Mull, Staffa and Iona
a tour of these magical islands by road, by sea, and on foot
£1950 single occupancy
6 nights, 5 full walking days
Grade: 2 - Easy to Moderate
- An area famed for its natural beauty, history and wildlife, reached by a scenic journey through The Highlands to the port of Oban.
- A comfortable hotel base with breakfast and packed lunch provided, a 5-min walk from the picturesque Tobermory Harbour.
- We have a great chance of seeing puffins on Staffa, seals basking on the rocks at Iona, and eagles soaring over the hills close to Tobermory.
- The boat trip into Staffa is nothing short of breath-taking! As we approach the famous Fingal's Cave, the natural architecture of the columnar basalt forms an amazing natural feature.
- We will also visit and walk on the Island of Iona with its abbey founded in the year 563 by Columba.
- There are great dining choices around Tobermory, especially if you enjoy seafood.
- This is a busy itinerary! There is so much to see on Mull that we'll be working hard to fit it all in, but of course there will be some R&R time - this IS a holiday, after all!
The holiday cost on a B&B / packed lunch basis (1 evening meal also included) with single en-suite accommodation is £1950. If you are travelling with a friend or partner and would like to share a room, please contact us for cost and availability. The cost for a shared room is £1550 per person.
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Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival day stroll to Tobermory Harbour
Arrival in time for welcome drinks and dinner before a stroll down the promenade into the harbour.
Day 2 - Quinish Point and Glengorm Castle
A short taxi journey takes us to this quiet spot at the north end of Mull, where we walk through forest and along the rocky shore to reach the striking Quinish Point, with views to the islands of Coll and Rhum, and to the rough terrain of the Ardnamurchan Peninsula. This area was formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago which has left a landscape of stepped basalt cliffs and flat-topped islands.
[6 hours walking, 11 km]
Day 3 - Isle of Ulva
A five-minute ferry hop from the west coast of Mull takes us to the idyllic Ulva Island, population 6, where our walking route takes us through native woodland to Cragaig Bay, with its rocky islets and ancient standing stones.
Walking on Ulva gives an insight into island life at its most serene. Otters and seals live here, as do white-tailed and golden eagles (fingers crossed that we see one!)
[5 hours walking, 13 km]
Day 4 - Iona, Staffa, and Fingal's Cave
A long, exciting, varied and memorable day! We will drive the west coast of Mull down to Fionnphort, where our sea journey to Staffa begins. We'll be onboard for at least 2 hours (total return journey) as we cross the wide bay with views out to the Treshnish Isles. Arriving at Staffa, we creep closer to the open mouth of FIngal's Cave which inspired Mendlessohn to write his Hebrides Overture. Puffins are here in number, but it's the striking geological feature of the cave itself that grabs the attention, with its hexagonal-sectioned columnar basalt structure.
On our return trip, we'll hop off for a couple of hours on Iona, where our attention is drawn to the ancient abbey, we--preserved and open to the public, and to the Argyll Hotel, which has a beer garden that ends in the crystal-clear turquoise waters of The Sound of Iona.
[2 hours walking, 6 km]
Day 5 - Caliach Point to Calgary Bay
Calgary Bay is a beach of remarkable, pure white sand, tucked way on Mull's west coast, and best approached by the scenic coastal walk from Caliach. On this walk we'll really get away from the crowds! As usual, we'll be taking time to stop now and then to really appreciate the special place we're journeying through. Views out to Coll and Tiree draw the eye as we walk this wild coast line.
[5 hours walking, 10 km]
Day 6 - The Ardnamurchan Peninsula
We sail out of Tobermory harbour on the Caledonian Macbrayne service to Ardnamurchan, a quiet peninsula on the Scottish mainland. On our way, we pass the lighthouse at Rubha nan Gall and then enjoy the half-hour crossing into Kilchoan. We'll spend our day walking a circuit from this remote village, with views north to the islands of Rhum, Eigg and Muick. The return boat journey lands us back in harbour with a ten minute walk up to our hotel.
[4 hours walking, 9 km]
Day 7 - Departure day
If time allows before your journey, join us for a final stroll down the prom and into the harbour before your departure.
(note - The Argyll Hotel, Iona beer garden shown here).
Please note that the above itinerary is subject to weather conditions being favourable. Walking times and distances shown are approximations and may vary. Our aim, above all, is to make the right choice each day so that we enjoy the most appropriate route for the conditions.
Accommodation
Make your own way to the hotel by car or public transport if you wish, or, if you prefer, we will meet you at the Oban train station / ferry terminal and guide you from there.
We have chosen as our base the Park Lodge Hotel in Tobermory. This is well positioned above the town, has a pleasant beer garden, and is just a 3 minute walk from the lovely drinks terrace at the Western Isles Hotel, from where we enjoy superb views over the town and the Sound of Mull. Accommodation is in single occupancy, en-suite rooms, unless you arrange with us to share with a friend or partner.
Hotel postcode: PA75 6RA
To reach Oban by public transport, take the train directly to Oban from Glasgow Queen Street station. The rail terminal is next to the ferry port, where you can cross to Mull on one of the many daily services. A connecting bus service will take you to Tobermory.
