Part of our itinerary takes us from Edinburgh to St. Andrews (stay 2 nights) to Mull (stay for 3 nights) and then back to Edinburgh airport. We will have a car for this part of the trip. Would you recommend any interesting stop-offs to or from Mull to get out of the car for a bit?

We are a family of 4: parents in mid 40's, 10 year girl and 80+ grandfather.

I am thinking Stirling Castle would be a good place to visit on the way back to the airport (we stay overnight by the airport and catch a flight in the morning).

Any other ideas? Thanks much!

That is one long drive . . . especially w/ a 10 yo and a 80+ yo. Do you have to do it in one day?

Where are you staying on Mull? If it is Fionnphort (where I personally like to stay) -- from St Andrews it will take about 7 hours including the ferry, if you catch the ferry and don't have to wait. That is strictly car/ferry time -- not counting stops/meals.

I'd urge you to stop over about 1/2 way -- lots of options -- and not try to cross the entire country in one go.

When I google mapped it, from St. Andrews to Lochaline, it says 4 hours. The ferry from there is supposed to be about 15 min to Fishnish. Our B&B on Mull is near Dervaig which appears to be 30 mins or so from the Ferry terminal. So seemed very doable to me. Have I missed something?

"<i>Have I missed something?</i>"

Yes -definitely.

None of the on-line drive time calculators are accurate -- especially for foreign visitors. You'll need to add 25% - 50% to almost every drive. And more especially in places like Mull where most roads are single track (one lane roads for 2-way traffic).

AA's route planner gives St Andrews to Dervaig as 5 hrs 35 mins. In 'real life' that will be at least 7 hours . . . <u>car time</u>.

Oh --and are you also planning on driving from Dervaig to EDI in one day? - that is another 6.5-7+ hour drive

AND -- not only on Mull -- most of the route from the Corran ferry to Lochaline is also single track . . .

Is it possible to fly from St Andrews, or Dundee to Mull? then maybe drive back...

Nope. There is no airport on (or anywhere near) Mull, or Oban, or St Andrews -- or most any place else in Scotland. We are talking rural/remote/sparsely inhabited places -- not cities w/ airports. St Andrews isn't 'sparsely' populated -- but it doesn't even have a train station let alone an airport.

Edinburgh, Glasgow, Prestwick, Aberdeen, Inverness are it (and a few teensy airports on remote islands).

I think some maps are in order . . .

Oops - just noticed that question wasn't from the OP . . .

(even IF one could fly, which they can't - there it the little problem of not having a car to drive back)

I'd stay longer in Edinburgh, do St Andrews as a day trip and travel to Mull from Edinburgh.

You could even take the train from Edinburgh to Oban (change at Glasgow) then ferry to Mull from there. Far less stressful, far more interesting. Check the Mull website for getting around information as as far as I recall you DON'T need a car.

There is a seaplane service to Mull, landing at Tobermory harbour, from Glasgow.

www.lochlomondseaplanes.com

Ditto what Janis has already said - your route from St Andrews to Mull makes for a very long day instead. If it was me, I'd stop for the night somewhere near Ballachulish or even Ardgour (just across from the Corran Ferry is an interesting small hotel, the Inn at Ardgour, which we stayed in a few weeks ago). The route from the Corran ferry to Lochaline and then on to Dervaig is approx 60 miles on single track, so you'll average about 25-30 mph on this stretch, less if you stop frequenty for photos (it is very scenic).

"<i>Check the Mull website for getting around information as as far as I recall you DON'T need a car.</i>"

One can get around a bit w/o a car -- but it is pretty difficult. It is a very large,very rural, very scenic island w/ a few single track roads -- one really needs a car to see more than a tiny part of it in a short stay.

AFAIK - that seaplane service is a tour company (w/ or w/o a dinner excursion). If one just wants to fly somewhere, they'd need a private charter. It really isn't a general transportation option.

