https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002pmzl/banjo-and-ros-grand-island-hotel
Has anybody watched it?
I enjoyed it, it's very gentle and has highlighted a small island I had no idea existed. They'll be mobbed when it opens (judging by the comments on 'socials' etc); that'll bring much-needed income to the area but also its own issues. It occurred to me and Mrs CD that there's almost certainly no crime on the island. Currently...
That's the problem Ulva and Gometra are quiet and have lots of great wild life, I just hope the beasts survive the onslought of TV and and social media attention. There seem to be plenty of tourists on Mull and few people live on Ulva.
We camped out of sea kayaks on Gometra and the wildlife was stunning including drumming snipe. I not conviced that the exposure will be good for the critters.
Look what the wonders of SKY did for Newbourgh in Anglesey.
Banjo and Ro are well-known in these parts, so it was good to see the endeavours of the many people who participated finally on the small screen. It’s good to see the big house getting some badly needed attention - it was sad to see the state it was is simply due to neglect. There’s quite a back story behind the community owned organisation that own and run the island and the politics that I won’t bore you with. A friend is one of the few island residents - gets a brief mention but not seen.
For those that like what they see, there are a couple of self-build plots on the island for sale at a bargain £40k - ownership or access to a landing craft to help ship the materials across would come in handy.
Given that the population of Ulva and Gometra exceeded 800 people in the mid-late 1800s, there’s plenty of scope for a few more folks without really affecting the wildlife. The clearances had a dramatic impact on the local population and the events were still in the living memory of residents until fairly recently.
It’s a cracking day out for a kayak around the islands, particularly the geology and basalt columns - Staffa is only a few miles away. There’s also a rough 4x4 track around the islands- I’ll get my bike across one day.
As for the impact on general tourism to Mull, we’ll wait and see - Will and Kate stopped by last April (did get a wee chat) plus there’s a new Balamory series released later this year. A lot depends on whether Calmac can deliver - we’re not due a full capacity ferry service for another 4 years. We’ve also seen what excess tourism numbers have done for Skye and thankfully a bridge will be prohibitively expensive.
I'm guessing the Gribun rocks are still blocking the road ? I was there in August and wouldn't rush back to the Sound of Mull or the £8 takeaway pie from Iona even though it was tasty so much tourist tax
Staffa trip was very good but we were spoiled with the warm sunshine and blue sky
Good for business bad for the quiet life. My climbing club has just knocked back an offer of silly money for our club house to be a location in a film. Imagine hords of insta hunters rocking up for a selfie when youre having a chat and a brew on Sunday morning. I'll probably watch it though.
Here's one of the residents on Ulva
Gribun road will remain ‘closed’ for a while as investigations are ongoing and mitigation plans not established as the costs are prohibitive. Locals are still using the road for access as it’s a long detour.
I think quiet life is relative - the island ferry only runs on limited hours, there’s little accommodation - the hotel, a hostel and 2 bothies.
Banjo and Ro are well-known in these parts, so it was good to see the endeavours of the many people who participated finally on the small screen. It’s good to see the big house getting some badly needed attention - it was sad to see the state it was is simply due to neglect. There’s quite a back story behind the community owned organisation that own and run the island and the politics that I won’t bore you with. A friend is one of the few island residents - gets a brief mention but not seen.
MrsRNP and I watched it last night. I commented that Banjo and Ro have access to resources (tv production companies etc) that other locals probably wouldn’t and they looked to involve the community so I expected that their contribution to the local area was beneficial to all…..but then there would be no doubt extra tourists? I don’t know how the local economy fared previously without tv exposure?
I was surprised at the lack of local accents in most of the people on the program? - I would be expecting a fairly broad what I imagine to be Scottish accent. Do Mull / neighbouring islands have a large influx of people from outside of the area?
I must admit I only clicked on the thread as I didn’t know what an Ulva was and fortunately it wasn’t what I feared.
Mrs Kilo liked Banjo on the previous BBC interiors programme so wil probably try and watch this, I found him quite irritating and the programme a load of old shite so will not.
Do Mull / neighbouring islands have a large influx of people from outside of the area?
A lot of the Highlands and Islands does.
A lovely wee place for a slow and long daunder, even on a bitterly cold April day....
