Three ferries to Mull
 

Hopefully in June 2015 we would be planning (as part of our itinerary) to drive from Torridon to Mull. 17 years ago we drove along Loch Linnhe to Oban and saw the ferries leaving from there.

I would like to spend 2 nights in Tobermary and would probably not go to Fionnaport. (sp)
Apparently the Oban to Mull ferry is the lengthiest.

So..... Driving from Torridon I was considering: would I want the Lochline ferry or the one further north which goes straight to Tobermary?
I turn 70 next summer. DH has driven on single track roads on the left many years ago. However, it is a back of the mind concern.

The single tracks aren't really a problem. They are pretty easy actually. But that is a <B>VERY</B> long drive. From the Inn where you are staying to Lochaline to Tobermory is at least 6 hours. And via Oban even longer - close to 7 hours.

I'd break the journey somewhere for a night.

(Question, why not visiting Fionnphort? Just Curious.)

There's three routes.

Your OP refers to three ferries, you may not be aware that there is now a bridge over from Kyle of Lochalsh to Skye. This leaves you three options from Torridon to Tobermory.

1. The easy one : is straight down the wide, fast A87 and A82 through Fort William and down to Oban. Ferry to Cragnure and then the fairly easy road up to Tobermory.

2. The two ferry option and shortest route : Over the bridge to Skye, ferry from Armadale to Mallaig then drive to Tobermory from Kilchoan. This may be the route that you thought was a three ferry.

3. Drive down to Fort William and drive the 25 odd miles through Ardnamurchan to Lochaline, ferry to Fishnish then a drive to Tobermory.

Of the options on average : the Hopscotch ticket for 1. Is around £90 for a car and 2 people, Option 2 is similar and Option 3 around £50.

Had you been driving around Mull then I would discount Option 3 as it is a 25 mile battle on stunning but small roads. Since you aren't touring then you will not have to endure this route then hours of more single track.

Personally I prefer Option 2 but as ever it is all personal!

We went to Mull as foot passengers last summer, and took a bus to Fionnphort. When we saw the roads, the speeds at which people drove on them, and the need to back up to the nearest turnoff every so often, we were glad we hadn't taken Janisj's advice to drive the rental car there. However, we were there only for the day and wouldn't have had time to do much exploring anyway. We mostly wanted to visit Iona. If I were spending more than a day there, I might want a car.

Option 3 certainly doesn't need an overnight stay.

"speeds at which people drove on them"

Oops, sorry.

Could have been me.

Going as a foot passenger from Oban is a really good idea. The surcharge for a car is bonkers compared with the foot charge. About £14 compared with c£100 with a car.

And I would really would consider a trip to Iona.

It is wonderful in June with long summer evenings.

I drive those roads all the time w/ no problems at all. bvlenci and her hubby must be wimps (meant in the <i>nicest</i> possible way ;) )

No worries about driving on Mull. DH has driven in the Highlands. I'm the planner/navigator.

Would Dickie's version #2 be doable all in one day (assuming we reserve ferries early enough)?

I was worried about too much backtracking, but sometimes familiarity in a trip makes it a bit more comfortable.

Janis

Those roads are some of the the worst in Scotland.

The Outer Hebrides roads are flat, Mull's roads are single track, packed with tour buses in summer, open grazing sheep, streams crossing at many points and covered in mud as a result of the usual inconsiderate farmers.

Death traps.

I know -- I have stayed on Mull (w/ a car) three times. As long as you miss the mid-morning and late afternoon 'rush hour' when all the coaches make the dash to/from Fionnphort, the roads are just fine.

Hopingtotravel

I can't answer that question.

We were late for the ferry at Craignure. I made it from Fionphort in 41 minutes. It remains a family legend and my MIL has only just recovered. I am no example.

In all honesty, it's down to what makes you feel comfortable but an early start and a long lunch in Malliag should make it very doable. It's about 70 miles then 50 miles of driving so around 2 and a half then 2 hours, taken slowly.

The ferry times haven't been released but the hopscotch ticket includes both crossings. I seem to remember Mallaig is a booked crossing whereas Kilchoan is smply a roll up affair.

Janis, I just didn't have Fionphort (sp) as an overnight on my list, but if DH wants to drive around on 2nd day, that's a possible.

I assume a 'hopscotch' ticket is one booking to go on more than one ferry ride same day?

Your calling us wimps (for about the fourth time) is getting a little tired, and saying that it's meant in a nice way just proves that you know it's not nice. I think you're just showing off when you say that the roads in Mull are fine and dandy, no problem at all.

I thought of not responding to this, but I think people have a right to a realistic explanation of what they'll be facing if they choose to drive in Mull. Then they can make their own decisions.

