| Fionnphort | |
|---|---|
 The view towards Fionnphort, from Tor Mor quarry | |
  Fionnphort Location withinArgyll and Bute | |
| Population | 80 (approx.) |
| OS grid reference | NM301232 |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ISLE OF MULL |
| Postcode district | PA66 |
| Dialling code | 01681 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
| 56°19′30″N6°21′54″W / 56.325°N 6.365°W /56.325; -6.365 | |
Fionnphort (English:/ˈfɪnəfɔːrt/,Scottish Gaelic:[ˈfjun̪ˠafɔrˠt̪]) is the principalport of theRoss of Mull, and the second largest settlement in the area (its population is approximately 80).[1] The village's name is the anglicised pronunciation of the Gaelic for "White Port" and previous names have included Caol Idhe, Gaelic for "Sound of Iona".[2]
Historically, Fionnphort has been a fishing village offering religious pilgrims and tourists access toIona; more recently, it has facilitated the movement of stone from a quarry in the vicinity. Thegranite which was extracted from Tòrr Mòr Quarry until around 1907 was highly prized for itsdensity and hardness.
The beach at Fionnphort has a distinctive split granite boulder in the centre that is classed as anerratic and deposited here by an ice age glacier.[2] The beach has a car park and a nearby cemetery.
From Fionnphort, the entire east side ofIona can be seen, includingIona Abbey. To the south of the village lies the district of Fidden and the island ofErraid, mentioned inRobert Louis Stevenson's novelKidnapped and accessible to walkers at low tide.
Fionnphort has an activefishing industry, noted principally forshellfish, particularlycrabs andlobsters, the majority of which are exported by container truck toSpain andFrance.
In April 2008, residents finally had the opportunity to use acash machine, putting an end to the 100-mile (160-kilometre) round-trip toSalen villagers previously had to endure. Sandy Brunton, the local postmaster said that residents are claiming they now have the best view from a cash dispenser anywhere in Britain: "As you stand at the ATM, you have a view of Iona to the west,Coll to the north and looking east you can see the island's onlyMunro,Ben More."[1]
Fionnphort is the base of the ferry service betweenMull and Iona, and also boat trips to the isle ofStaffa.
| Preceding station | Ferry | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terminus | Caledonian MacBrayne Ferry | Iona |
| Main settlements |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Smaller settlements | ||
| Geographical features | ||
| History and architecture | ||
| Local culture and economy | ||
| Surrounding islands | ||
