Marilyn · Argyll & Bute
Gometra
Gometra is the high point of the small tidal island of the same name, joined to Ulva by a footbridge and lying off the west coast of Mull. The 155m summit is grassy and rounded, but the position is wonderful — open Atlantic on three sides, with Staffa, Lunga and the Treshnish Isles laid out below. Reaching it requires two boat crossings and a long walk in across Ulva.
Quick facts
- Height
- 155m/ 509ft
- Grid ref
- NM 36123 41400
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
heather and grass 65% · rocky slopes 25% · coastal grass 10%
Take the small Ulva ferry from Mull, walk the four miles west across Ulva to the Gometra footbridge, then continue another mile or so to climb the easy southern flank of the hill. The summit is unmistakable: a low grassy dome marked by a small cairn. Allow most of a day including ferry waits.
Terrain
Cropped machair turf and sheep-grazed grass make for surprisingly easy walking once on the hill. The track across Ulva is firm. Rocky outcrops near the summit are dry basalt — secure underfoot.
In winter
Winter ascents are feasible but rarely worth the logistics: the Ulva ferry runs reduced services and the wind on Gometra can be ferocious. Frosts harden the going but snow is rarely more than a dusting.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow6h 31m
- Edinburgh8h 8m
Ferry access
Oban → Craignure
- Crossing time45 min
- Summer sailingsUp to 8 sailings daily (Apr–Oct)
- Winter sailings4–5 sailings daily (Nov–Mar)
- Book ahead7 days
- Last ferry backCheck CalMac timetable — sailings run until ~21:00 in peak summer
Foot passengers can usually turn up without booking. Book vehicle spaces in advance. The Lochaline → Fishnish crossing (15 min) is shorter but serves east Mull only.
Book on CalMac ↗OS maps: OS Landranger 47, OS Landranger 48, OS Explorer 374W
Mobile signal: Poor. Remote small island (Gometra, Mull group); very limited coverage.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:34
- Sunset
- 22:17
- Civil dawn
- 03:29
- Civil dusk
- 23:22
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Around Gometra on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Oban station
Argyll ferry hub; Mull, Lismore, Coll, Tiree, Barra connections
51km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Tobermory
Mull base — Ben More, Treshnish, ferry to Iona
20km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Tobermory
Mull — colourful harbour-front distillery making both unpeated and peated (Ledaig) whisky
20km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Gometra — common questions
- How hard is Gometra?
- Gometra is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Cropped machair turf and sheep-grazed grass make for surprisingly easy walking once on the hill.
- When is the best time to climb Gometra?
- The standard good-weather months for Gometra are March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.
- Can I bring my dog up Gometra?
- Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.
- Is there mobile signal on Gometra?
- Poor. Remote small island (Gometra, Mull group); very limited coverage.
- How do I get the ferry to Gometra?
- Oban → Craignure. Up to 8 sailings daily (Apr–Oct) in summer; 4–5 sailings daily (Nov–Mar) in winter. Book at least 7 days ahead. Foot passengers can usually turn up without booking. Book vehicle spaces in advance. The Lochaline → Fishnish crossing (15 min) is shorter but serves east Mull only.
- Is Gometra safe in winter?
- Winter ascents are feasible but rarely worth the logistics: the Ulva ferry runs reduced services and the wind on Gometra can be ferocious. Frosts harden the going but snow is rarely more than a dusting.
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