Hills of Britain and Ireland
OS Map of Calve Island
Height: 19m / 62ft • Prominence: 17m / 56ft • Summit : cairn • Trip reports (hill-bagging)
sunrise
14-Mar-25 • covertsnapper1 • flickr
mountains countryside camera seascape habour outside historic water clouds winter trees landscape light old new colours 54384785117
tobermory bay
Legend has it that the wreck of a Spanish galleon, laden with gold, lies somewhere in the mud at the bottom of Tobermory Bay—although the ship's true identity, and cargo, are in dispute. By some accounts, the Florencia (or Florida, or San Francisco), a member of the defeated Spanish Armada fleeing the English fleet in 1588, anchored in Tobermory to take on provisions. Following a dispute over payment (or possibly, according to local folklore, a spell cast by the witch Dòideag), the ship caught fire and the gunpowder magazine exploded, sinking the vessel. In her hold, reputedly, was £300,000 worth of gold bullion.[10] Other sources claim the vessel was the San Juan de Sicilia (or San Juan de Baptista), which, records indicate, carried troops, not treasure.[11][12][13] Whatever the true story, no significant treasure has ever been recovered in Tobermory Bay.[14] Seventeenth-century efforts to salvage the treasure are well-documented. The Duke of Lennox gifted rights to Spanish wrecks near Tobermory to the Marquess of Argyll. In 1666, his son the Earl of Argyll engaged James Maule of Melgum to use diving bells to find treasure, and recover the valuable brass cannon. Maule had learnt diving in Sweden, but raised only two brass guns and an iron cannon, and left after three months. It was later said he had hoped to return, thinking he was the only expert diver. Argyll however raised six cannon by workmen under his direction, and next employed John Saint Clare, or Sinclair, son of the minister of Ormiston, in 1676 and a German sub-contractor Hans Albricht van Treileben, who had worked on the wreck of the Vasa. The next year, the earl transferred the rights to Captain Adolpho E. Smith and Treileben. At this period the fore-part of the wreck was visible above water, and was called the Admiral of Florence. The project was beset with difficulties in 1678; the Admiralty disputed Argyll's rights to the wreck. Captain Adolpho Smith refused to return the diving equipment to William Campbell, captain of the earl's frigate, the Anna of Argyll. The McLean clan fought the divers on land at Tobermory, led by Hector McLean, brother of Lachlan McLean of Torloisk.[15] The largest attempt made to locate the galleon was in 1950 when the then Duke of Argyll signed a contract with the British Admiralty to locate the galleon. Nothing came of the attempt, apart from the development of equipment still used today to locate ancient sunk vessels.[16] Owing to similarities in sailing conditions, in the mid-1800s emigrant sailors created the community of Tobermory in Ontario, Canada. This namesake town has twin harbours, known locally as "Big Tub" and "Little Tub", which sheltered ships from the severe storms of Lake Huron. Lobster pots on the harbour wall at Tobermory Lobster pots on the harbour wall at Tobermory Tobermory war memorial Tobermory war memorial During the Second World War, Tobermory was home to the Royal Navy training base HMS Western Isles, under the command of the legendary Vice admiral Sir Gilbert Stephenson, the so-called "Terror of Tobermory". His biography was written by broadcaster Richard Baker, who trained under him.[17][18]
06-Jan-25 • covertsnapper1 • flickr
sony europa atmosphere boat expired shaddow shodow cloud scenic t2i watching undanlandscape day ice camera colour colours seascape outside countryside habour 54292573031
19057 Calve Island
Coastal Connection trip organised by Mervin Jack, clockwise round Mull. Nine of nine main island targets. Name:Calve Island Hill number:19057 Height:19m / 62ft Parent (Ma):none RHB Section:17E: Mull and Nearby Islands County/UA:Argyll and Bute (UA) Island:Non Tump island Maritime area:Mull & surrounding islands Class:SIB (SIB) Grid ref:NM 52067 55330 Summit feature:cairn Drop:17m Col:2m NM526540
24-Aug-19 • Dugswell2 • flickr
calveisland p17 sib 48635427621
OS Map
This is OS mapping. In some areas, OpenStreetMap shows more footpaths
Spatial NI has online OSNI mapping. Click "Basemap Gallery" (4 squares icon at the top).
Now would be a good time for a cup of tea.
GPX Editor
Record map clicks
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Photos
Please tag your photos and upload them to the British and Irish Mountains group on Flickr
The other photos have been geo-tagged as on or around the summit. For less busy mountains, it can be a little hit and miss.