I could contemplate driving on Mull if I were driving my own car and if I weren't on holiday. I've driven on worse roads in Italy and in the US. Having an accident with a rental car on an island isn't something I would want to risk, and the roads in Mull are certainly conducive to road accidents.

Janis, did your response on driving from Torridon mean I should plan an overnight somewhere on the way to Tobermary?

If that's the case, I might 're-look' and either try to drive to Oban OR should I plan to stay somewhere along Loch Linne and get a later in the day ferry to Craignure?

Oops, just re-read Dickie's response. I assume he's actually saying about 5 hours. Of course, then when we got to Mull we'd be IN Tobermary.

I do not choose to drive in Hell. I drive in Scotland for fun and the beauty. If one enjoys driving, the roads in Scotland are sublime. If on the other hand, driving is merely a chore, you might hate them.

Hopingtotravel: the drive from Torridon to Mull no matter which route you take is very long. Absolute minimum of 6 hours but more likely an hour or two longer. Oban is practically 'there' so you'd probably have to stop well before that.

If it was me . . . I'd rearrange things and do Mull to Skye to Torridon . . . OR vice versa. That would eliminate the.very long day between Torridon and Tobermory.

hopingtotravel, have you looked at the CalMac website? It explains their various ticket options such as Hopscotch which I believe includes several ferry trips but not necessarily in one day, all their routes and pricing. With your experience, I don't think you'll have much trouble on Mull, but as Dickie explained, it can be expensive to take a car across from Oban. Perhaps one of the other crossings might be cheaper.

I do know that there are frequent ferries from Armadale to Mallaig and the crossing is only about 30 minutes.

www.calmac.co.uk

Yes, probably around five hours in all from Torridon to Tobermlry via the two ferries and the hopscotch is one ticket (usually a little discounted) for two ferry crossings.

There are two ways to Fionphort from Tobermory.

The "easy" way : past Craignure, down the south coast and along the Ross of Mull.

The scenic way : down Loch Na Keal, over the pass by Ben More then to Fionphort which passes at least three Sea Eagle nesting sites. This is my favourite drive in Europe but I was exhausted after this return day trip, it is really hard work. It is a brutal drive in good weather, winding single track with limited views round the corner. It is not one to rush.

Historytraveler, somewhere in my bookshelves I have a 2-year-old CalMac schedule--will plan to get an update.

One reason I was planning not to go to Fionphort, was thought I could just use the 2nd full day in Tobermary as a recoup R&R day for DH. Assume there are some things to be seen from just walking around there. ??

Janis, I'll look at the map with DH and discuss driving lengths. If need be, could plan an overnight somewhere outside Ft.William.

I do not choose to drive in Hell. I drive in Scotland for fun and the beauty. If one enjoys driving, the roads in Scotland are sublime. If on the other hand, driving is merely a chore, you might hate them.

My guess - mainly because of ferry timings etc the drive will take more than Dickie's estimate. Torridon to Tobermory is a loooooong drive no matter the route.

If it was me I'd rearrange things and do Mull to Skye to Torridon or vice versa. That would eliminate a 6-7+ hour drive between Torridon and Tobermory.

Btw take absolutely no notice of ViaMichelin and the like for an indication of travel times in Scotland. They seem to simply gross up to time based on the fact that it is either an A, B or unclassified road.

There's some roads like the A851 on Skye, which are a dream to drive and you can easily average 60mph. There are other so called A roads where 20mph for 25 miles is a struggle.

Janis

I stated 5 hours driving not travel . Of course the ferry crossings will add to travel times but they are a perfect break to a drive.

I don't see why this (again) has to be so pedantic and complicated. It isn't.

Set off in the morning from Torridon have a lovely swift drive down Skye, take a relaxing ferry and lunch in Mallaig then take a slow leisurely drive through some of the most wild and beautiful scenery in Europe to arrive at a ferry which will drop you off at your destination late afternoon.

Long day?

All days are long in June.

Dickie - on another thread the OP said they didn't want any 6 hour driving days. It isn't that the drive is onerous, but is specifically what they are trying to avoid. That's all I was trying to get at.

Dickie, the other portion I didn't fill you in on is that we will already have been on Skye. So when DH is back tomorrow, I'll go over the 3 options with him on the map.

So I add about 1/3 to all times viamichelin gives me?

No their figures seem to be simple averages based on the type of road. You may need to add or subtract.

They give nearly 2 hours for Torridon to Armadale. The A road is for the most wide and straight, I could nearly cycle the 60 odd miles in the time given.

The journey times on Mull, particularly on the B roads are in my experience widely optimistic.