My 80 year old father fell in love with Mull, Iona and Ulva on our inner Hebrides trip a few years ago.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/51998184302/in/album-72177720298047965
https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/51999456604/in/album-72177720298047965
We enjoyed the series, binged them over few nights on iplayer. Though we found the way they did it all frustrating- obviously doing for dramatic effect/ tv - like fully plastering or decorating rooms then fixing the gaping holes in roof and window.
It was enjoyable and will watch the next series. We also commented on the amount of non-local accents and thought the lack of control they had due to the community ownership could prove challenging in future - sure it will add to the telly drama of it all.
Want to visit as looked lovely area.
Mull and the islands are absolutley wonderful. We did a sea kayak trip and had a great paddle with wonderful wildlife and great scenery. With out trying we saw otters, golden and sea eagles saw drumming snipe and heard corncrakes at the camp site.
The cafe at Ulva did really nice food and near Ulva there is a waterfall where you can get behind the water. You do get very wet particulary if you fall into the pool at base of the fall like I did.
We had a great week on Mull and paddled in some other great locations around Oban including the Gravallachs, slate islands and Lismore.
We didn't get to Staffa as it was too windy so we have some unfinished bussiness with the area.
If you like old house restoration series this is an old building be rescued near us;
Have been to Ulva a few times - first time with bikes to stay at Bearnus and twice to Cragaig with boats (pre- and post-Banjo's makeover). Cragaig is the pick of the two - stunning place. Both now available on AirBnB.
The Instagram crowd don't appear to travel far from vehicles, so the rest of Ulva (and Gometra) hopefully won't get hammered.
Apparently Mull population is now 33% English and the Skye population is 50% English. Changed days since I grew up there and feels a bit odd when you go back and it appears few have local accents.
Do Mull / neighbouring islands have a large influx of people from outside of the area?
Like playing about with maps?
Found the census maps - interesting, I might have thought that it was quite insular, but then younger generations probably leave for the big city and there’s also an influx of people seeking solitude?
Anyways - currently sitting in the workshop of a stinking foam factory I know where I’d rather be!
younger generations probably leave for the big city and there’s also an influx of people seeking solitude?
Bit of a vicious circle going on too regarding house prices.
Housing is an issue right across the Highlands and Islands, not just Mull - fortunately it's not as expensive here as Skye for example. An acute shortage of long-term rentals means that anyone who wants a job (or two) can easily find one, just don't expect to get rich.
It's pretty well accepted that young people leave the island for both higher education and early careers unless you want to be a fisherman, farmer, forester, retail or hospitality. It's a great place to bring up a family with almost no crime and everyone knows everyone. Funnily enough an island like this is pretty hard to 'disappear' as strangers, particularly in winter stick out like a sore thumb.
Yes, there are quite a few incomers here and not just English, but quite international and diverse - it does add to vibrancy of the place in comparison to many of the mainland towns. Far more diverse than where we lived previously in Hampshire. There are a few bams who moan about incomers, but at least we're not at the level of flag-shaggery seen down south. Argyll & Bute has one of the oldest age demographics in the Scotland and needs to be re-balanced.
We await with interest what the summer will bring - someone kindly reminded us that it's only 10 weeks until the 'season' starts, particularly with an early Easter. As I said earlier, the Mull is 50 miles end-to-end and with a population of 3,000 there's still quite a lot of space for everyone.
Gratuitous photo of my kayak in Fingal's Cave, Staffa last summer
We had a great week on Mull a couple of years ago, including days out on Ulva and Iona. Ulva was lovely, although the number of ticks that the dog picked up was, er, impressive.
MrsIHN would move there at the drop of a hat, which, whilst a bit remote for my liking, is preferable to her other dream of moving to Shetland...
For those that like what they see, there are a couple of self-build plots on the island for sale at a bargain £40k - ownership or access to a landing craft to help ship the materials across would come in handy.
I had a look at those plots when I watched the program. One of them looks significantly better positioned than than the other, slightly elevated, better view, not in a land drain. Possibly a little too remote even for my tastes.
There’s another lovely potential building spot on the island, quite near the big house - a small promontory withe the sea on 3 sides. Unfortunately also the spot where every discarded appliance or broken machinery ends up.
‘Remoteness’ is one of those terms people often use to describe the islands (particularly on social media) that gets a lot of push-back from islanders. Remote from what? In 2 hours you can be in a town on the mainland.
