If you’re thinking about a trip to Scotland in your van, then the Inner Hebrides will not disappoint. In this blog we share how best to experience the Isle of Mull by Motorhome. An Inner Hebrides island that blew us away with its diversity in landscape, wildlife and outdoor activities. We were not disappointed and nor will you.

1. The Isle of Mull, an introduction

The Isle of Mull, or Mull as is more commonly known, is just 45 minutes by ferry from Oban in Scotland’s Argyll and Bute. It is part of the archipelago known as the Inner Hebrides, which compromises of 79 islands, 35 of which are inhabited. Skye, Mull and Islay are the three largest islands and have the highest populations of all the archipelago.

Mull covers every conceivable angle for entertaining and inspiring you. From its history dating back to 3000BC, its roots can be traced back through its many Standing Stones and Clan castles. And Mother Nature’s display of coastline, mountains, moorland, estuaries, incredible white sand beaches and forested valleys will impress. Ocean trips to islands where geological masterpieces dominate your experiences to religious icons on the island of Iona that attracts pilgrims far and wide. Whatever your passions Mull invites you exercise them all. It is an outdoor and wildlife Mecca that has walking boots tramping, paddleboards gliding and cameras clicking.

Let us show you around in a bit more detail and with more intimacy.

2. Our Route Around Mull

Our 200 mile road-trip took us two glorious weeks, not always in the greatest of weather, although that’s the thing about Scotland. It seems that even in bad weather the country offers some of the most dramatic scenery. Here is our interactive map that shows our route and stopovers across our 15 day trip. Just click on the map image below to access our map and copy it into your own Google Maps for future reference.

3. Our Isle of Mull Highlights

Taking our motorhome over to the Isle of Mull awarded us with the greatest of overnight stays, in some pretty unique places all of which gave us such easy access to some of Mull’s top sights. Here are our favourites.

Duart’s Castle

After the incessant rain that welcomed us, we had a small window of dry weather that allowed us to head out on our inaugural trip around Mull. Staying at the conveniently placed campsite at Craignure, it was a great base for driving up along the main road that takes you to Duart’s castle at the eastern edge all the way up to Tobermory on the northern fringes.

Just 20 minutes away, we made the castle our first port of call. Aside of perhaps Germany and Slovakia, I don’t know anywhere else in Europe that does castles quite as well and profusely as Scotland. Whether you are looking for the drama of ruins, the ghosts of which tell their own abandoned tale, or the renovated classics that preserve more than bricks and mortar, Mull has a few to offer you. Duart’s is one of the best examples on Mull and its 20th century restoration gives you a chance to peek into the lives, loves and battles of Clan MacLean over the last 700 years. With its timeless location overlooking the Sound of Mull, sat dominantly atop a granite outcrop, a visit here will certainly impress, even if you decide against paying the £10 entrance fee. We aren’t great museum goers, generally speaking. So a walk around the grounds to marvel at the panorama, watch the dolphins in the Sound and tread in the footsteps of Clan giants was more than enough for us.

The road to the castle from Craignure gave us our first taster of Mull’s single track road system. On the face of it, as we held our breath for oncoming traffic, it seems that there is no room for two vehicles to pass. Although we soon got to learn that the passing places allowed us plenty of opportunity to pull over, allowing others to overtake or pass from the opposite direction.

There is also plenty of parking at the castle for all size vehicles, and it is free. There’s a café and toilets, as well as the museum within the grand castle walls, which is where the entrance fee comes into play.

Aros Falls

With the weather on our side, we made the call to head up towards Tobermory and check out the voluminous Aros Falls. After August’s rain, it was a sight to behold. That was after, however, the drive up the eastern coast road, which is an arterial route linking Mull’s ‘capital’ town Tobermory with the main ferry link to Oban at Craignure. For a few miles we had two way traffic and then at Salen, it diverts to a single track route, which winds gradually and curvaceously up the hills with stunning views across the Sound of Mull. However, for first timers, a mindful drive is necessary as you master the single track roads, fast driving locals, buses and delivery lorries. We soon became more comfortable and confident.

