and are going to join them later for a beer or two!' I said. 'Our chart shows a bridge at the top of the inlet, is that correct?' 'Aye, but it's away!' Maybe it had chartered a small sailboat too? I waited for the explanation, which in Highland fashion, was in no paricular hurry! 'It went away with the big storm last year!' 'Ah, I see!' Then the longest pause of all, before, 'Are ye Scottish yersel, or are ye foreign?' Couldn't have put it better myself! 'Oh I'm fae Glasgow!' I answered proudly, and asked 'How about yourself?' 'Oh, I'm from the island. I live with my man, and we look after the sheep for the man in the Big House!' We'd taken an OS map along with us, and were unaware of any 'big house' on Gometra, but I could detect a wisp of smoke rising from the hollow to our west! Probably sat with the lady for over half an hour, taking in the beauty of the place, before wishing her a pleasant evening and heading back for my Chilli and Rice, out of a double-ended tin! At least the cold beers were good though!  

A lovely story, and if I may say so, well written. Thankyou.  

The four cottages in a row on Gometra, near the sound, were built for MacBraynes Staffa boatmen who used to row passengers ashore from the steamers that stopped there. This thread has whetted my interest too, I must make an effort to call there again soon, much better than Bunessan, an anchorage we have grown to hate.  

Quandary said: The four cottages in a row on Gometra, near the sound, were built for MacBraynes Staffa boatmen who used to row passengers ashore from the steamers that stopped there. This thread has whetted my interest too, I must make an effort to call there again soon, much better than Bunessan, an anchorage we have grown to hate. Click to expand...

Lots of wee nooks and crannies to explore. That is what I love in a week of mini-adventures on a wee boat. Excited :encouragement:.  

• 21 Mar 2019

My first visit to Ulva was in 1990, I think, while circumnavigating Mull in my Jouster. We'd been to Bunessan - a dreary place, as I recall, and a long walk from the anchorage to the village, where we went to a village hall concert. We had hoped to have a look at Staffa, but the weather forecast was getting worse and worse so I decided to ride it out at Ulva ferry. By the time we got there the forecast was F11 for Malin and F12 for further west. A little nerve-wracking. We anchored directed off the café in about 3m of water and let out all 35m of chain I had. It blew a hoolie. Nothing near F11 where we were, but my logbook says it was F8/9. I went out once to check the anchor; the chain was bar-taut and entered the water 10m in front of the boat. Knickers to catenaries. Because of the contorted shape of the passage, there was very little fetch, so for all the screaming of the wind there were little more than ripples. It's the only time to date that I have ever kept an anchor watch, and my dominant memory is sitting by the light of a hurricane lamp, listening to the radio and the howling outside and looking out of the window to see the café rock steady to the side. It was a very strange and surreal night. Ulva and Gometra are like that. It's much - well, a bit - more developed as a boating place now, with nice pontoons and a new shore building due to go up, which has taken some of the remote charm. However, as NormanS says there are plenty of places to go and it's very good to see the buy-out begin to have an effect. I hope to go sailing long enough to visit Ulva as a thriving community of dozens or scores of people. The island once supported 800, and what Gigha has done I am sure Ulva can do as well. Golly, Romeo, but I'm jealous. Let us know how you get on, please.  

• 31 Mar 2019

• 14 Apr 2019

Romeo said: Tides, daylight and wind condition did not align sufficiently to allow us to get all the way round Ulva. Had a cracking few days of rock dodging in Loch na Keal. Climbing Ben Mor the day before gave us a chance to plan the best ways through the sound of Ulva........ we slipped through the narrow East passage on the way back. Had a great lunch at the Boathouse and Dinner at Ballygowan. Thank you all for your advice. What a stunning cruising area. Click to expand...

Spent most of last week circumnavigating Mull, with a lot of sailing and anchoring in some of the lovely wee places in and around the Ross of Mull. With the settled easterly conditions, was able to spend time at and around Calgary. Unfortunately, the ice cream shop was closed.  

NormanS said: Spent most of last week circumnavigating Mull, with a lot of sailing and anchoring in some of the lovely wee places in and around the Ross of Mull. With the settled easterly conditions, was able to spend time at and around Calgary. Unfortunately, the ice cream shop was closed. Click to expand...

• 15 Apr 2019

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The school in Gometra

"The school in Gometra was once just a tiny cottage and faced the sea — in fact the sea almost came up to the door step! From the school windows we could watch the seals - hundreds of them - flopping in and out of the water and basking on the rocks. Birds too were in abundance. There was a round stone in the middle of the road and every day thrushes came with the whelks they picked from the sea shore and broke the shells on this particular stone to extract the food from inside the shell. We thought it was very hard work! You could hear them tapping away from inside the school.

"A very elderly gentleman was the teacher before I took over. There were twelve pupils in the school then and they were very very shy. They were quite intelligent but it was quite a problem getting them to talk. They had done no hard work of any kind, nor projects. I set the boys to make fishing nets and the girls to knit and sew. I also introduced them to the many wild flowers which grew on the island. We pressed them and named them and gradually they lost their shyness and became very eager pupils.

"One Saturday I took them to Staffa for a picnic. In those days it was the fishermen from the island that went out to meet the steamer from Oban to take the passengers to Staffa. We went out with them. Fingal’s cave was a source of wonder to them. In the cave we sang a song and after each line the echo resounded round the whole cave to the amazement of the children and the delight of the passengers from the steamer. The captain then invited the pupils to inspect his ship! That was truly a great day for them."

