Bess

We're going to spend a little more than one day on Mull the end of July. We're taking the 10 a.m. ferry from Oban (with a car), going to an evening performance at the theater in Dervaig, dining and spending the night at a B&B nearby and going back to the mainland late the next afternoon. We'd like to have a leisurely visit but don't want to miss anything spectacular. Can any of you Mull specialists (or non-Mull specialists) help me? Thanks so much.

janis

Well, the obvious choice would be to go to Fionnphort and catch the foot ferry to Iona. The ferry runs contiunously and only takes a few minutes.

Then after a couple of hours on Iona drive around the west side of the Isle around loch Scridain and loch na Keal (sp?), stop at Calgary bay for a walk on the amazin beach and on to Dervaig.

Then on the 2nd day visit Tobermory, and then drive down to Duart Castle which is close to the Craignure ferry back to Oban.

janis

Meant to add - if you can get on an earlier ferry from Oban you will have a better visit on Iona. The coaches and day trippers mostly take the 10AM sailing and the road to Fionnphort gets pretty congested (due to all the buses and the road being single track). If you can take an early morning ferry you can go to Iona before the buses and be half way through your Iona visit before the daytripping hordes descend on the place.

Bess

Thanks, but we're not planning on going to Iona (we're not really into saints or Christian pilgrimages, and my husband is Jewish). If we're not into Christian history, should we go there anyway? And what about just staying on Mull?

sheila

Well it's far more beautiful than Mull.

janis

True, some people who go to Iona are Christian pilgrims. But the VAST majority are not. It is one of the prettiest sights in the Inner Hebrides. I can't imagine someone going to Mull for overnight and not also seeing Iona.

If the ferry trip over to Iona still doesn't appeal, then from the same Fionnphort jetty you can take a boat trip out to Staffa and Fingal's Cave.

But believe me - you will love Iona - you can walk the entire island in a couple of hours if that's all you want. But ther is a LOT besides the Abbey, there are beaches, an ancient ruined nunnery, the burial places of most of the ancient Scottish kings and beautiful vistas in every direction.

Bess

You've persuaded me. From the guidebooks, all it sounds like is a religious pilgrimage thing. But if it's beautiful, we're there. Thanks.

Bess

In the meantime, does anyone else have suggestions of places we need to see or things we need to do on Mull itself? Thanks a lot.

janis

Bess: In your short time on Mull you won't have time to see much more than the sites already mentioned (drive around loch Scridain and loch na Keal, stop at Calgary bay, on to Dervaig. On the 2nd day visit Tobermory, and then down to Duart Castle).

Most roads on Mull are single track so getting from place to place is not quick and you will have little more than 1.5 days.

Duart castle is really charming. It is still family owned/lived in (as are many Scottish castles) and they are doing a good job of creating a lovely tourist experience without getting "touristy".

Tobermory is lovely - the pastel colored bldgs (similar to Portree) add an almost Mediteranean feel.

You will love the theatre too.

If do you find you have extra time a visit to Torosay Castle is alos easy since it is very near Duart and the ferry back to Oban - but since your time is limited, choose Duart first.

Or if castle visits don't interest you (some people do get "castled out&quot there are some pretty beaches on the south side of Mull off the road to Fionnphort.

Bess

I just did a search on "Mull" and realized that you all have covered this topic ad infinitum before. Sorry to make you do it again!