A quick stop for lunch or a coffee at the small parking space for Aros Castle ruins is a must. It’s one of the prime spots on the island for a colony of otters that are prolific here on Mull. Here are the coordinates, (56.52997, -5.96396). It’s a cracking little daytime spot with room for a couple of vehicles.

Just 15 minutes further up the road we came to a small parking area for the Aros Falls walk. There are a couple of routes you can do in the area and this car park starts you off at the main event. Swollen with rainfall, this peaty river tumbles over the edge of the falls in spectacular fashion, thundering so loudly that it leaves conversation impossible. The walk down the glen, follows the iron coloured river as it gushes over the almost black rocks creating a great contrast for photographers.

Whilst not a great walk for anyone with mobility issues, it is otherwise quite a decent walk, that even with soggy paths was quite safe to navigate. Reaching the lower falls, gave us some additional hike options. Turn left towards the picturesque Tobermory, turn right towards the pier or head back up the way you came. It is a lovely little leg stretch, however much you choose to do. Whilst the car park isn’t big, if you time it outside of peak times, you will be able to get your camper or motorhome parked up easily enough.

Lochbuie and The Old Post Office and Larder

There are times, when a hidden gem is recommended and you are so grateful for their introduction that you could love them forever. Lochbuie is one of those such places.

Out on the southern coast of Mull, we reached this place via an 8 mile road, which in itself might not seem innocuous. Although there is a weight limit and width warning on the road suggesting to us, having driven it, that anything much over an 8m van might find this road a bit tricky. For us it was fine, although narrow doesn’t even get close. And some of the bridges have tight turns that make it just a little bit of a squeeze. All that said, if a Refuse truck can manage it, then perhaps you could make up your own mind.

It is a route that seems endless, with views to die for, rollercoaster roads that hug the contours and sheep who profess to own the road, or so it seemed to us. There’s a little sign some six miles into the drive that offers hope, ‘You are almost there, promise!’. So it’s not just us that felt like the road went on forever. There are some passing places, although less so than the so called ‘main roads’, so we were glad that we only met one vehicle coming the other way. Seeing as most people head to this lovely spot from 10am for coffee at the famous The Old Post Office, you can time your visit quite strategically. Get there between 10-11 or after 3.00pm when it shuts, and you should avoid much of the returning traffic.

The drive is most definitely worthy of every second and each mile as the view when we reached the Lochbuie Campsite sign is more delicious than a Royal Banquet. Now I say ‘Campsite’ very loosely. One of the things we noticed on Mull, is that entrepreneurial landowners have commandeered the phrase to label parcels of land, where they allow us to park up overnight for a nominal fee. Now we love this notion although realise that its informality wouldn’t be for everyone. Although it is still worth coming down for the day to explore this secluded bay and all its attractions.

The Lochbuie Camping is an incredible location and just a few places to park that can be limited after torrential rain. It costs just £5 payable by card at The Post Office during opening hours, or cash left in the Donation Box. There are toilets and water up there, although no bins, so you will need to take your rubbish away with you.

Now whilst the bay itself is gorgeous, it is the local attractions and wildlife that make the whole area pop. And that’s before you add the incredible food from the girls at The Post Office. Whether you fancy a bowl of mussels from the next door loch, or their award winning Sausage Rolls, or perhaps indulge in one of their homemade cakes, you’ll not be disappointed.

Continuing our walk along the coastal path we found an old church, a tidal island with shiny white sands and the ruins of a 17th century Castle owned by the MacLeans. Castle Moy sat on the shores of this idyllic bay is atmospheric for sure, although by far, not the oldest structure around. Head just 10 minutes through the Moy Estate and you will find the Lochbuie Standing Stone Circle, which they think dates back 3000BC. Also, if the herd of Highland Coos allow your passage, you can continue around to the old Mausoleum. Unfortunately said herd were stamping their ground assertively, and with calves, we didn’t risk going any further.

