The Sunken Gold of Tobermory Bay

The west coast of Scotland is no stranger to shipwrecks. These wild waters and rocky shores have sent hundreds of unfortunate vessels to their doom. Even the gentle bay of Tobermory is said to hold the remains of a large Spanish ship, which sank in mysterious and dramatic circumstances. 

After the Spanish Armada had been defeated by the English Navy in 1588, remnants of the fleet scattered in all directions. Many ships were forced to make the long and treacherous journey around Scotland’s north coast. Several were lost as they battled terrible storms, but one battered and bruised vessel managed to limp to safety in Tobermory Bay. 

The Isle of Mull was in control of clan chief Lachlan Mór Maclean of Duart Castle, a large and warlike character who saw the foreign arrivals as an opportunity. When the Spanish captain demanded assistance from the islanders to feed his men and repair his ship, Lachlan negotiated a deal. 

He would be happy to help but required more than just Spanish gold as payment. In return for the necessary supplies, they were to provide a hundred soldiers to aid the Macleans in their fight against their MacDonald rivals. These were some of the best trained and equipped infantry in Europe and they could tip the scales of a long- running feud in Lachlan’s favour. 

The Macleans provided hostages to be held on the Spanish ship and then the soldiers joined the clansmen. For over a month, the combined force devastated the MacDonald-held Small Isles of Eigg, Muck, Rum and Canna. Lachlan didn’t want to stop there, but the Spaniards insisted it was time to return to Tobermory. 

Back on Mull, word had begun to spread that the Spanish had arrived with more than just soldiers in their ship’s hold. Everybody knew that Spain was rich and now the captain had been seen eating his meals from silver tableware. There was every chance that this was one of the Armada’s treasure ships, laden with gold coins. 

Before the Macleans could do anything about it, the ship was repaired and finally ready to make the journey home. The soldiers climbed back on board, but just as the crew prepared to set sail, their store of gunpowder mysteriously exploded. Torn apart after weeks of careful repairs, the ship sank to the bottom of Tobermory Bay, along with any Spanish gold that may have been aboard. 

Amongst many theories, it's claimed that Lachlan was responsible for the explosion, unhappy that the Spanish cut their bargain short after proving so useful. It’s also been supposed that English spies had somehow caused the blast after discovering where their Spanish enemies were sheltering. 

The mystery of why the ship sank pales in comparison to the question of what was inside. Nobody can know for sure what lies buried beneath the silt, but the slightest promise of riches is enough motivation for some. There have been dozens of attempts to find the wreck even in modern years, but after four centuries, the lost gold of Tobermory Bay continues to elude any potential treasure hunters.