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While Scotland’s Isle of Skye gets a lot of attention, and rightfully so, we’d like to share with you another stunning island just off the west coast of Scotland that deserves some recognition as well! Encompassing 338 square miles (875 sq km), Isle of Mull is the second largest island of the Inner Hebrides, after Skye, and is the fourth largest Scottish Island. Tobermory is its capital town, which is where most of the island’s population lives. It is also where Mull’s only single malt Scotch whiskey distillery can be found (Tobermory Distillery), along with a handmade chocolate shop. Isle of Mull Scotland is a place where you can take it easy, explore at your own pace, and enjoy the abundant breathtaking landscapes. It’s really not a hard sell, as it’s easy for us to share with you…
3 Reasons to Visit Isle of Mull Scotland
On the way from Craignure to Fionnport
The Island of Mull Is Easy To Get To
How to Get to Isle of Mull
Mull Scotland can be accessed by ferry from 3 different points on the mainland: Oban, Lochaline and Kilchoan. Booking is not required on the ferries coming from Lochaline and Kilchoan, but you will need to book in advance if you’re planning to come by ferry from Oban, especially in the summer months. The journey by ferry to Mull (Craignure) from Oban is 45 minutes; Kilchoan to Tobermory is 35 minutes; and the journey from Lochaline to Fishnish is only 15 minutes. All three ferries allow passengers to bring their vehicles on board for an additional fee. (If you have rented a car, be sure to check with the company you rented from to see if they allow their vehicles to go on a ferry.) For ferry times and ticket prices, visit the Calendonian MacBrayne website.
The ferry to Mull from Oban takes about 45 minutes
Getting Around Mull Island Scotland
We found it most helpful to have our own vehicle for exploring Mull island. We typically rent a car for the duration of our trip each time we visit Scotland (see where else we’ve explored in Scotland). Therefore, we brought our hired car on the ferry to Mull. Again, if this is what you plan to do, double check with the rental company to make sure they allow their vehicles on ferries. Otherwise, there are a few car rental companies on Isle of Mull; one being Mull Car Hire. We have not personally used this company, so our mention is not a recommendation, but rather an option for you to research further. Inventory is limited, so plan ahead and book early. Another option for getting around is Isle of Mull bike hire from Cycle Mull, located in Tobermory. Renting a mountain bike or electric bike is another great way to experience the beauty of the island at your own pace.
Maybe you’re not into cycling or you’re not quite comfortable driving on the left on single track roads. If you’d rather leave the driving to someone else, there are plenty of options! West Coast Motors is a bus company that will pick you up from the ferry ports and take you to different points around Mull Isle. Click HERE for their bus route map and HERE for timetables, fares and more information. If you want someone to do all of the driving and all of the planning, check out these multi-day guided tours: Isle and Mull and Iona 3-day Small Group Tour from Glasgow, Scotland: West Highlands, Mull, and Iona 4-Day Tour, and Iona, Mull, and Isle of Skye: 5-Day Tour from Edinburgh.
There is also a minibus service that operates seasonally from Craignure to Duart Castle. This 13th-century fortress is one of Scotland’s oldest inhabited castles, as it has been home to the Maclean Clan for the past 800 years. (You may also recognize it for its role in the 1999 Sean Connery film, Entrapment.) Ferry passengers arriving from Oban will have an incredible view of the castle prominently perched on rocky cliffs near the coast. Visitors can tour the inside of the castle from April to October for a small fee. Note: The castle is only open Sunday-Thursday during the month of April.
13th-Century Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull
WATCH NOW: Isle of Mull Scotland
Isle of Mull Provides Easy Access to Isle of Iona
The tiny Isle of Iona is just a 10 minute ferry ride from Fionnport on the isle of Mull. There’s no need to pre-purchase ferry tickets to Iona as you simply show up at the port, purchase your round-trip ticket, and hop on the next available sailing. Getting from the port at Craignure to Fionnport will take just over an hour by car, but don’t worry, there’s plenty of beautiful scenery along the way. We recommend you make a little detour to Carsaig Bay. The views will NOT disappoint, though the road to get there may be considered harrowing by some!
Crystal clear water off the coast at Fionnport on Mull
Very few vehicles are allowed on Isle of Iona, unless you have a permit, so most visitors will explore Iona by walking. The island is only about a mile across (and 3 miles long), so it’s fairly easy to get around by foot! Just over 100 people call the island home. It is mostly residents who are able to bring their car to and from the island.
Views from the ferry coming in to Iona
The beautifully restored Iona Abbey is this tiny island’s biggest attraction. Once you disembark from the ferry, follow the Pilgrims’ Street of the Dead to the abbey.
Iona Abbey – One of Scotland’s most historical and sacred sites
The Benedictine monastery was founded in AD 563 by St Columba where it has remained a hub for religious activity for over 1,500 years.
Courtyard and Cloister at Iona Abbey
At the center of the abbey is the church, where much of the medieval architecture can still be seen. The church is still used as a place of worship to this day.
Interior of the Church at the Iona Abbey
To celebrate the 1,450th anniversary of the arrival of St Columba to Iona, Historic Scotland updated the abbey’s museum with a fascinating exhibit taking visitors on a chronological journey through Iona鈥檚 history. The exhibit includes high crosses and head stones, along with a facsimile of the Book of Kells. The book was created on Iona around 800 A.D. and is widely acknowledged as being the finest illustrated manuscript of the four Gospels. The original book can be seen on display at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.
Exhibit at the Iona Abbey Museum
A cemetery just outside the abbey is reputed to be the final resting place of 48 kings of Scotland, including Macbeth.
Graveyard where 48 kings of Scotland are said to be buried
Just a short distance from the abbey is the Iona Nunnery, an Augustinian convent established in 1203. If you’ve got a thing for history, you can read more about Iona Abbey and Nunnery HERE.
Ruins of the Iona Nunnery, an Augustinian convent
Isle of Mull is Easy on the Eyes
Besides being easy to get to, and providing easy access to the nearby Isle of Iona, the number one reason to visit Isle of Mull is… it’s GORGEOUS!!
Mull’s landscape definitely rivals that of Skye
For this reason alone, we’d argue that having your own vehicle is the absolute best way to see the island! You will drive past some pretty incredible scenery and you’ll want to stop, admire, and take a few photos. If you are simply visiting Mull on a day trip, we recommend that you arrive on the first ferry of the day and depart on the last! It was an early wake up call for us to be at the Oban port no later than 7 am, but it was totally worth it, as we had 10 full hours to explore the island!
There is no shortage of scenic landscapes on Mull
Be sure to visit the northwestern part of the island for some incredible views, such as Loch na Keal and Calgary Beach.
Everywhere you look, beauty all around!
We visited Isle of Mull in July during what was considered peak season, though there were times where we felt like we had the entire island and its unspoiled landscape all to ourselves!
Wandering the shorelines on a rocky beach
Another thing to keep your eyes peeled for on the island is a wide variety of animals. We came upon sheep and baby lambs, along with cows and those adorable famous-to-Scotland Highlands cows. Also, Isle of Mull is known as being one of the best places in Europe to spot white-tailed sea eagles. Because of the success of their re-introduction program on the island, there are currently 15 pairs of sea eagles which nest high up in the conifers in the forests.
Locals on the Isle of Mull Scotland
So, have we convinced you to visit Mull in Scotland? It’s easy to see why Isle of Mull is so hard to resist, isn’t it?!