(Memories of Miss M. MacLean, past teacher of Gometra, Notes on Gometra School, Mhari MacFadyen, Tony Burgess, Angus MacColl, 1972, Manuscript in Gometra Archive.) Extracted from Gometra: a history by Roc Sandford.

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Gometra facts for kids

Gometra ( Scottish Gaelic : [ Gòmastra ] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup ( help ) ) is an island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, lying west of Mull . It lies immediately west of Ulva , to which it is linked by a bridge, and at low tide also by a beach. It is approximately 425 hectares ( 1 + 5 ⁄ 8 square miles) in size. The name is also applied to the island summit, which is a Marilyn . The island has been owned since 1991 by Roc Sandford, a wealthy environmental campaigner who lives mostly in London and part of the year on Gometra.

According to Gillies (1906) Gometra is from the Norse gottr + madr + ey and means "The good-man's island" or "God-man's island". Mac an Tàilleir (2003) offers "Godmund's island". The Norse Goðrmaðray may also mean "warrior priest's island". The Gaelic Gu mòr traigh meaning "only at low tide" has been proposed as the meaning of the name, but may be an example of folk etymology. Mediaeval charters render the name "Gomedrach".

Like much of nearby Mull and Ulva , Gometra is formed almost entirely from basalt lavas erupted during the early Palaeogene period. A couple of dykes are mapped cutting, and hence younger than, the basalt. In common with other such igneous intrusions assigned to the 'Mull Swarm', they are aligned northwest–southeast. Pipe-amygdales are present in some locations.

The island is agricultural , formerly growing grain for the monastery on Iona . Once home to a population of over a hundred, it is now down to a tight-knit community of a handful of people, up to a thousand black face sheep, highland cattle, pigs, horses, a flock of feral goats, and red deer . Historical sites on the island include an old burial ground , the remains of two duns and old settlements. It has no school , doctor , or ferry . It has a weekly postal service and issues its own local carriage stamps.

It is part of the Loch Na Keal National Scenic Area , one of 40 in Scotland.

The island became part of the Kingdom of the Isles , during the Norse era. Whereas nearby Ulva and Staffa belonged to the MacQuarries from the 10th century, Gometra became a possession of the Iona monastery prior to passing into the hands of the Duke of Argyll . Dean Monro makes no mention of Gometra or Ulva in his 1549 work A Description of the Western Isles of Scotland but both are referred to briefly by John Monipennie c. 1612, stating of the latter that "about 300 paces from this island, lyeth Gomatra, two miles long and one mile broad".

In 1821 Ulva was sold by the trustees of the MacDonalds of Staffa to Lt-General Charles MacQuarrie (brother of General Lachlan MacQuarrie), and after his death was bought in 1835 by Francis William Clark of Ulva, a lawyer from Stirling, of Morayshire origin who began a brutal clearance of a substantial proportion of the inhabitants of Ulva within a few years. However the MacDonalds of Staffa retained Gometra until 1858 when it was sold to Donald MacLean, who built Gometra House.

In 1932, the island was sold to the English mountaineer Hugh Ruttledge (1884–1961), who had taken early retirement from the Indian Civil Service and planned a life as a farmer. While living on the island, Ruttledge led two British expeditions to Mount Everest , in 1933 and 1936, and took up sailing. In 1950, he moved to Dartmoor .

Gometra House had fallen into disrepair and parts were near collapse by the 1980s, but was reoccupied and restored as a family home in the 1990s. Millionaire and environmental campaigner Roc Sandford owns the island, which he bought in 1991. He lives “off grid” on Gometra for one third of the year and lives in London the rest of the year.

In 2012, concerns were expressed by islanders about the siting of a large fish farm by the Scottish Salmon Company in Loch Tuath to the north of the island.

Weather and tides permitting, it takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to travel by track from the houses on the west of Gometra to the ferry landing stage on Ulva for the crossing to Mull, using a 4×4 vehicle. The same trip can be done in 50 minutes on a quad bike. By boat from Acarseid Mhòr the journey only takes 20 minutes.

• This page was last modified on 26 February 2024, at 17:05. Suggest an edit .

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Check out Moscow’s NEW electric river trams (PHOTOS)

Water transportation has become another sector for the eco-friendly improvements the Moscow government is implementing. And it means business. On July 15, 2021, on the dock of Moscow’s ‘Zaryadye’ park, mayor Sergey Sobyanin was shown the first model of the upcoming river cruise boat.

The model of the electrical boat with panoramic windows measures 22 meters in length. The river tram - as Muscovites call them - has a passenger capacity of 42, including two disabled seats. The trams will also get cutting edge info panels, USB docking stations, Wi-Fi, spaces for scooters and bicycles, as well as chairs and desks for working on the go. The boats will be available all year round, according to ‘Mosgortrans’, the regional transport agency. 

Passengers will be able to pay with their ‘Troika’ public transport card, credit cards or bank cards. 

The main clientele targeted are people living in Moscow’s river districts - the upcoming trams will shorten their travel time in comparison to buses and other transportation by five times, Mosgortrans stated. 

As the river trams are being rolled out, Moscow docks will also see mini-stations, some of which will also be outfitted with charging docks for speed-charging the boats.  

Moscow is set to announce the start of the tender for construction and supply in September 2021. The first trams are scheduled to launch in June 2022 on two routes - from Kievskaya Station, through Moscow City, into Fili; and from ZIL to Pechatniki. 

“Two full-scale routes will be created in 2022-2023, serviced by 20 river trams and a number of river stations. We’ll continue to develop them further if they prove to be popular with the citizens,” the Moscow mayor said .

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