We are going to Mull in May.

Have decided to hire the Campervan from Craignure.

I love the adventure of trips out from rental cottages but the return home legs on Mull really got me down. Tobermory to Fionphort in the dark, being very tired was very hard work.

With the Camper we will just pull up and bed down.

Which should be a world class experience on the shores of Loch Na Keal.

Try to get to Iona.

I read so many superlatives about places people have posted about on here. Venice, Pienza and the rest. For me Iona is one of the most magical places around, the colours in May/June in a summer day are really special.

Finding a sunny day in another story.

"With the Camper we will just pull up and bed down."

I am very curious, Dickie.

Can you in fact just pull up and spend the night like that in Scotland?

We were in Iona in June, and it was indeed an experience I wouldn't have wanted to miss. We saw a quotation from a monk in medieval times who had written a history of the island, saying (according to my memory) that on this earth there's no better place to live or die than Iona.

OK, finally pinned down DH to look at the map and all 3 ferry options to go to Mull. After I narrated for about 15 minutes, he said 'I don't want to drive more than 4 hours'. The via michelan website says 4 hours Torridon to Oban, but we both know it would turn into 6.

So, I would look for a room somewhere--Invererray (sp) to Ft. William. I did a lot of research for a room for the outward bound portion from Glasgow. Tentatively, a Best Western around Spean Bridge--which would require a 12-mile backtrack for the 'Road to Skye'.

OK, that aside, any suggestions on where to spend that one night between Torridon and Oban? Budget is normally $200/night US but I realize that unlike the euro the pound is still steep against the $. So, unfortunately $300/nite might be my comfort budget.

"Can you in fact just pull up and spend the night like that in Scotland?"

Essentially, yes.

Visitors should be aware that there are fundamental rights in place for the general public to be afforded unhindered access to any land in Scotland which is not regarded as a private garden.

For centuries, we have been pushed around by the various old families who have drained the land of resources and more recently milked the EU cow of its healthy farming and wind generation subsidies. A simple google search of the total farming subsidies going into my home county is shocking. Land ownership over the centuries has been extremely profitable.

Landowners have exhibited a huge range of approaches to the management of their assets. Some have destroyed the landscape with huge swathes of evergreen forests which have created acidic wastelands. Others invented the craze of importing oriental bird species, breeding the poor things into huge populations then blasting them out of existence along with anything else capable of flying.

Then we won.

The Land Reform Act 2003 was set into law in 2005.

The Act made provision for the free access to land by anyone. This is generally limited to non motorised access.

There are limitations. You are not expected to disrupt the landowners activities such as farming or blasting anything in sight.

Within this definition of access was the right to camp on any land for a limited time period. This period in most areas is generally regarded as two nights.

Herein lies the problem. As with most normal distribution there are varying degrees of numptyism in Scotland. There are always Eco idiots out there who freely abuse the rights given withinthe Act and break the balance between the public and landowners.

It was heart breaking to see the scum who had set up a permanent camp on the shores of Loch na Keal on Mull. This has to be one of the most stunning European settings outside the Lofoten Islands. Of course, a group of morons had take up residence on the best spot, leave rubbish everywhere and ruin a perfect setting for everyone.

Ackislander, put simply if you ever see a dry, comfortable piece of land, feel free to have the right to pitch a tent and enjoy the view.

Hoping

Am I missing something here:

Invergarry?

Inveraray on Loch Fyne is a long way off your beaten trail.

Are you sure you need an overnight so soon. It is impossible for me to apply my thoughts about driving onto your route as today I have just driven 350 miles in a day around Scotland and Northern England. No example of sanity at all.

Would the easy two hours from Torridon to Armadale then a ferry and long lunch in Mallaig, then a harder two and a half hours to the next ferry be too much?

Sorry, probably meant Invergarry. Actually many years ago we saw Inverarary -- which I think was recently on PBS.

Dickie, I'll hit him up with that version again. We've seen the scenery along Loch Linnhe -- is the north version you are describing better?

Haven't fully firmed this up yet--so of course room for play.

It is an odd journey from Mallaig.

The road starts as wide and fast.

Once you turn off A830, things denigrate to the extent that at the end of the route, going over the Ardnamurchan hills near Kilchoan, you half expect a T Rex to wander on the road. It is that wild.

This may be another issue for you.

It is very isolated here.

http://www.pierhousehotel.co.uk/

May complicate matters but this is a wonderful stop on Loch Linnhe.

I looked that one up! OOh! A possibility although it only cuts 1/2 hour off, but I bet I'd be able to talk my way around the time thing if the stay was nice. Always thought Inverlochy Castle looked neat--but way out of budget.