An Fhearsaid

Coastal Feature, Headland, Point in Argyllshire

Scotland

An Fhearsaid

Basalt crags, Mull View past Gribun on the south side of Loch na Keal. — Basalt crags, Mull Credit: Richard Webb

An Fhearsaid, also known as Ardfern Point, is a prominent headland located in Argyllshire, Scotland. Situated on the west coast of the country, this coastal feature offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape and is a popular destination for tourists and nature enthusiasts.

The headland is characterized by its rugged cliffs, which provide a striking backdrop against the vast expanse of the North Atlantic Ocean. The cliffs are composed of ancient rock formations, showcasing layers of sedimentary rocks that have been shaped by centuries of erosion.

An Fhearsaid is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, with its coastal habitats supporting a variety of plant and animal species. Seabirds such as gannets, fulmars, and kittiwakes can often be spotted nesting on the cliffs, while seals and dolphins are occasionally seen swimming in the waters below.

The headland is also known for its archaeological significance, with the remains of ancient settlements and structures scattered along its coastline. These remnants provide valuable insights into the area's rich history, dating back thousands of years.

For visitors, An Fhearsaid offers several opportunities for outdoor activities. The headland is a popular spot for hiking, providing stunning views and a chance to explore the rugged coastal terrain. It is also a favored location for birdwatching and photography, with its dramatic cliffs and diverse wildlife offering endless photo opportunities.

Overall, An Fhearsaid in Argyllshire is a captivating coastal feature that combines natural beauty, wildlife, and historical significance, making it a must-visit destination for those seeking to experience the wonders of Scotland's west coast.

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An Fhearsaid Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 56.447637/-6.1466924 or Grid Reference NM4436. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Basalt crags, Mull

View past Gribun on the south side of Loch na Keal.

Richard Webb

Old milepost

One of the remaining mileposts on the B8035 road from Salen southwards to join the A849 for the 38 miles from Salen to Fionnphort and the Iona Ferry jetty. These posts on Mull made by Smith, Patterson of Blaydon are the only ones known to have been cast at that foundry that have a date, 1897. This post is on the west side of the road north of Balnahard.

John Hicks

Rocks on the shore of Loch na Keal at Rubha a'Ghearrain

The low-lying island in the centre of the photo is Samalan Island.

Rod Allday

Inch Kenneth from Gribun

Field gate and track leading from the B8035 at Gribun, Mull, down to the Loch opposite Inch Kenneth island

Peter Evans

Gribun sheep

Very inquisitive and/or hungry sheep along the B8035 at Gribun, Mull - February 2016

Peter Evans

Road near Clachandhu

Peter Moore

Cliffs on Mull

The road passes directly below these cliffs. It is very narrow with passing places so you hope not to meet something large coming the other way.

Malcolm Neal

Marvellous scenery on the Mull coast

The scenery here is wonderful. This bridge NM4535 : Road towards the Bungalow, Loch na Keal over an unnamed stream has a rivet benchmark NM4535 : Benchmark and lichen on it.

Neville Goodman

Benchmark and lichen

The lichen is doing a good job of very slowly obscuring the accompanying arrow of this rivet benchmark (OS description: RIVET E PARA BR 1.3M N END). The bridge parapet is shown in NM4535 : Marvellous scenery on the Mull coast.

Neville Goodman

View to Inch Kenneth

Beyond the parapet of this bridge over an unnamed stream is a narrow strip of coast and a view to Inch Kenneth two squares to the west. There is a rivet benchmark NM4535 : Benchmark on bridge parapet on the central stone of the parapet.

Neville Goodman

Benchmark on bridge parapet

The OS description is: RIVET NW PARA BR 1.6M N END. The bridge is shown in NM4535 : View to Inch Kenneth.

Neville Goodman

Where is the benchmark?

This is a fine view of the vegetated talus slope below the cliffs of Creag Mhor. Bits are still falling off. There is a rivet benchmark on the rocks left foreground. I thought it would be on the largest rock, but it was actually on the higher of the smaller pair just in front of it NM4636 : Boulders from the cliff.

Neville Goodman

Boulders from the cliff

This is a closer view of the boulders NM4636 : Where is the benchmark? below the cliffs of Creag Mhor. The rivet NM4636 : An easily overlooked rivet benchmark is on the near top surface of the higher of the two smaller stones in front of the large boulder.

Neville Goodman

An easily overlooked rivet benchmark

We were lucky to spot this one, almost covered in moss, on one in a group of boulders NM4636 : Boulders from the cliff.

Neville Goodman

Arrow revealed

Scraping the moss NM4636 : An easily overlooked rivet benchmark away revealed the arrow of the rivet benchmark.

Neville Goodman

Clachandhu from Rubha Baile na h-Airde

This is the point where the "Wilderness coast" of Mull becomes a little more subdued and is accessible to road building - the B8035 cuts across the Ardmeanach peninsula from Loch Scridain, and here drops down to a wide enough coastal plain on the shore of Loch na Keal. The flat area is at its most extensive just at this point, where a reef extends out into Loch na Keal towards Inch Kenneth and has provided enough shelter from the sea for a wide grassy area to form and provide some grazing, hence the habitation.

Andy Waddington

Balnahard from Rubha Baile na h-Airde

Having avoided the "Wilderness coast" by cutting across the Ardmeanach peninsula from Loch Scridain, the road rejoins the coast just north of Balnahard, where an area of low lying grassland provides enough grazing to support a tiny community. The screes, and cliffs behind rising to 200m face west, across a short and shallow stretch of Loch na Keal towards Inch Kenneth. The connecting reef is responsible for the shelter which has helped form the raised beach, now grassy but with a lot of flag iris which, being too tough to graze, thrives whilst other vegetation is kept down by the sheep.

Andy Waddington