As we turned left out of the ‘campsite’ we got a whole different experience. For those fit and able, there is a long hike to Carsaig Pier which is a good 7km. Although you’ll only need to walk 15 minutes through the high cliff gorge to reach a couple of black sand beaches, which is a stark contrast after the pristine white beaches of the inner bay.

Loosing yourself in Lochbuie for a few days is a must. Deer, seals, Coos and Sea Eagles are possible sightings, although the thing that will capture you the most is the tranquility. It is absolutely worth 8 miles and £5 per night.

Fionnphort, Staffa Island and Iona

Reluctantly we left Lochbuie with the promise of summer’s arrival to Scotland, at least for a couple of days. I had a perfect campsite pinned for quite a while and with plenty of supporting recommendations from our lovely community, our destination was set. With an ‘early departure’ strategy set to navigate Lochbuie’s road, we found ourselves back on the ‘main road’ with a degree of ease in comparison to our arrival. And the mountain road offered us just a little wider a passage and ample passing places, guiding us west towards the Ross of Mull.

It would be easy to bypass some of the amazing views we had en route, and I shall not ignore their presence, as it would be criminal. 3 Loch View was an incredible sight, with Sea Eagles flying overhead and small crofter’s cottages dotting our view, despite low cloud it was an amazing drive.

There’s something quite unique about Mull, and perhaps some might argue, about Scotland in general; seeing livestock grazing on the beach. It feels iconically Scottish and on the Ross of Mull we had our first encounter. With a low tide and the skeletons of abandoned boats, the atmospheric scene made us stop and admire, just for a moment. Some things are just beyond adjectives, and this was one of those moments.

Our destination at Fionnphort welcomed us with the embrace of a teddy bear. Fidden Farm was our home for the next four nights. With an informal set up that allowed us to park wherever we wanted, with staggering views across to Iona, we knew we would happy here. It reminded us of our favourite Irish campsite at Clifden Eco Camping on the Connemara.

The turquoise waters shone like jewels and it resembled something more akin to a Caribbean holiday brochure than Scotland. Safe waters that invited us to swim and kayak even at low tide, were accompanied by incredible sunset scenes that made us sigh with delight. Check out our personalised video of Fidden Farm to see it for yourself.

Just a mile’s walk into the village we found plenty of eateries, a ferry across to Iona and the meeting place for the Staffa Trips. It was with these guys that we explored the exquisite island of Staffa and its geological masterpiece, Fingal’s Cave. For just £40 each for a three hour trip, we headed out on a warm and calm summer’s day, finally. With an early sighting of, soon to give birth seals basking on the rocks, I held my breath in anticipation of dolphins. And they didn’t let me down.

Out of the blue, we spotted a couple of black fins popping out of the water and before we knew it, a whole pod was dancing around our boat. With cries of elation that sounded a bit like a dolphin’s sonar, I lost myself in the magic of that moment. I have never seen dolphins so close before and it’s my bucket list dream. We’ve been to New Zealand and Bali and neither place delivered what we managed to achieve in Scotland, right on our very own doorstep.

However I digress. Fingal’s Cave and Staffa as an entire island, is a geological masterpiece. As you sail up close, the hexagonal black pillars and rise up from the ocean’s surface gave me an immense feeling of humility. 59 Millions years old, created by volcanic activity, that today stands strong, determined and resolute against the relentless Atlantic storms. Once moored up, we were able to walk across the perfectly formed column pathway right into the mouth of Fingal’s Cave. The acoustics were out of this world as the crashing waves harmonised with the rocks inside the cave the very same waves were crafting each and every moment.

If you were brave enough to attempt the hair-raising steps up to the top of Staffa island, you would be rewarded with the most peaceful and simple of views. A green landscape that harbours puffins during the spring and early summer, seemed to me, to be the most beautiful place on earth. With its simple undulations, wilderness and remoteness I would have been happy to stay and soak up this incredible atmosphere. It had an almost spiritual nature about it and I certainly felt its vibe and the clock was the only thing to tear me away. What a memorable afternoon. You can check out our specific video on the Staffa trip below.