But it’s that little bit of ‘remoteness’ that often forces you to be resilient and resourceful. It means that other locals are happy to share and help should you need it. I work in the island’s only hardware store and often strangers first port of call at time of need.
We have successfully ‘broken’ into cars with keys insides (we possess the tools and know-how). We’ll come and jump start your car to make sure you can catch your ferry. If someone needs a tool well often lend you one from the shop or from home. I’ve fixed bikes, repaired punctures and supplied tyres and spares for cyclists in need.
OK, island life isn’t for everyone, but just being that little bit out of the way means it often brings out the best in people.
Maybe remote isn't the right word; I agree there are very few, if any, places in the UK that I consider to be remote.
Possibly a little too remote inaccessible even for my tastes.
You are describing island life in Tobermory not Ulva. I think the lack of vehicle access is a step too far for me. Any DIY building materials (after the house is built) have to be transferred to a boat then then to the house. Etc, etc. Sounds idyllic but the practicalities of life become more of a challenge.
I suspect the community ownership folk aren't really looking to populate the island with people on the brink of retirement.
‘Remoteness’ is one of those terms people often use to describe the islands (particularly on social media) that gets a lot of push-back from islanders. Remote from what? In 2 hours you can be in a town on the mainland.Yes but the town is Oban - its good for the size it is, but even Oban is not exactly "handy" for anywhere else. Anything Oban can provide you in 2 hrs, I can probably get in the central belt in 30-40 minutes. Anything you can't get in Oban - probably means going to Glasgow or Edinburgh. In the time it takes you to do that I can be almost anywhere in Europe! I'm not criticising Mull, or Oban or being remote, I completely get the point you are making about the fact you'll jump start my car, or fix my puncture whilst in Edinburgh I'd get berated for blocking the road and no help. I think for me, the thing that would be a step too far is having to either bus your kids for over an hour each way to go to school or send them off the island. I know that is a point of some controversy, and of course some people pay through the nose to do that for a "better" education anyway. A lot of the world seems to have got smaller with the availability of low cost flights, internet shopping etc. Imagine if you could fly from Oban to London how that could transform options for residents of Mull.
Oban has an airport and you seem to be able to get flights to London etc from quick google.
Oban has an airport and you seem to be able to get flights to London etc from quick google.
Really?
Things must have moved on a bit from when my parents lived a few hundred metres from it in the early noughties.
It is (or was) more a short bit of tarmac with a flying club in a shed, a few Cessnas and something for an air ambulance to land on kind of thing. Maybe a postal service to Coll and whatnot. You'd be extending the runway into the sea if you wanted to land anything more substantial.
Well, it does have regular visits by A440Ms but we'd better not get started on those or DrJ will be getting upset.
Anything Oban can provide you in 2 hrs, I can probably get in the central belt in 30-40 minutes.
Maybe as I grow older I look at all the 'stuff' and 'services' and 'entertainment' of the modern world and think 'meh*'. A good part of me is happy to drop some of that, focus on what really matters.
I met my first ever boss on Orkney a couple of years ago. They had everything they wanted to hand, despite being 15 miles from the one town...and everything else was a courier...
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*plus you can get it couriered easily onto Mull or other such locations.
**I too would struggle with island life, but that is more about island than remoteness...
Maybe as I grow older I look at all the 'stuff' and 'services' and 'entertainment' of the modern world and think 'meh*'. A good part of me is happy to drop some of that, focus on what really matters.
Sure, but 'services' includes medical care - something we all need more of as we age.
Correction you can fly from Oban to the Herbridian Islands like Col, Stornaway etc, I sure I would rather go to the islands rather than London anyway. Sorry my faulty googling and interesting flight finding websites.
Maybe as I grow older I look at all the 'stuff' and 'services' and 'entertainment' of the modern world and think 'meh*'. A good part of me is happy to drop some of that, focus on what really matters.
Sure, but 'services' includes medical care - something we all need more of as we age.
True. Something I know all about at present. And that journey is rather long....
Watched the episodes and really enjoyed it. Thought the style, photography and is it cinematography? were all spot on.
looks an amazing island and house / hotel opportunity and wish the boys and locals all the best of success with the project.
if they do it on that minuscule budget then it will be amazing.
Grandpa stole the show.