We hear from Matilda whose family have run the Ulva ferry service for over 30 years!
My name’s Matilda, I’m 14 and I live with my brother and my parents on the Isle of Ulva. Ulva is a small island near Mull and I’ve lived here all my life. For most of my life there was just my family and two other people living here, but more people have moved here recently. It’s a very quiet place to live and I love all the wildlife and woodland that cover the island.
We go to school on Mull, my brother goes to the primary school near the pier and I get the bus to high school in Tobermory every day.
My dad grew up on Ulva too, my grandpa was the ferryman and now my dad runs the boat. In the winter it’s really quiet but in the summer it can get really busy with tourists coming to walk. It’s really close to Mull so people can get back and forth really quickly on the ferry, so it’s easy for me to go over to Mull to see my friends.
It’s a wee ferry so everything that comes over has to be carried several times before getting here.My grandpa used to take sheep and quad bikes across on the boat, he once tried to take a Shetland pony on it but it jumped out!
I feel really lucky to have grown up here as I think it’s a unique way of life and I’m proud that my family are so connected to the land.
Thank you for sharing your Story Matilda! It is so cool to hear about your life experience and heritage through the service you and your family provide to your island community and its visitors!
We always welcome hearing about all the wonderful island experiences young people have across Scotland, so if you have something you would like to share or if you want to be a part of the Young Islanders Network please get in touch at yin@youthscotland.org.uk