Did you know
Caves worn through.
The arches are sea caves that the waves have eroded all the way through; from the beach you can stand beneath both.
Isle of Mull
Carsaig Arches
Two sea arches in the basalt cliffs west of Carsaig on Mull's south coast, reached by a tough coastal walk of about eight miles there and back.
Welcome
The Carsaig Arches are two sea arches in the basalt cliffs of Mull's south coast, west of Carsaig: caves that the waves have worn right through.
The second is smaller but taller, with a pinnacle of rock beside it. They lie at the end of a tough coastal walk of about eight miles there and back, which takes five to six hours.
You start from the parking area by Carsaig pier, which has room for only four or five vehicles. Follow the shore west under the cliffs, over rough ground and boulders, with two burns to cross. The Nun's Cave, where nuns leaving Iona are said to have sheltered, comes after about an hour, and the Arches a good hour and a half to two hours beyond it. Parts of the way are narrow and exposed, so go in settled weather, with company, on sure feet, and plan around the tide. The climb over the first arch to the second is very exposed, and a slip there could be fatal. The pier is a good place to watch seals.
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Before you go
The walk is about eight miles there and back, over rocky ground with exposed sections.
Take care, go in settled weather and not alone.
- Where
- On the south coast of Mull, west of Carsaig. The walk starts at the parking area just above Carsaig pier (grid reference NM545213).
- Walk
- About 8.25 miles (13.25 km) there and back, 5 to 6 hours, with 84 metres of ascent. The Nun's Cave is about an hour along the shore and the Arches a good hour and a half to two hours beyond it.
- Tide
- Plan around the tide. The rocky shoreline is crossed at low tide, and where the path is narrow or eroded the safer way is the rocky shore.
- Parking
- The parking area just above Carsaig pier has room for only four or five vehicles, so start early in the day.
- Getting there
- There is no public transport to the start. By road, take the signed road just west of Pennyghael off the A849 to Carsaig pier. Mull is reached by CalMac, Oban to Craignure taking 50 minutes, and ferries are often fully booked well in advance.
- Dogs
- Access rights cover dogs that are kept under control, and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code asks for a short lead or close heel on the sea shore in the breeding season, usually April to July. The route has exposed ground and burns to cross.
- Access
- Very rocky coastal path, with some clambering over boulders and two burns to ford. It is not step-free.
- Take care
- Not alone, not if you fear heights and not in bad weather. The optional climb over the first arch to the second is narrow and very exposed, and a slip there could be fatal. Walkhighlands advises extreme care at the second arch.
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Add your reviewDid you know
Did you know
The Nun's Cave.
About an hour along the shore is the Nun's Cave, where nuns who left Iona Abbey at the Reformation are thought to have taken refuge.
Did you know
Carvings and masons' marks.
The Nun's Cave has religious carvings, said to be from the 6th century, and marks left by masons who dressed stone there for Iona Abbey.
Did you know
Sandstone under basalt.
The Nun's Cave is cut into sandstone, with columns of basalt standing above it.
Did you know
Over the top.
A narrow, exposed goat track climbs over the first arch and down to the second, and is for experienced walkers with a real head for heights, in decent weather.
What is on
What is new across Mull, day by day.
New places, news and stories, as we find them.
What is on on MullWhere it is
On the south coast of Mull, west of Carsaig, at the end of a coastal walk that starts at Carsaig pier.
Close byWest of Carsaig.
Carsaig Phonebox MullThe red K6 phone box by a waterfall on the road to Carsaig pier, a location of Powell and Pressburger's 1945 film.Under a mile 2 min by road
Carsaig BayA remote bay on Mull's south coast under towering headlands, with a black sand beach, an old pier and seals.Under a mile 2 min by road
Fossil TreeThe imprint of a tree over twelve metres high in the lava cliffs at Burg on Mull, reached by a tidal walk of five miles each way.13 miles 27 min by road
Moy CastleThe 15th-century tower of the MacLaines of Lochbuie on a rock at the head of Loch Buie, saved by a long repair project.24 miles 47 min by road
Lochbuie Stone CircleMull's only stone circle, nine stones in a field below Ben Buie at Lochbuie, with three outliers.24 miles 47 min by road
Stay nearby
Places to stay near the arches, and when each is next free.
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Find out more
For further reading, before you go. The details on this page were checked on .
- Carsaig Arches, WalkhighlandsThe route in six stages, with distance, time and safety notes.walkhighlands.co.ukWalkhighlands↗
- Carsaig ArchesThe walk, its terrain and its warnings.isle-of-mull.netThe Isle of Mull↗
- Three walks from CarsaigThe pier, the black sand beach and the Arches.isleofmullcottages.comIsle of Mull Cottages↗
- Travel to Mull and IonaThe three ferry routes, buses and island roads.visitmullandiona.co.ukVisit Mull and Iona↗
- CalMac timetablesOban to Craignure, Lochaline to Fishnish, Kilchoan to Tobermory.calmac.co.ukCalMac↗