Ulva

The island of Ulva (Scottish Gaelic Ulbha^{? /i}) lies three kilometres west of Mull in the Atlantic Ocean off Scotland. It is about 12 km long, 4 km wide and almost 20 km² in size. It was formed about 60 million years ago by volcanic eruptions of Ben More, which today is the largest mountain on Mull with a height of 966 metres; this is also how the island of Staffa and Mull were formed. The sea level dropped dramatically 60 million years ago, revealing layers of basalt interspersed with caves. Where the outpoured lava of Ben More eventually cooled, the sea was able to reclaim the land, leaving behind rugged and eroded coastlines.

The island is mostly treeless, the highest elevation is the 313 meter high Beinn Chreagach. The island is overgrown in many places with carnations, orchids and sundew.

The island is said to have got its name from the Vikings, who sent their scouts to the island. These turned back and said Ullamh dha (No one at home). Later, Skoten from Mull settled and drove the Vikings away. The islanders subsequently lived peacefully by selling seaweed as field fertilizer. In 1722 the people of Ulva were brought before a court in Inveraray for appropriating the valuable oil of a beached whale.

In 1770 the island was inhabited by 600 people, by 1780 by only 100. The missing 500, and the 30 inhabitants of the neighbouring mini-island of Gometra, were evicted by the Highland Clearances ("purges") of large landowners in 1786. In 2011, 11 people still lived on the island. Pupils have to be taken by boat to school on Mull. In 2018, the population dropped to 6.

The majority of the inhabitants live from oyster and sheep farming. Fishing also plays a major role. Tourism has hardly found its way onto the island, which may also be due to the fact that there are no overnight accommodations on the island. The population lives in the villages of Ormaig Tin-a-t-Shainn (outdated Ormaig) and Cragaìg.

The residents speak Scottish Gaelic in everyday life, and all signs are written in Scottish.

Besides the beautiful landscape, there are several megalithic tombs and menhirs, two old Celtic cemeteries, numerous traces of the Clearances and several caves. At low tide you can also walk to the neighbouring island of Gometra, where you can still find settlement remains and the remains of a fortress.

In March 2018, the public submitted a bid of more than £4.4 million to purchase Island. The private property of the Howard family, in their possession since 1947, thus became a community-owned island on 21 June 2018. The people now want to carefully market their island, especially for soft, nature-based tourism. They also hope to attract new residents to the island.

The stone pair of Cragaig (also Ulva 1) stands near the south coast.