sunrise
14-Mar-25 • covertsnapper1 • flickr
mountains countryside camera seascape habour outside historic water clouds winter trees landscape light old new colours 54384785117
tobermory bay
Legend has it that the wreck of a Spanish galleon, laden with gold, lies somewhere in the mud at the bottom of Tobermory Bay—although the ship's true identity, and cargo, are in dispute. By some accounts, the Florencia (or Florida, or San Francisco), a member of the defeated Spanish Armada fleeing the English fleet in 1588, anchored in Tobermory to take on provisions. Following a dispute over payment (or possibly, according to local folklore, a spell cast by the witch Dòideag), the ship caught fire and the gunpowder magazine exploded, sinking the vessel. In her hold, reputedly, was £300,000 worth of gold bullion.[10] Other sources claim the vessel was the San Juan de Sicilia (or San Juan de Baptista), which, records indicate, carried troops, not treasure.[11][12][13] Whatever the true story, no significant treasure has ever been recovered in Tobermory Bay.[14] Seventeenth-century efforts to salvage the treasure are well-documented. The Duke of Lennox gifted rights to Spanish wrecks near Tobermory to the Marquess of Argyll. In 1666, his son the Earl of Argyll engaged James Maule of Melgum to use diving bells to find treasure, and recover the valuable brass cannon. Maule had learnt diving in Sweden, but raised only two brass guns and an iron cannon, and left after three months. It was later said he had hoped to return, thinking he was the only expert diver. Argyll however raised six cannon by workmen under his direction, and next employed John Saint Clare, or Sinclair, son of the minister of Ormiston, in 1676 and a German sub-contractor Hans Albricht van Treileben, who had worked on the wreck of the Vasa. The next year, the earl transferred the rights to Captain Adolpho E. Smith and Treileben. At this period the fore-part of the wreck was visible above water, and was called the Admiral of Florence. The project was beset with difficulties in 1678; the Admiralty disputed Argyll's rights to the wreck. Captain Adolpho Smith refused to return the diving equipment to William Campbell, captain of the earl's frigate, the Anna of Argyll. The McLean clan fought the divers on land at Tobermory, led by Hector McLean, brother of Lachlan McLean of Torloisk.[15] The largest attempt made to locate the galleon was in 1950 when the then Duke of Argyll signed a contract with the British Admiralty to locate the galleon. Nothing came of the attempt, apart from the development of equipment still used today to locate ancient sunk vessels.[16] Owing to similarities in sailing conditions, in the mid-1800s emigrant sailors created the community of Tobermory in Ontario, Canada. This namesake town has twin harbours, known locally as "Big Tub" and "Little Tub", which sheltered ships from the severe storms of Lake Huron. Lobster pots on the harbour wall at Tobermory Lobster pots on the harbour wall at Tobermory Tobermory war memorial Tobermory war memorial During the Second World War, Tobermory was home to the Royal Navy training base HMS Western Isles, under the command of the legendary Vice admiral Sir Gilbert Stephenson, the so-called "Terror of Tobermory". His biography was written by broadcaster Richard Baker, who trained under him.[17][18]
06-Jan-25 • covertsnapper1 • flickr
sony europa atmosphere boat expired shaddow shodow cloud scenic t2i watching undanlandscape day ice camera colour colours seascape outside countryside habour 54292573031
19057 Calve Island
Coastal Connection trip organised by Mervin Jack, clockwise round Mull. Nine of nine main island targets. Name:Calve Island Hill number:19057 Height:19m / 62ft Parent (Ma):none RHB Section:17E: Mull and Nearby Islands County/UA:Argyll and Bute (UA) Island:Non Tump island Maritime area:Mull & surrounding islands Class:SIB (SIB) Grid ref:NM 52067 55330 Summit feature:cairn Drop:17m Col:2m NM526540
24-Aug-19 • Dugswell2 • flickr
calveisland p17 sib 48635427621
Approaching Scotland
14-Apr-16 • Audrey A Jackson • flickr
canon60d beauty colour history nature sea sky water 54386125595
At the dock
14-Apr-16 • Audrey A Jackson • flickr
canon60d beauty buildings clouds colour history nature sea sky water 54388184200
Red umbrellas
14-Apr-16 • Audrey A Jackson • flickr
canon60d buildings beauty colour history nature red sky windows tobermory 54347832688
The cruise ship Astoria sails northwards up the Sound of Mull near Tobermory Bay. Bottom right is a northern headland of Calve Island that stands near the mouth of the bay. Taken from the Western Isles Hotel in Tobermory in 2006!
Commentary. Only rarely have I seen Cruise Liners off the West Coast of Scotland. In this image the Astoria is sailing up the Sound of Mull to Loch Sunart and Ardnamurchan before reaching the Inner Hebrides and the open sea. In favourable conditions it must be a joy to cruise the Western Seaboard. Incredible scenery, a plethora of wildlife, mountains, islands, skerries, beaches, forest, pasture, bays, fjords, cliffs, peninsulas, headlands and seaports. Only the unpredictability of the weather stops such a cruise matching those of the Mediterranean or the Caribbean. There again, if the weather was sub-tropical this amazing, natural coastline would be ruined by high-rise hotels and rampant commercialisation. That would be pure sacrilege. Long may the life-giving rain and fiendishly annoying Midge rule this fabled coastline and keep it being one of the most beautiful in the world.
02-Aug-06 • Scotland by NJC. • flickr
isleofmull scotland unitedkingdom 54351412050
At 22:23 in high summer, the amazingly long days. Twilight so late across the busy and beautiful Tobermory Bay, Isle of Mull, Scotland.
Commentary. Some places capture your heart and mind but you don’t fully understand why. Tobermory is one such place. It doesn’t have world-famous buildings or structures. It doesn’t have 600 - 2,000-foot skyscrapers. It doesn’t have a huge population and entertainment for all ages. It cannot claim any notable residents like world-leaders, scientists or artists. It has few shops, hotels, museums or restaurants. And yet, set as it is, on a wooded semi-circular harbour, its cosy, colourful, unpretentious character strikes a convivial chord. Its cheerful blue, black, red, pink, white and yellow facades, made popular in the B.B.C. children’s programme, “Balamory,” create a smile and warm affection. Its very simplicity and lack of commercialisation is its strength. It is different in a very agreeable way. What you see, is what you get, and somehow, that is more than enough.
02-Aug-06 • Scotland by NJC. • flickr
isleofmull scotland unitedkingdom 54351230258
Videos
Thank you for watching this aerial drone video about Tobermory on the Isle of Mull in Scotland. Tobermory is a beautiful harbour ...
Salen wrecks isle of mull DJI phantom 4 pro.
Notes
- Data: Database of British and Irish Hills v18.2
- Maps: We use OS mapping for England, Scotland, Wales, and the Isle of Man. Sadly, Channel Islands, Northern (OSNI) and Southern Ireland (OSI) mapping isn't available online, so we use Openstreetmap.