The Island of Iona is a place for pilgrims, many of whom travel from around the world to come and pay homage to Iona’s 6th century Abbey. It was on this sacred ground in 563AD that St Columba landed from Ireland and used this as his base for converting the locals to Christianity. Banishing all the women to a local islet across the Straight, St Columba established a monastery, and to this day the Abbey still operates in this way. For us, as non religious people, the building was fascinating for its location and architectural design, although the obvious emotion from some of the visitors did not wave its wand over us. Iona lacked the vibe that we experienced on Staffa, although we are glad to have visited if only for a couple of hours.

We took over our bikes and the short ferry ride cost us £8.20 for us both, return with our bikes. Given that special dispensation is needed to take a vehicle across the Iona, we highly recommend bikes or at the very least hiring a bike when you get there, so that you can visit some of the island’s pleasant beaches and you can get around much easier. Although for us, the island’s capitalising on the commerciality from the Abbey gave it an unnecessary tourist feel. Ulva had a much more authentic feel to it, just around the coast, which is coming up next.

The West’s Scenic Coastal Route

Heading away from the paradise of the Ross of Mull, there are two options. We could either trace our steps back towards Craignure following the same road. Or we could venture west on the Scenic Coastal Route that would take us from Loch Beg Bridge to Calgary Beach, covering 36 miles.

Now I will give fair warning that this road, from time to time is not for the faint hearted. I’m not one for instilling fear and my view is that we must always assess things for ourselves and not be influenced by another traveller’s experiences. So I mention this route’s precariousness not out of fear inducing, just awareness and preparedness, if there is such a word.

Mull’s single track roads are very doable with a majority of sized vehicles. After all coaches and Refuse trucks manage. Although the west’s Scenic Route puts narrow into another dimension. There are still passing places and we found it absolutely fine for our van. Although if you or your driver have a nervous disposition then you might want to give this route a miss. Travel is meant to be fun and adventurous, not uncomfortable and sweat making. We suggest to make up your mind, that you watch our video and make up your own mind. You will find this at the end.

There are some rollercoaster moments in this road, especially the first hour’s stretch. As the road carves its way up into the mountains and then around its edges, it really did give us a feeling of being in Iceland. With Myles’ acrophobia, I think he did incredibly well driving this first leg and I think as long as you drive with mindfulness and slowly you will be absolutely fine.

We had a fabulous off grid home on the grassy shores of the Loch with Sea Eagles flying overhead and sheep as our neighbours. It was tranquility personified. And after a grey day, we were treated to a spectacular sunset that made the whole scene pop.

Ulva – community owned Island

About an hour into the Scenic Coastal Route, there is a wonderful Aire owned by the community of Ulva. This small island just inches from the mainland island is reached by ferry, which costs £8 per person, return. It runs on demand when you turn on the red flag on the ferry building.

The walks around the island are fabulous and we kept our eyes peeled for Eagles, of which we saw many and their nests. The history here, dates back to Neolithic times, although in the more recent past, their Kelp Industry brought huge prosperity to the island. This is when it saw its population soar. Sadly as the industry dwindled due to cheaper imports, the island’s community migrated. One of its most notable residents was Lachlan Macquarie, who in 1776, at the age of 14 left for the shores of Australia and who becomes the Governor of New South Wales and held the office for the longest time of any Australian governor. He did eventually return to Ulva and, such is his fame that the island draws many a pilgrimage for Australians.

These days, the island, which is now owned by each of the 16 residents, is a remote wilderness for walking and nature lovers and we highly recommend a visit, just avoid Saturdays as the ferry doesn’t run.

Tobermory

Perhaps more famous for its children’s TV programme, Balamory, the picturesque town of Tobermory is quite a sight. After a stunning drive from Dervaig around endless hairpin bends, Tobermory will ease your soul with its character.

