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All the United Kingdom Scotland Tiroran The Fossil Tree and Burg
AO Edited

The Fossil Tree and Burg

On a corner of the Ardmeanach peninsula on the Isle of Mull, a 50 million-year-old fossil tree hides in the coastal cliffs.

Tiroran, Scotland

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derek58
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The fossil tree   derek58 / Atlas Obscura User
Waterfalls close to the fossil tree   derek58 / Atlas Obscura User
Views over the sea loch Loch Scridain   derek58 / Atlas Obscura User
Remnants of a former township   derek58 / Atlas Obscura User
Whimsical basalt formations   derek58 / Atlas Obscura User
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Take a walk on the wild side with a visit to Burg, a little corner on the Isle of Mull that captures the best of the Scottish countryside. Along the way, you'll find ruined townships of crumbling stone houses, spectacular coastal waterfalls, and perilous views from atop 30-meter-tall cliffs.

The first half of the hike covers a timeline of human activity at Burg, passing by Bronze Age coffin cairns, a ruined Iron Age settlement, and abandoned 19th-century townships. Hikers in late spring will be treated to bluebell and wild garlic-covered forests alongside the path. A couple of miles into the hike, one can enjoy a much-needed break at the Burg bothy, taking in the spectacular views over Loch Scridain.

Past the bothy, the path turns from a flat, wide track into a twisting, narrow trail hugging the cliffs. The winds are fierce with small waterfalls flowing down from higher cliffs. Looking down at the coastline, visitors can spot strange basalt formations such as a pinwheel and warped hexagonal columns, an otherworldly marvel.

Towards the end of the hike, a precarious metal ladder drops down from the cliffs to the rocky beach below, and extreme care is required to descend. Once on the ground, it’s just a short scramble over the tide-shaped rocks and past basalt caves to the fossil tree. 50 million years ago, a lava flow solidified the tree’s imprint into the cliffside, and today the 12-meter-tall fossil remains a well-hidden but worth-seeing sight.

For this hike, it's both the journey and the destination. Whether one makes it all the way to the fossil tree or not, it's worth it to just sit by the coastline among the grazing sheep and vibrant flowers, hearing the waves crashing and looking off towards the sea.

Related Tags

Archaeology History & Culture Trails Trees Hiking Fossils

Know Before You Go

Park your car at the Tiroran car park and plan accordingly, packing plenty of food and water; the 10+ miles hike takes at least six hours round trip.

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derek58

Published

April 19, 2023

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  • https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/mull/fossil-tree.shtml
  • https://nts.org.uk/visit/places/burg
The Fossil Tree and Burg
Tiroran, Scotland, PA69 6ES
United Kingdom
56.371218, -6.208717
Visit Website

Nearby Places

Fingal's Cave

Isle of Staffa, Scotland

miles away

Iona Abbey

Argyll and Bute, Scotland

miles away

Clach Na Criche (The Wishing Stone)

Argyll and Bute, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Scotland

Scotland

United Kingdom

Places 739
Stories 49

Nearby Places

Fingal's Cave

Isle of Staffa, Scotland

miles away

Iona Abbey

Argyll and Bute, Scotland

miles away

Clach Na Criche (The Wishing Stone)

Argyll and Bute, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Scotland

Scotland

United Kingdom

Places 739
Stories 49

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