<i>You could even take the train from Edinburgh to Oban (change at Glasgow) then ferry to Mull from there. Far less stressful, far more interesting.</i>

I'd completely disagree that the drive mentioned is stressful or uninteresting - far from it. It's just longer than may have been appreciated at first sight. I personally find driving in the Scottish Highlands to be extremely relaxing and enjoyable, much more so than crawling around the busy motorways in the SE of the UK.

Even better option for scenic route to Mull, once you cross Corran ferry go via Strontian and Salen to Kilchoan single track and slow but very beautiful. Ferry goes from Kilchoan to Tobermoray (30 mins.) I agree about the travel time allowing for stops 7 hours is about right.

If you're going to go as far as Kilchoan (25 miles of single-track from Strontian)you may as well go another 6 miles or so and you'll be at Adnamurchan lighthouse, the most westerly point of the British mainland (for any pedants out there it's actually a rock called Corrachadh Mor, slightly to the south.) There's a car park and cafe next to the lighthouse.

I drove this road in April when it was fairly quiet and it's hard work in places as there are a lot of blind corners and hills so you will have watch your speed (and the sheep).

It's doable in a day, though it will be a long day, if you sail Oban to Craignure instead of Lochaline to Fishnish. The road to Oban is more suited to traffic and although the last twenty miles or so can feel very slow (you'll be stuck behind everyone else driving to meet the ferry) four hours from St Andrews should be plenty of time. You'll need to book ahead for the ferry. Sailing time is 45 minutes andyou land a bit further from Dervaig.
Anywhere on Mull it's safest to assume no faster than 20mph. Once you're used to the roads you'll go faster but you don't want to be stuck behind slow moving traffic when you're rushing to catch the ferry.
If you decide to break your journey, Oban itself is a pleasant enough place for an overnight.

Thank you for all your replies, but I would like to get back to the original question: places to see/stop off at (quick stops) between St. Andrews and Lochaline or between Lochaline (or perhaps Oban) and Edinburgh. We have the whole day to drive and although I appreciate your concerns, I think it will be fine. Just looking for a break to two for lunch or to stretch legs or to see a quick sight. Thanks.

I am well known for disagreeing with janis about travel times. I think the 4 hours to Lochaline is about right.

Anyroad, on the most direct route, you have options in

1. Perth- pretty city, good shopping- ancient capital of Scotland. You pass Huntingtower Castle as you leave.

2. Crieff- pretty town; good shopping. There are minor attraction en route. Symbol stones and ancient library to the fore.

3. A couple of miles out of town you pass the Famous Grouse's Malt Whisky Experience Centre- might be worth a visit. A bit commercial, but well reviewed

4. Comrie- pretty town, good shopping. From here on, the biggest attractions are scenery

5. Loch Earn is beautiful. St Fillans is a good coffee stop.

6. Glen Dochart- pretty route. You can see the drove road on the opposite side of the valley. At the north end, it might be worth the mile or so's detour to Killin, the pretty wee village at the foot of Loch Tay and overlooking the splendid Falls of Dochart

7. Do NOT stop in Crianlarich- it's the pits.

8. Dalmally is not much better but does have a good pit stop at the Green Welly Shop

9. You cross Rannoch Moor as you go west. V. scenic.

10. Down through Glen Coe. Fabulous mountains. Nice walks- not all challenging. National Trust has a visitor centre which is worth a stop at the bottom end of the glen. Much interpretation of the Massacre

11. At Ballachulish you're passing (in fantastic scenery) the place where James of the Glen was hanged for the Appin Murder- which he almost certainly did not commit. Read Kidnapped for the full story.

12. You then get the Corran Ferry over Loch Fyne, and it's a straight run down to Lochaline. Try to find time to eat at the White House before you catch the boat.

Have a great trip

11.

Sheila - you mean Loch Linnhe don't you (for the Corran Ferry), it's nowhere near Loch Fyne.