With its colourful arc of houses that line the promenade, it is hard not to smile at its quintessential presence. There is plenty to explore for the day, especially if you like walking. There are hikes either side of the town; one to the right that goes along to the Aros Falls, we mentioned earlier, or one to the left down by the ferry terminal. This one takes a forest path that leads to one of Scotland’s 200 lighthouses and is well worth the two mile return walk.

In between those, we had plenty of independent shops selling a range of tourist items, a great hardware store, a Chocolate shop and of course the famous Tobermory Distillery if you like yourself a wee dram of Scottish water. If you love fish, then the Fish and Chip truck on the quay sells great quality food, especially the battered scallops, which were sensational. Whilst parking in the town is tricky for motorhomes, if you arrive early enough, you can park at the main car park by the Distillery. Alternatively, like us, you could just take advantage of the Tobermory Campsite, which is just a mile up the hill. It’s a bit of a trek back home, although if you can time it right there is a bus that goes right by the door and saves you the walk along the road.

4. How to get there

Whilst not more than 15 miles and a 45 minute ferry journey from the ‘mainland’ the Isle of Mull is far enough away to feel independent, unique and have its own character. That is one of its many selling points. To enjoy these island features, there are three ferry routes you can choose from, depending upon the size of your vehicle. All ferries listed below are run by CalMac.

• Oban to Craignure – 45 minute journey and the most popular route for all sized vehicles. We did have a bit of a grinding on the van’s rear end when we embarked, although the boys were able to adjust their ramps and we entered with ease. This ferry must be booked ahead of time and you select the sailing that suits or that is available. We recommend in high season that you book well ahead. Our ferry cost £48 one way. It is worth noting that a return journey is no cheaper than a one way. So if you wanted to reserve judgement on your ability to board one of the two crossings below, you won’t loose out by buying a one way ticket.
  
• Lochaline to Fishnish – an 18 minute journey on a roll on, roll off ferry only suitable for smaller vehicles with no long overhang. The entry and exit is via a submerged slope rather than a purpose-built jetty so scraping is likely for larger and longer vehicles. You can book an open ticket that allows you to access the next available ferry.
  
• Kilchoan to Tobermory – 35 minutes again on a roll on, roll off ferry. The same factors exist for this slipway ferry as the Lochaline crossing.

5. Getting Around

Mull might have 300 miles of coastline, although in real terms, driving around the island doesn’t take long. However, it is not an island to hurry and tick off. Mull, like any good whisky needs to be savoured, relished and fully appreciated. Slow-travel is definitely the name of the game here.

We covered 200 miles over the course of our two weeks and there was perhaps another seven days we could have stayed, had the weather been kinder.

One of the biggest challenges to Mull is its road network. Mull is dominated by 98% single track roads. Only about 12 miles are actually two carriageways. And whilst many of the off the beaten track routes in Scotland, especially the NC500 are the same, you might find this takes some getting used to if you generally stick to the main, trunk roads.

The passing places are generally good and with the addition of tall, grey and white posts to indicate their location, it does make it pretty easy to judge when to pull in for an approaching vehicle. It is tempting to sometimes use the passing places to stop, although this is not permitted under any circumstances. Mull also asks for responsible driving by pulling over to allow vehicles behind you to overtake.

It is also recommended NOT to convoy, as often the passing places are, generally not big enough to cater for more than one motorhome.

On some of the smaller off the beaten track routes say down to Lochbuie, Uiskden and Calgary, the roads are significantly more narrow with slightly less passing places than the loosely termed, ‘main roads.’ They are doable and given they experience less traffic than the main arterial routes, they are fine to navigate, although their passage tends to hug the contours and so are winding and not always motorhome mentally friendly. However, we should mention that these also cater for Refuse trucks, so our philosophy is always, if they can make it, so can we. It’s a mindset that has not yet let us down.

The Scenic Coastal Route is a magnificent road and we loved every minute of it. Although we have to be honest and say that in parts it can feel a bit hairy with roads clinging to the sides of mountains and lochs. People tend to drive these roads much more slowly because of the scenic bit, so they were much kinder on our nerves.

