Calgary is an attractive scattering of houses best known for its silver sands. It is some 12 miles west of the island capital of Tobermory – or Balamory of the children's TV program, as it perhaps seems to be better known these days!
The Carthouse Tearoom & Gallery is a stone arched building, which is part of an attractive courtyard across from the main house of the Calgary Hotel. You can sit outside (in the warm sun - as we did!) or in the Gallery itself where the walls are covered in paintings by local Mull artists. The courtyard includes a small garden bordered by low stone wall and is surrounded by climbing and potted plants.
Teas include Earl Grey and herbal, there is hot chocolate and Kenyan ground coffee and Colombian decaffeinated. To eat there is millionaire's shortbread, chocolate brownies, flapjacks, sponge cakes and scones. Wherever possible organic ingredients are used. Light lunches include tortillas and nachos, salads and toasted sandwiches. The Tearoom is licensed and in addition to beers and lagers, there is Spanish Tempranillo and Australian Colombard Chardonnay. 
Why would I go there? Good break on a Mull tour – or for a half day from Tobermory.
Any Negatives? 4 o'clock is perhaps too early to close during Mull's long summer days.
Before or After
1. Visit the Silver Sands and the Calgary Art in Nature Woodland Walk. From the back of the Hotel you climb an interesting wooden walkway up a small incline, turn left and walk a couple of hundred meters. There you are presented with an excellent view of the sands.
2. Calgary Hotel owner Matthew Reade designs individual handmade carvings and furniture, some of which are displayed in the Gallery, in his workshop behind the hotel.
3. Look round the Gallery. In addition to watercolours and etchings, there is pottery, wood and ironwork.
