Well - since I don't think Balamory is shown in the US (not sure tho' since our horrible local cable provider doesn't run BBC or BBC America) I didn't think the American posters would know what it is.

Well that's what I get for posting my message hours after I actually composed it without looking at the rest of the messages again (computer server kept timing out so I copied into temp file and signed off) -- Janis filled in the name of the castle I was trying to remember (Torosay) before I actually got my message on the board this morning (making me look like even more of an idiot ). But I think we were both making the same point -- lots of stuff to do depending on your what you're interested in. DH and I are very easily entertained though and on our last trip to Scotland had a very enjoyable time doing our laundry in Stromness...yup, we're easy!

I think there's also a small distillery in Tobermory (referred to in the guide book as the best distillery on Mull....as well as the ONLY distillery on mull... ;-) )

By the way, Janis -- where do you live that your cable company doesn't have BBC America? I thought Comcast had taken over the whole country We get BBC America in our neck of SF bay area but then we broke down this year and finally got digital cable.

And there's proof that Americans don't understand irony!

"By the way, Janis -- where do you live that your cable company doesn't have BBC America? I thought Comcast had taken over the whole country"

Not that far from you - but Comcast up here in Sacramento doesn't carry BBC, or the Travel Channel, or DIY, or C-Span 3, or ESPN News or MANY others. I think they do on digital - but not on regular cable.

AR- LOL!

AR -- we Americans do indeed understand irony -- it's just the heat melting our brains this week in California that delayed the reaction a bit It's after 8 pm and I think it's cooled down to under 90 F in our house (no air conditioning). I think I'll go downstairs and soak my head in some cold water!

Janis -- Now that you mention it we didn't get those channels either till we switched to digital cable. Darn that Comcast!

Sheila, no probs mate!
Danna, thanks for jogging my memory - JohnPaul Jones was born near Carsethorn,(Arbigland?), on the Solway Coast. I have a sneaking suspicion there is a museum of some sort down that way - I shall check it out next time I'm down that way.

Me again - amazing what Google can do!
The museum website is:
http://www.jpj.demon.co.uk/

I am reading, as a consequence of a gift from my good friend Jody, J V Morton's "In Scotland Again".

The second or third chapter is all about John Paul Jones Dumfriesshire roots. Not a nice man, by all accounts.

Thanks for all the good feedback so far!

re Mull: We have a late night flight from Rome and a long drive from Liverpool the day before and will probably want to recharge batteries and relax, so are not really looking for loads of must-do's. Thanks for the feedback about Glengorm, I'm really looking forward to it. And yes Iona is basically the reason for going to Mull.

After some more research I've taken Sheila's advice and we'll be centring our explorations after Mull around 'central' Scotland [ !!] around Loch Tay. However am not making any bookings (unless someone pertinently advises otherwise?) so that we have a bit of freedom as to exactly where we land up. There seems to be quite a lot of nice places to stay at in the area.