janisj

touring the Wall is quite easy by bus - as you say there is essentially a hop on hop off bus that parallels the Wall.

As for >>I wouldn't mind driving around Mull, but I've read that there are more than a few traffic accidents there caused by the encounter of tourists who aren't used to narrow roads and residents who don't always drive slowly.<<

Not a worry at all IMO. Sure the roads are narrow on Mull, narrower than in some of the other places you'll be. But there is also very little traffic.

The exception is on the road from Craignure to Fionnphort between 10:30 and 11:30 AM and between 4 and 5 PM (to match the ferry schedule that the coach tours use) . I wouldn't drive the road at those times (and I'd take earlier/later sailings to avoid the day tripper buses)

Having a car is BY FAR the easiest/most efficient way to visit Mull. And lets you catch any ferry to Iona - not the ones crammed w/ day trippers.

Then entire population of the island is less than 3,000 . . . no traffic to worry about.

sofarsogood

Hello bvlenci

I take it you mean the Hadrian's Wall bus, which does indeed take you to several points along the Wall

http://www.visithadrianswall.co.uk/d...m-Walltown.pdf

You would need take a train from Durham to Hexham, changing at Newcastle, which probably takes about an hour. Then catch the bus to take you along the Wall. So yes it can be done.

I read that you would have a car until Edinburgh, and thought it would give you the flexibility to go where you want, when you want, if you kept it for another 3 days as the various sites of Hadrian's Wall can be remote. I wouldn't worry about driving on the left, it's the same as driving on the right, except on the other side.

As you say the other journeys can also be done with a combination of buses and trains. As long as you've done your homework on the times of public transport and you're happy, then that's OK.

bvlenci

Sofarsogood, we've driven on the left before, in Ireland, and that's exactly why we're not enthusiastic about it. I don't think it's the same thing at all. We're accustomed to shifting with our right hand, to looking first to the left when making a right turn, and to going to the right on roundabouts.

At first, my husband didn't want to rent a car at all on this trip. His English isn't good, and when I'm watching for road signs, reading maps, and translating all at the same time, my navigation skills drop precipitously. We had a couple of heated moments in Ireland.

I know the car would give us more flexibility, but this is a stop where I have only a few things I've wanted to see for years, and not enough time for serendipity, or I won't be able to see all of them.

bvlenci

Janis, you've almost convinced me. I'm going to leave that decision to the last minute, though.

I do want to avoid the tour buses. Is Iona their destination?

Do you have any opinion on my driving route from Oban to Glencoe to Edinburgh?

janisj

One thing to help you decide . . . I find the driving in Scotland much MUCH less stressful than in Ireland. Especially in the areas you'll be. Narrow roads - sure. But far fewer stone walls or hedgerows right next to the road. Much better visibility and less 'white knuckle' bits.

>>I do want to avoid the tour buses. Is Iona their destination? <<

Mostly yes. But of course the coaches can't go onto the island - they park in the back lot at Fionnphort and the passengers use the foot ferry. Once on the island everyone spreads out and one really isn't impacted/ inconvenienced by other visitors.

Your route is fine - From Mull you could either take the same Craignure/Oban ferry back to the mainland and up to Glencoe, or take the Fishnish/Locahaline ferry and up to Ardgour for the Corran Ferry to just west of Glencoe.

One other suggestion - Stirling Castle is wonderful - but it does eat up time (a LOT of time) and you will be seeing Edinburgh Castle which is a lot of ways is similar. I'd maybe consider on that day visiting either Doune Castle (monty Pythin connections and all that) or (one of my VERY favorite spots in Scotland) Inchmahome Priory.

http://www.visitscotland.com/en-us/i...castle-p254201
http://www.visitscotland.com/en-us/i...priory-p253731

bvlenci

I've been too busy the past week to think about Scotland, but I'm back to the planning now.

My husband has vetoed driving on Mull. I was getting ready to tell him the pros and cons, but when he heard the word "ferry", he didn't want to hear any more. He hates car ferries. So, we'll be staying in Oban for two nights. We'll take the earliest ferry to Mull, which on a Monday is at 7 AM, unfortunately. That way we should get to Fionnphort (and to Iona) ahead of the tour buses. Then, if we have time and feel like it, we'll take a bus back to Craignure and another bus to Tobermory and back to Craignure.

Janis, I appreciate the advice about stops along the way to Edinburgh. Inchmahome Priory looks lovely, and seems to be in a lovely spot; I think we'd love to see it. As I said before, we're not huge castle fans, anyway.

historytraveler

There is another option for touring Mull. CalMac ferries in partnership with Bowman Tours offer a day on Mull. You can purchase your ticket at the ferry port. I believe the ferry departs around 11:00 maybe a bit earlier. As you disembark the ferry, there'll be a coach waiting for you that goes to Fionnphort where you catch the 5 minute ferry to Iona. The driver of the coach will provide excellent commentary as you travel through Mull. I had driven on Mull previously, but learned far more about the island on the Bowman tour. Honestly I was too busy keeping my eyes on the road to really notice much, and I certainly missed out on the history of the island.

Once on Iona, you'll have about two hours to tour the Abbey. I suggest once you get to Iona to head directly to the Abbey. I find most people a bit befuddled as to where to go and what to do next. Not an uncommon tourist syndrome. . Since it's close to lunch time, many will stop for lunch before continuing on to the Abbey so by going there first you'll miss most of the crowds.After visiting the Abbey, have lunch at either the. St. Columba Hotel or the Iona Heritage Centre has a small cafe around the back. There is a very nice jewelry shop across from the Abbey. As you return to the port stop at the ruins of the Augustinian nunnery.

I've done this tour twice and, although, I dislike group tours, I feel the information the driver imparts is well worth spending time on a coach. Once on Iona, I'm completely on my own. Also, on these trips, the driver has stopped the coach for a better look and picture-taking of Highland cattle next to the road and for a herd of Red Deer.

Go to the CalMac website for more information. I highly recommend this tour and I don't usually like tours. I've done Mull more than a few times and believe this is the best option for first timers.

janisj

Bvlenci: Your hubby is a wuss (meant in the kindest possible way )

bvlenci

Hello all,

Yes, my husband is not exactly adventuresome, especially not outside of Italy.

Also, since his English is at the level of, "Good morning, pleased to meet you", I don't think a tour is the right solution for us. We're planning to get the earliest (7 AM) ferry to Mull and visit Iona before the crowds arrive. Then we may go on to Tobermory, or we may just go back to Oban and visit some places in the vicinity. I was even thinking of taking the drive to Glencoe and back to Oban that afternoon, instead of the next day. That would make our drive to Edinburgh the next day shorter.

Another possibility would be to spend only one night in Oban, and leave for Glencoe after returning from Mull. That would break the drive up over two days, giving us more time to stop on the second day.

My husband recently read an article about Stirling Castle and has expressed an interest in visiting there. I sort of had my heart set on Inchmahome priory, but maybe we can manage both.

Sue_xx_yy

bplenci

if your husband drives in Italy, I can't see how anyone here is justified calling him a wuss.

I'd still go for the tour. You and spouse can enjoy the scenery and chat during the breaks in the commentary.

bvlenci

Here in rural Italy, we often get stuck behind farmers who slow down at every field to see how the crop is coming along.

Sue_xx_yy

Well, that's understandable. The beets may have grown a mm since last Tuesday, surely a newsworthy event.

bvlenci

Today, on a curvy road with no place to pass, we followed a car for ten minutes that was going 25 km per hour (about 15 mph) in a 70 km per hour (42 mph) zone. Italian speed demons indeed!