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A small Scottish island situated off the west coast has made the decision to close itself to visitors on Sundays in response to an unanticipated rise in tourist numbers. Ulva, home to just 16 residents, experienced this surge following its feature in the television programme *Banjo and Ro’s Grand Island Hotel*, which documents interior designer Banjo Beale and his husband Ro Christopher as they work on transforming a historic stately home on the island.
Prior to the show’s exposure, Ulva, one of the smallest inhabited islands in the Hebrides, maintained a much quieter profile. The island once supported a population of around 800 people, but numbers dwindled over the years to a mere 16, including Banjo and Ro. The Regency house at the centre of the project, which was previously the residence of Lachlan MacQuarrie—the first Governor of Australia—had fallen into disrepair before the couple undertook its redevelopment into a boutique hotel. Since the programme aired, tourist visits have soared, prompting the local ferry operator, which runs the foot passenger ferry between Ulva and the nearby island of Mull, to announce that Sunday services will be suspended during the summer months to allow the community and businesses to recuperate.
The ferry company explained on social media that the increase in visitors was beyond any expectations, impacting not just ferry operators but also the local restaurant, the Boathouse, and other islanders. Although Sunday crossings will cease for most travelers in June, July, and August, those who already have bookings for arrival or departure on Sundays will still receive assistance. The short ferry journey, lasting approximately five minutes across a narrow strait, remains the primary means of transport to and from the island, which lacks roads and relies on walking or quad bikes for movement.
Local resident Andy Primrose, who owns a small hostel on Ulva, described the influx of tourists as beneficial to local enterprises. He acknowledged that while the location around the ferry terminal and Boathouse is busy, the visitor numbers have not become overwhelming and have provided much-needed support to the island community. Primrose noted that the island’s limited population—some residents being children—places a natural cap on what the small businesses can handle, emphasizing the importance of balancing tourism with the island’s capacity. The North West Mull Community Woodland Company, which owns the island, has stated that its goal in purchasing Ulva is to foster both social and economic development, ensuring the well-being of current residents and future generations
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