A remote Scottish island with colourful harbour buildings, rugged mountains, wildlife and dramatic sea views has featured in the latest episode of 22 Kids and Counting.
The Isle of Mull, in Scotland's Inner Hebrides, was the setting for an emotional journey for Noel Radford and family friend Jamie Walker.
The pair travelled to the island to climb Ben More in memory of Jamie's daughter Sophie, who died aged 17 following a seven-year battle with a rare form of kidney cancer.
Their journey took them from Oban across the water to Mull, with the ferry crossing forming part of the trip to one of Scotland's most spectacular islands.
The Isle of Mull
But while the visit had a deeply personal reason, Mull is also one of the country's most distinctive destinations, with everything from a picture-postcard harbour to wild mountains, beaches and some of Britain's most impressive wildlife.
A fairytale island reached by ferry
Mull is one of Scotland's largest islands and is part of the Inner Hebrides.
The most direct route for visitors is from Oban, where a CalMac ferry crosses to Craignure on Mull.
The journey takes around 45 minutes.
Arriving on Mull feels very different from arriving in an ordinary seaside town.
The island has a population of around 3,000 and is known for its rugged landscape, quiet roads, coastal scenery and wildlife.
For Noel and Jamie, the destination was not simply a holiday getaway.
They were there to tackle Ben More as a tribute to Sophie, making the mountain climb the emotional centrepiece of their trip.
Visitors can access the island by ferry (Image: ALAN PETTIGREW)
Tobermory looks like something from a storybook
One of Mull's most recognisable places is Tobermory, the island's main town.
Its harbour is lined with brightly coloured buildings, creating the postcard image that has become synonymous with Mull.
The town was originally established as a fishing port in the late 18th century and remains the island's main centre for shops, restaurants and tourism.
The colourful waterfront is also familiar to television viewers.
Tobermory became famous as the setting for the children's programme Balamory, bringing its distinctive harbour and brightly painted buildings to audiences across the UK.
Behind the harbour are wooded hills, while the town itself sits around Tobermory Bay.
For visitors, it provides a base for exploring the wider island, with boat trips, independent businesses and places to eat.
The mountain at the heart of Mull
The main reason Noel and Jamie travelled to Mull was Ben More.
Standing at 966 metres, Ben More is the highest point on Mull and the island's only Munro.
It dominates the landscape and can be seen from across much of the island.
The mountain sits in the rugged centre of Mull between two sea lochs, creating dramatic views across the surrounding landscape.
The climb is not simply a gentle countryside walk.
Routes to the summit are described as moderate, with steep sections, and a typical ascent and return can take several hours.
For those who reach the summit, the reward is a panoramic view across Mull and the surrounding islands and mountains.
It was here that Noel and Jamie took on their emotional challenge in memory of Sophie.
An island made for wildlife
Mull is also famous for its wildlife.
The island is particularly associated with white-tailed sea eagles, while visitors can also spot golden eagles, otters, red deer, dolphins and whales.
The coastline and surrounding waters provide opportunities for boat trips, while offshore islands including Staffa and the Treshnish Isles are popular with visitors looking to see seabirds and marine wildlife.
Mull's landscape changes dramatically from one part of the island to another, from mountains and moorland to beaches, sea lochs and woodland.
The Isle of Mull is known for its stunning wildlife
Beaches, castles and ancient history
There is more to Mull than mountains.
Calgary Bay, in the north of the island, is known for its white sand and coastal scenery, while the island is also home to Duart Castle, a dramatic 13th-century fortress overlooking the Sound of Mull.
Visitors can also travel onwards to Iona, which lies just off the south-western tip of Mull and is famous for its historic abbey and long association with Christianity.
Why Mull is worth the journey
For Noel and Jamie, Mull was the backdrop to a deeply personal tribute.
But for visitors, the island offers a very different kind of Scottish getaway, one where a ferry journey leads to colourful harbour towns, huge mountains, secluded beaches and some of the UK's most spectacular wildlife.
And towering above it all is Ben More, the mountain that brought the 22 Kids and Counting stars to Mull and gave their journey its poignant purpose.
22 Kids and Counting continues every Sunday at 8pm on Channel 5.
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