Lochbuie (Gaelic: Locha Buidhe, yellow loch) is a tiny settlement on Mull in the Scottish Inner Hebrides. It's in a small fertile patch amid boggy rocky uplands, miles from anywhere. When Dr Johnson visited in 1773 with Boswell, the clan chief was curious to know whether he was a Johnson of Glencroe or of Ardnamurchan.

Get in

You need a car, or to be a keen cyclist: Lochbuie is 20 miles from Craignure down a long lonely lane with no public transport.

See

• 1 Moy Castle, Lochbuie PA62 6AA. Remains of a 15th century tower, abandoned in 1752. The structure is unsafe so you can't go inside. (updated May 2019)
• 2 Lochbuie Stone Circle is a well preserved prehistoric stone circle. It's within the grounds of Lochbuie House but you can walk to it via a boggy path. The House itself was built in the 18th C and once hosted Johnson and Boswell; it's private.
• The small church is St Kilda's (Episcopal), built 1876; services are occasionally still held here.

Do

• The best beach is Laggan Sands, east of the tidal island. Walk south along them to visit the MacLaine clan mausoleum.

Eat

• 1 Old Post Office, ☏ +44 1680 814153, ✉ flora@dobhrancroft.co.uk. Daily 09:00-17:00. Small cafe. They also deliver ready-cooked meals, see online menu, but they need a week's notice. (updated May 2019)

Sleep

• Camping is only permitted above the beach just beyond the Old Post Office; no caravans.
• Lochbuie Self-Catering cottages (by road junction near Moy Castle). Kathleen Cottage and Mabel Cottage are run by Lochbuie House. (updated May 2019)

Connect

You might just about get a signal on Vodafone outdoors, but not on O2, EE or Three, as of May 2020.

Go next

The only road leads back towards Craignure. But turn west onto the main road to reach Fionnphort thence Iona.