"The Highlands and northern Islands are all about mountains, sea, moors, lochs and wide, empty, exhilarating space. This area is one of Europe's last great wildernesses, and it's mind-blowingly beautiful. It's the north and west, where the mountains and sea collide, that exhaust superlatives."
 Europe on a Shoestring - Lonely Planet

Tobermory

The Isle of Mull is the third largest of the Hebridean islands and many would contest the most beautiful. It has a mild climate due to the effects of the Gulf Stream. There are magnificent mountains, picturesque lochs, sandy beaches, historic castles and wild rugged countryside. There are more than 4,000 different plant species on the island. The bird life on Mull includes golden eagles, white-tailed sea eagles, buzzards and kestrels. The Island of Iona with its historic abbey is accessible via a short ferry from Mull. 

Please click on any of the photographs on this page
for a higher resolution version.

Sheep reportedly outnumber people on Mull. However, there are also herds of cattle including many of the highland variety which roam the fields on the islands.

Driving on Mull is a pleasure compared to the mainland. Most of the roads are only single track but there are regular passing places to allow oncoming traffic to pass and following traffic to overtake. The only traffic jams you are likely to encounter are minor ones caused by sheep and cattle crossing the road. There are no permanent traffic lights and only one roundabout on the island. There are buses which travel between the main settlements, including regular ones between Craignure and Tobermory should you prefer not to bring your vehicle onto the island.

Croig

Croig is a very small fishing port situated at the north of the island approximately midway between Dervaig and Calgary. A farm track, approximately 1mile  long, leads to a small secluded beach at Port na Bà (see right) where sheep can often be seen grazing on the seaweed. 

Loch Ba

Loch Ba is a stunningly beautiful and peaceful place to visit. From Salen drive along the B8035 towards Gruline and park up on the outskirts of Knock. A farm track affords pedestrian access along the full length of the loch on the south side.

Isle of Mull Ferry coming into
Craignure

 
Duart Castle

This view of the castle was taken from the ferry on the way into Craignure. The castle and grounds are open from April until October.

There are approximately 3,000 permanent residents on Mull with visitors roughly doubling the total population in the summer months. However, with a total land area of 925sq km (over twice the area of the Isle of Wight), unsurprisingly Mull never feels crowded. Most visitors to Mull arrive at the ferry port of Craignure after a 45 minute ferry journey from Oban. At the ferry port there is a Tourist Board office where free leaflets can be obtained about the various tourist attractions on Mull. A free guide to Mull & Iona including a comprehensive road map showing the location of the main attractions is also available upon request from the Tourist Board office staff.

Tobermory Harbour

Beach at Port na Bà near Croig

Torosay Castle

Torosay Castle is situated a couple of miles south of Craignure and is accessible via road or the narrow gauge Isle of Mull Railway. The castle and gardens are well worth a visit (Castle open from Easter until October and gardens open all year).

Calve Island viewed from Tobermory golf course

There are only a couple of buildings on Calve Island and no one lives there permanently. Nevertheless the island is an integral part of the view from the golf course and Tobermory harbour.

Dervaig

The village of Dervaig has a small hotel which doubles up as a pub, a coffee & books shop and a village store. It is also home to Mull Little Theatre which has appeared under the entry World's smallest theatre in the Guiness Book of Records. Nearby there is a heritage centre "The Old Byre" (open from Easter to October only) and access to several forestry paths.

Calgary

The white sandy beach of Calgary Bay is framed by two rugged headlands.

Further information about Mull and Tobermory can be found on the numerous web sites available, links to some of which can be found on the Web links page of this web site.

Click here to return to top of page