We came unstuck at Torloisk, on the Scenic Route to Calgary, as there were roadworks preventing our completion of this road. We were diverted up on the mountain road to Dervaig, which was the most narrow of all the roads we drove. Again doable, although it was very quiet in the van and tensions running high. There were a couple of hair pin bends, where we met traffic coming up and, with no where for us to go, it was a tense couple of minutes for all parties concerned. So if there was one road I would recommend you avoid, if you can, it would be this one as indicated on the map below.

The best advice for navigating the roads on Mull are:

• Drive slowly. And to be honest, there’s really no other way to drive on Mull because it is so incredibly beautiful. Let the locals do the fast driving.
  
• Driving with one eye on the nearest passing place either behind or in front of you, so you can stop quickly for oncoming traffic.
  
• Indicate or flash your lights to show people ahead of you that you have the intention of pulling in. Communication is key on these roads to avoid frayed tempers of the locals.
  
• Be mindful of all the conditions around you. Driving on Mull does take a little more concentration than normal roads with wildlife, narrow roads, traffic and coaches to navigate.

Follow these simple rules and you’ll have no difficulties driving around Mull.

6. Staying on Mull

We’ve already given some ideas on the places we stayed on Mull. Although in summary you have four different types of ‘homes’ to stay at. You can find all these and more options on the Park 4 Night app.

a) Traditional Campsites of which there are 6 around the island. We didn’t book any sites at the end of August, although you might at least want to book your first night as you ‘land’ on the island. They vary in their services, although they are all good quality sites with shower facilities and toilet blocks. Some like Fidden Farm in Fionnphort don’t have electricity or hard standing and the price is reflective of this. You can expect to pay between £24-32 pn inclusive of EHU. These were the sites we stayed at.

Shielings Holidays Mull – Craignure

Salen Bay Camping – Salen

Tobermory Camping – Tobermory

Fidden Farm – Fionnphort

Check out our footage from Salen Bay, which was idyllic for you Paddleboard or Kayak lovers.

b) Aires. We only found one on the island that was run by the Ulva Community on the Coastal Scenic Route. There are just three pitches and booking is essential to avoid disappointment. Call Mark on 07557378953. The Aire has full services, although you must talk to Mark to unlock the CDP. The showers are just a short walk away and you pay with £1 coins; £1 for 3 minutes.

c) Informal ‘Campsites’. These are campsites in their loosest sense. They don’t have pitches, facilities or services, generally speaking. They are simply patches of land that the owners have granted permission to park overnight on. Scotland has a Right to Roam policy for tenters, although this generally doesn’t apply to motorhomes and campers. Although this plots of land give you a great opportunity to be off-grid, in some incredible places and for a small donation, call that place home. The only issue with these apart from not being able to book, is that the are very weather vulnerable, so watch out for getting stuck given their rustic nature. We stayed at two, although there are plenty more around that you can find on Park4Night.

• Lochbuie run by The Old Post Office and Larder for a £5 donation.
• Kilmore Standing Stones; the local farmer will pop by around 8pm to collect your money, so make sure you have some cash on you. Check out our short video below.

d) Off Grid spots – In truth there aren’t many places to truly off-grid for free, we found a couple along the stretch of the Scenic Coastal Path. The land is all owned by the local estate although they are happy for responsible overnight parking for one night. We stayed at Dhiseig Lawn, right on the Loch which was incredible.

7. Practicalities of visiting the Isle of Mull

We’ve been asked a lot of questions about our trip to Mull and so in this Practicalities section, we thought we would address those questions through a Q&A style approach.

Q. The Isle of Mull tourist information warns about van weight and length potential issues.

A. We experienced no issues on Mull in our Pilote 740c, 7.5m van, even some of the hair-pin bends and really narrow roads to out-of-the-way places. However, personally we wouldn’t have enjoyed our visit as much in a van much larger than ours. Especially on some of the roads like Lochbuie and the mountain road up from Torliosk to Dervaig. The main road between Tobermory and Craignure and Craignure to Fionnphort would take larger vehicles, although we both agree that anything over 8m would make for a shorter and less fulfilled trip and potentially one with more stress added to the journey, depending on the roads you choose to drive.

