A tiny island off the west coast of Scotland has decided to effectively shut itself to tourists every Sunday during the summer months after experiencing an unexpected rise in visitor numbers following the popularity of a television programme.
Ulva, one of the smallest inhabited islands in the Hebrides, has become an unlikely tourist hotspot after featuring prominently in the TV series Banjo and Ro’s Grand Island Hotel. The programme follows interior designer Banjo Beale and his husband Ro Christopher as they attempt to restore and redevelop a historic mansion on the island into a boutique hotel.
The sudden attention has dramatically increased tourist footfall on the island, which is home to only 16 permanent residents. In response to the growing pressure on local infrastructure and residents, the operators of the Ulva Ferry service announced that ferry operations between Ulva and the neighbouring Isle of Mull would be suspended on Sundays throughout June, July and August.
In a statement shared on social media, the ferry company said the rise in tourist numbers had been “unprecedented” and admitted that the scale of the increase had taken everyone by surprise. The operators explained that the temporary Sunday closure was necessary to allow ferry staff, restaurant workers and island residents time to rest and prepare for the week ahead.
The ferry company added that travellers who had already booked accommodation or planned journeys involving Sundays would still be accommodated despite the reduced schedule.
Ulva can only be reached through a short five-minute ferry crossing from Mull. The ferry is limited to foot passengers, and the island itself has no roads. Residents and visitors move around mainly on foot or by using quad bikes and other small vehicles.
Despite the concerns about overcrowding, some residents say tourism has provided an important boost to the local economy. Andy Primrose, who runs a small hostel on the island, said local businesses had benefitted from the growing interest in Ulva.
According to Primrose, popular spots such as the Boathouse restaurant near the ferry point have seen significantly more visitors than usual this year. However, he stressed that the increase had not become unmanageable and that many islanders welcomed the additional business opportunities.
At the same time, he acknowledged that the island’s tiny population naturally limits how much tourism it can handle. With only 16 residents — including children — the burden of running businesses and managing visitor services falls on a very small number of people.
Ulva was once home to nearly 800 residents, but its population steadily declined over the decades. In 2018, the island was purchased by the North West Mull Community Woodland Company after former owner Jamie Howard placed the estate on the market.
The community group said its goal was to encourage social and economic development on the island while working towards repopulating the area. At the time of the purchase, only six people lived on Ulva. Since then, the population has increased to 16, partly aided by new attention brought through tourism and media exposure.
Banjo Beale, who is originally from Australia and has also appeared on Scotland’s Home of the Year, had earlier expressed hope that the restoration project would encourage more people to visit and stay on the island. Residents now say that vision has become a reality — perhaps more quickly and more extensively than anyone expected.
