I'm thinking about spending a week or two on the Isle of Mull next summer with my husband and two children, ages 6 and 10. I love beaches and pretty scenery. Is the Isle of Mull as wonderful as it sounds? And does anyone have any suggestions about what part of the island is best, or about reasonably priced accomodations?

Well, it's not big enough to worry about where. <BR> <BR>It's not exactly beach ridden. <BR> <BR>Apart from that it's wonderful. Mull lovers will hate me for this but if I were doing what you seem to want to, I'd pitch either for Islay or North Uist instead. <BR> <BR>Please feel free to come back for more specifics.

Sheila: Thanks for the suggestion. It sounds like you're the expert, and I appreciate your help! Let me back up a little bit and tell you what I'm thinking about. I'm hoping to spend a week on Iona in a conference sometime next summer. Then to spend another week or so in a wild, remote place with beaches and beautiful scenery. Can you tell me more about why you recommend Islay and North Uist? Thanks for your help.

top <BR>

OK. The Iona thing makes a difference; and by the way, Iona itself has some beautiful beaches. <BR> <BR>Mull is quite a big island and has almost a shuttle service ferry from Oban. So there are good services like supermarkets and visitor places like pubs and restaurants. Tobermory is alovely town. If I had to spend a wekk on Mull it would be no hardship. But it is a bit like the mainland, and I like to know I'm on an island. It has one great big hill in the middle and apart from that lots of glens that flow off it. But it's much of a muchness withwhat's on the ther side of the Sound of Mull. <BR> <BR>I suggested Islay because it's my favourite island in the Hebrides (OK; even I am allowed my prejudices). It's got cliffs and a few nice towns and lovely places to stay, and Gaelic culture, and birds everywhere, and beaches up and down the west coast to die for. So, in a nutshell it has everything that Mull has, except a bighill, and you can get that on Jura 20 minutes away onthe little ferry, AND it's really like an island. <BR> <BR>I suggested North Uist (which is linked by causeway to Benbecula, and south Uist and Berneray) for the same sort of reasons; plus it's in the Outer Hebrides where they really speak Gaelic.You can take day trips to Harris for hills (there are hills on the Uists but not what you might call a feature), Eriskay for the ponies and Whisky Galore stuff and Barra(I'd have to check, but I think you can) to just see another lovely island. <BR> <BR>For absoluteheart stopping scenery, you want Skye, but Skye doesn't do beaches. <BR> <BR>More? Ask [email protected]'s a good island man.

Sheila: Thank you so much! This gives me some guidance as I begin to plan my trip!

Sheila: If we are able to spend three weeks in Scotland, one on Iona, and one on one of the islands that you mentioned above, where else would you suggest that we go? And in what order? Thanks for your help.

That's a real poisoned chalice of a question!! <BR> <BR>I'd go for the Uists and I'd do it second. I'd seek the contrast to the Inner Hebrides that you get from the outer isles; and I'd be saving the best till last. <BR> <BR>And the, depending on tastes, i'd either do the Edinburgh, Stirling, Glasgow thing, or I'd go to Speyside- great mountains, very Highland, good whisky, wonderful wildlife

The prettiest island in the west is probably Barra, (You can hire bicycles there)now joined to unspoilt Vatersay by a causeway.It also has some ancient monuments,I recall a ruined 15th cent. chapel.Castlebay is a very jolly little town,good pubs, castle. <BR>The South Uist-Eriska causeway is nearly finished now - I think you can walk over now, but not with a car.The South coast of S.Uist is beautiful, good food at the Pollochar Inn, standing stone outside the door. <BR>The beaches are all dazzling white cockle strand and are huge : on Barra the plane lands on the beach.There is also a small (non-car) ferry linking Barra & S.Uist, musch faster than the big ferry. <BR>Farther north - Harris is beautiful if you like golden eagles & otters but it is mostly a harsh & rocky place favoured by masochists, rock climbers & the like-I have friends who love it, in a few weeks they are going to stay in a cottage there which is 15 mins walk from the nearest (newly built) road.There are now hordes of artists living on the Southwest coast where the beaches are, south of Luskentyre. <BR> Lewis has the Callanish stones, Dun Carloway & other monuments, some very wild places in the southwest.Stornoway is busy & boozy. <BR>These places are far away & hard to get to, which is one reason they are so good.It also means they are quiet, although the few people you find wouldn't pass by without a chat, they are very friendly and welcoming.I don't recall ever meeting an American there.(except on Barra - the clan chief - Macneil- is a Chicago lawyer,he's repaired the castle!) <BR>There is a great deal of natural wildlife-they still have corncrakes, which have died out everywhere else.There is still much Gaelic spoken in the street & in the pub. <BR>In Mull the culture is much more diluted as compared with the Western Isles - nothing wrong with incomers but the sheer weight of numbers makes a difference. <BR> By boat from Oban its 5.5 hours (to Barra or S.Uist), or from Skye about 2 hours.(to N Uist) (Caledonian Macbrayne ferries to Barra or S.Uist), or fly to Benbecula (proper plane) or Barra (tiny plane) all flights from Glasgow. <BR>One drawback is that there is usually a strong wind (bring a headscarf), so if going to the beach, pick one that's sheltered that day -eg Vatersay is shaped like an hourglass so you can walk from the east beach to the west in a few minutes. <BR> I'm afraid I can't tell you much about Mull - rented a house in Tobermory once, prefer going elsewhere. <BR> Islay is a grand place for distilleries, also its fairly quiet with nice people.The western beaches are often dangerous for swimming.(careful Sheila) <BR> Skye is an amazing place - its a large island with mountains and beatiful views, there are beaches too but not as braw as on the outer Isles. <BR> If you really want "a wild, remote place with beaches and beautiful scenery" then the Western Isles is the real thing. <BR> Small places on the mainland with the same white cockle beaches are Morar (has a freshwater loch complete with monster-Morag) and Arisaig, both very quiet & on the train line from Fort William/Glasgow, just before Mallaig,a small fishing port with a ferry to Skye.This part of the coast is a real gem.

Hi, just FYI, it would be really lucky to get any sort of swimming weather on either Iona or Mull. I lived on Iona for 4 months, volunteering at the Abbey (June-Sept.), and we only got 2 days of beach weather . . . <BR> <BR>However, the white sand beaches and gentle hills are so beautiful - perhaps think of it as a walking vacation, and bring sturdy hiking boots (my Raichles were my best friends). Not forgetting a long 'cagoule' raincoat for your hikes! <BR> <BR>Enjoy, the islands will blow you away.

Pick up a copy of today's NY Times, the travel supplement has a nice article on Mull

topping for Trish

Does anybody have any info on the Mull Historical Society? <BR><BR>

Many great suggestions already given. I've only done day trips to Mull and Iona. The weather can really vary, sometimes you can luck out and get beach weather. Be sure to take a side trip from Mull to Staffa. It's just a short day trip to and island with the same rock formation as the Giant's causeway in Ireland. It us uninhabited, has "Fingal's Cave" and is great for a hike with plenty of Puffins. North Uist and Berneray have great beaches (water very cold however) Uig in Lewis also has wonderful white sand beaches between rocky hills (my personal favourite for scenery).

Topping