Q. Can I get on the ferry from Tobermory to Kilchoan?

A. Vehicles of many shapes and sizes can take the car ferries from Tobermory and Fishnish, although access might well depend upon the length of your rear overhang. The exits/entry points can be quite steep and for us it was not possible to embark without tearing our back end off. Smaller motorhomes and camper vans will be absolutely fine, although it is best that you check for yourself.

Q. Are there petrol stations and LPG available on the island?

A. There is no LPG on the island, so we suggest you come fully laden, as there are places you will want to call home, where there is no hook up. You can of course, like most places buy gas bottles, depending upon your gas set up, although LPG specifically is a no. There are a handful of petrol stations in the main communities around the island, although not with big forecourts like on the mainland. So again, we made sure that we filled up before we left Oban at the cheap Tescos. Other suppliers are of course available. We did 200 miles, so a tank of petrol was more than enough to cover us.

Q. Are there any supermarkets on the island for food shopping?

A. Yes there are small shops that service your basic food needs. Coop, Spar and small Post Offices and Stores are available, again at the main community hubs like Craignure, Salen, Tobermory, Port Nan Gael, Bunessan and Dervaig. We did a big shop in Oban and then topped up our food supplies whilst on the island. There are plenty of fruit, veg and fresh supplies although just not with as wide a selection as the mainland supermarkets.

Q. What about doing laundry?

A. We stumbled across a brand new Revolution Laundry set up, and this is the only one on the island. You’ll find this at Port Nan Gael on the Ross of Mull, en route to Fionnphort. Otherwise some of the main campsites offer laundry, as does the Ulva Community Aire on the West Coast Scenic Route.

Q. Are there lots of places to eat out?

A. There are a good selection of eateries on the island. From your more traditional pubs, to entrepreneurial Food Trucks selling locally caught fish. There’s a good one in Fionnphort and another in Tobermory that do particularly good food. Otherwise you will find plenty of cafés and small restaurants even on Ulva and Iona. And of course you can’t miss out the Lochbuie Post Office and Larder for excellent food.

Q. What wildlife are we likely to see?

A. In terms of biodiversity, Mull is one of the best places to visit, based on its size. Amongst the whole range of seabirds you will see, keep your eyes open especially for Golden Eagles and the rare White Tailed Sea Eagle. Otters are abundant around the island, although we weren’t lucky on our trip. Seals and dolphins are regular visitors to the coastal shores and sometimes Minky Whales if you take the Staffa Island tour. Red and Fallow deer will also be seen quite near road sides. And that is just for starters. So take your binoculars and cameras and be ready to be wowed.

8. For More Information

If this has piqued your interest, any why wouldn’t it, then this is perhaps just the start of your Isle of Mull journey. Keep your eye open for our article in the Practical Motorhome Magazine and of course there is the official Visit Mull & Iona website and Social Media pages.

Of course though there is our video to check out first, which gives you first hand experience of the island through our eyes. Come on board with us in Scoobie and see what the roads are like for yourself and assess whether this island will surprise you too.

9. Closing Thoughts

The Isle of Mull was such a beautiful surprise, we had no idea that it held so many intricate secrets and offered the visitor so many joys. The walking and mountain hiking, the exquisite coastal scenery, the smaller islands, its geology and ancient past all combine to intrigue and delight you.

Relatively speaking, the island is quiet and crowd free (except perhaps on Iona) and there is a glorious sense of remoteness and tranquility that many places on the mainland just don’t offer. So if you are looking for a place to retreat to where it is Mother Nature who calls the shots, then Mull is right up your street. Allow the scenery to magnetise you, nature to excite you and the quiet culture to shape your travel mind into one of submission and enlightenment.

Mull will not disappoint you, even on a rainy day and if, like us the sun should appear, then you could be in no better a place in the world.

/k