Mull Head and Covenanter’s Memorial
Circular walk around Mull Head Local Nature Reserve - 5.6 km (3.5m)
Circular walk including Mull Head and the Covenanters’ Memorial - 9.2 km (5.7m)
The path to the Gloup is suitable for disabled access, allowing everyone to enjoy this spectacular collapsed sea cave. The longer walks offer you spectacular views, a touch of history and abundant wildlife.
Mull Head was designated as a Local Nature Reserve in 1993, for its wildlife, geology and history. It’s a place of high cliffs and wild heathland, battered by storms in winter and teeming with nesting birds in the summer.The sandstone cliffs have been eroded by the sea to form ledges perfect for nesting birds such as kittiwakes, guillemots, razorbills and fulmars. Other birds, including gull and skuas, prefer to nest on the open heathland, where the bushy heather provides good cover for their chicks.
Close to the cliff edge sea pinks and spring squill thrive; while the grassland is full of the attractive grass of Parnassus and eyebright. The heath is a blaze of purple ling and bell heather in late summer.
History is all around as you walk. Farming has shaped the landscape over many years, but even earlier evidence of man’s use of the area can be seen on the Brough of Deerness. Here are the remains of a small stone Norse chapel and settlement.
The Covenanters’ Memorial was erected in 1888 to mark where over 200 Covenanters were drowned in 1679. They were prisoners being transported to America when their ship was driven ashore in bad weather.
from Christine Skene
