06-07-2025
How did Calgary get its name? This Scottish island holds the answer
A broad expanse of white sandy beach rims the Bay of Calgary on the Isle of Mull in Western Scotland. It is said to be one of the finest beaches in the country and while planning a visit there I pictured myself relaxing on the soft sand in a skimpy bathing suit and sunglasses. It turned out my imaginings were overly optimistic. I ended up wearing a sweater and a bright orange raincoat for my walk on the beach. After all, it's Scotland, not the Caribbean.
Even on a rainy and foggy afternoon, the Bay of Calgary is lovely. It's surrounded by pastoral countryside with lush green fields and Calgary Castle, also known as Calgary House, sits on a hillside overlooking it all. Calgary Castle was the inspiration for the name of Fort Calgary in Alberta and later the town and City of Calgary. And while Calgary, Scotland has remained a small and quiet hamlet, the City of Calgary has grown to become one of the largest metropolitan areas in Canada.
Despite its small size and rainy weather, my husband and I loved exploring Calgary Bay, the hamlet of Calgary and the Isle of Mull. After a lovely walk on the beach and a short hike that goes along the edge of the bay, we stopped at the Calgary Tearoom and Café to dry off and enjoy hot tea and treats.
The little café is the only restaurant in the hamlet, and it's located right next to an art gallery, which is the only permanent commercial business we saw there. We loved exploring the gallery, seeing some remarkable art from local artists.
Just outside the art gallery is the other main attraction in the area. The Calgary Bay Art in Nature Sculpture Trail is a three-kilometre outdoor nature trail that features sculptures from a variety of Scottish artists. The art trail winds through some woods directly behind the gallery and branches off into multiple trails. We didn't find all the sculptures, but we had fun exploring and discovering some remarkable art including a willow stag and a string lady who stands on a hill overlooking the Bay of Calgary.
It took about half a day to explore the hamlet of Calgary. We spent two more days visiting other sights on the Isle of Mull. We stayed in Tobermory, a fishing port that was established in the 18th century and is now the largest town on the Isle of Mull. Tobermory, Scotland bears some resemblance to its namesake Tobermory, Ontario in Canada. There are great restaurants and fish and chips shacks that serve delicious food made from fresh-caught fish.
Calgary Castle is privately owned so we only viewed it from the afar. On our last few hours on the Isle of Mull, we stopped at Duart Castle, which dates back to the 14th century and is the seat of Clan MacLean. It's the oldest inhabited castle on the isle and we loved exploring the grounds and the gardens.
I still dream of going back to Calgary, Scotland and seeing that white sand beach on a sunny day, but with an average of 237 rainy days per year, the chances of donning a bathing suit and sunglasses are slim. Rain or no rain, it's a beautiful place.
The name Calgary is derived from the Scottish Gaelic phrase Cala-ghearridh. The first word, 'Cala,' means 'bay' or 'harbour' and the second word means 'farm' or' preserved pasture.' When you visit Calgary, Scotland, that's exactly what you'll find — a beautiful white sand beach on Calgary Bay surrounded by picturesque farms and a castle.
The City of Calgary, Alberta doesn't bear much resemblance to Calgary Bay, but the land upon which it sits is beautiful. The name Fort Calgary was suggested by Colonel James Macleod, the commissioner of the North-West Mounted Police. Macleod was born in Scotland, and he was a frequent summer guest at Calgary Castle, which is located near the Bay of Calgary. It is said he was inspired by the beauty of the land surrounding Fort Calgary and suggested naming the fort after the castle. When the city was later incorporated, it took the name of the original fort.
You must catch a ferry or a boat to get to the Isle of Mull. Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) ferries offers three routes that carry both vehicles and foot passengers. The Oban to Craignure crossing is the only one that takes advance reservations and they book up quickly — especially during the summer months. Lochaline to Fishnish and Kilchoan to Tobermory are shorter crossings that are first-come first-served. We took the 15-minute Lochaline to Fishnish crossing to get to the Isle of Mull and the 50-minute Oban to Craignure crossing to return.
A car rental is highly recommended for getting around the Isle of Mull as there is limited taxi and bus service.
Debbie Olsen is an award-winning writer and a bestselling author. Follow her adventures at
