May

May is a good month to visit the Treshnish Islands.

The Treshnish Islands sit a few miles south of the Treshnish headland, and there are wonderful views of the islands from the coast beyond Haunn. The Puffins arrive on the Treshnish Islands in April and generally by the beginning of August their numbers are decreasing as the young have fledged. But in May they are busy breeding, popping their heads up from their burrows to see who is coming. Harp Rock is noisy and crammed with nesting, squabbling seabirds.

The Treshnish Islands and Treshnish Farm have a historical connection as they were part of the original Treshnish Estate. We bought Treshnish (the farm) in 1994, but we did not want to buy the Treshnish Islands – we could not afford them either!

What is Mull like in May?

People often ask What is Mull like in May? And I hope this monthly note will help build a picture. The month of May always seems to me to be full of promise – new leaves and foliage are bursting forth, splashing colour onto trees and bushes. The Primroses are still in bloom and Bluebells carpet the woods, filling the air with their heady sweet scent. Wild garlic is plentiful, and guests are welcome to forage and make their own wild garlic pesto, or use it to flavour soups. We hear the Cuckoo, and often see the Cuckoo. The Swallows return. We watch out to see if any House martins will try and nest on the wall of the steading. The Red Throated Diver and the Great Northern Diver are still around.

You can get a better picture of farm life in May from reading our farm blog here. And a better idea of the wildlife around by reading Prasad’s wildlife blog here.

The sailing season has begun and you can spot the yachts appearing round Treshnish Point on their way to the Treshnish islands.

Lambing finishes in the middle of May. And in May we embark on our strict grazing regime. This governs where the sheep can graze in order to protect ground nesting birds and to allow wild flowers to flower and set seed. For 6 weeks until the middle of June we do not allow stock into certain fields and in some herb rich fields we do not cut silage until September.