We have three days between Glasgow and the Orkneys on a two week tour of Scotland. I have several questions: should we go to the Isles of Mull-Iona or to the Isle of Skye? We are very interested in seeing Iona, but the West Highland Railway to Skye sounds wonderful. If we take the train-ferry to Skye, how difficult will it be for us to get around without a car? We are planning to rent a car at some point, either in Glasgow or Inverness, in order to get to the Orkneys. But we wanted to combine car travel with a little train travel.

We'd appreciate any advice.

Both Islands are lovely - and actually if you have a car you could easily squeeze in Iona/Mull (for a day trip) and Skye to stay over.

The train ride is wonderful - BUT there are many parts of both islands you really need a car to see.

If you can bear to give up the train I would do a day trip -- early AM ferry from Oban to Mull, visit Duart Castle, take the ferry from Fionnphort to Iona, then back to the mainland using the ferry to the Morvern Penninsula. Drive to Mallaig and take an evening ferry to Skye.

Then stay two nights on Skye and the 3rd night enroute north on your way to the Orkney Ferry - someplace like Ullapool or Kylesku.

Not the easiest question in the world. If you had not thrown Iona in I would have clearly opted for Skye; but....

It is not impossible to get around Skye without a car, but I wouldn't try to do it for 3 days unless I was trying to raise depressed blood pressure. OTOH, the same is true of Mull/Iona.

The scenery is much more spectacular on Skye- but Iona is a once in a lifetime

Janis and I were posting in the same heartbeat there, so can I add one thing. I wouldn't do a daytrip to Mull AND Iona (and it's well know that I rate Skye much higer than Mull on its own)

the benefit of staying for the htree days is that you can stay on iona and get the glory of its scnery once the tourist boats have left for the night.

Last summer, I visited both islands on a Globus tour (GREAT tour--my first bus tour) and I would definitely recommend Mull-Iona over Skye, which was a bit of a disappointment. As I was part of an organized tour, I can't speak to the car issue. But Iona was the most beautfiul place I have ever been (I've lived and traveled extensively in Europe and Africa). Besides the historical artifacts from the development of Christianity there, it was such a deeply spiritual place--from the brilliant flowers among the ruins to the seascape to the little tea room near the convent. I had the most profound sensation of return and peace there (mind you, I'm an African American English professor from Colorado!) I plan to return to Iona in the future for one of the retreats which they offer there.

Enjoy Scotland!

Just to contradict myself, lilybart; whilst I said Iona was once in lifetime, there is a story that no-one just visits once. Glad you liked it.

Thank you all for your helpful advice. I think we will do Mull-Iona (lilybart cinched it) via Oban by train (perhaps with a tour company), then take the train to Inverness where we'll rent a car for the ride to the Orkneys.

One additional thought, now that you're onto Mull/Iona. We've found a lovely tiny B&B called Shore House ([email protected]) in Fionnphort on the tip of Mull. There were several lovely B&Bs to choose from both on Iona and in Fionnphort (which is the town you'd catch the Iona ferry from).