Looking for a seaside getaway in Scotland, island hopping without a super-long ferry ride and drop-dead gorgeous views of Scottish mountains, beaches and rugged coastlines? The Isle of Mull is all you need – a brilliant alternative to other, more touristy Isles and a destination packed with activities and places to see. This guide includes all the best things to do on Mull and lots of information about getting there, where to stay and where to feast!
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Scotland has almost 800 offshore islands. Some are inhabited while others are pure rugged wilderness. That makes for endless opportunities of island hopping and while the majority of international visitors are drawn to the likes of Skye or Orkney, the islands off the coast of Oban are among the most popular weekend destinations for local travellers.
The Isle of Mull is the fourth largest Scottish island and offers something for any type of traveller. Hikers and Munro-baggers will get their fix on the trails up Ben More – the only island Munro apart from the Black Cuillin on Skye. There are white sandy beaches perfect to build sand castles or go wold swimming in the North Atlantic. The colourful harbour of Tobermory boasts quirky shops with local produce and crafts, while the small villages dotted around the coast of Mull offer solitude and the opportunity to disconnect.
Mull is surrounded by a plethora of smaller islands that are great for day trips and there are many companies that offer outdoor activities from bird watching to sea kayaking.
In short, Mull is a perfect Scottish island to include visit on a short vacation from the cities or to include in your Scotland road trip itinerary. It is also a great place to experience glamping in Scotland.
I’ve been to Mull twice now – one with my brother and sister-in-law for a few days on the island, and another time with my parents, just visiting for a day from our home base in Oban.
This post is an ever-growing guide for my favourite things to do on Mull.
The Isle of Mull is a stop on my Hidden West Coast itinerary. If you like what you’re reading here, why don’t you follow it?
Isle of Mull FAQ
How to get to the Isle of Mull
The Isle of Mull can only be reached by ferry. The main connection from Oban to Mull is the Calmac ferry that runs to Craignure in the northeast of the island. In the summer it is essential to book your preferred ferry crossing well in advance – I tried to book one or two months before our trip and could only get a spot on the 6.10 pm crossing as all earlier sailings were fully booked.
There are multiple crossings per day, but they are less frequent in winter. You can find the summer timetable for the ferry to Mull here, and the winter timetable which is valid from late October to March, here.
The ferry is big enough to bring a car across and I highly recommend doing so, as driving is the best way to explore the Isle of Mull.
Don’t miss my practical guide to island hopping in Scotland!
You have to arrive at least 30 minutes before your booked crossing, but I recommend planning a bit more time for Oban as there is plenty to see in this wonderful coastal town too. Head for vegan-friendly lunch at The Little Pot Shed Cafe (5 John St, Oban PA34 5NS), enjoy the views from McCaig’s Tower or learn about the art of whisky-making at Oban Distillery.
Want to see more of Oban? Read about things to do in Oban!
Most visitors will leave Mull via the same ferry crossing, but if you continue your road trip into the central Highlands, you could also board the Tobermory to Kilchoan ferry and continue your road trip to the Ardnamurchan peninsula. This crossing is much shorter and on a smaller boat. Use my Hidden West Coast itinerary to plan a journey to Mull and Ardnamurchan.
If you want to spend more time in Argyll – one of my favourite regions in Scotland – why not combine your Mull adventure with my 3-day Argyll itinerary. If you use my Best of Scotland itinerary, you can easily substitute the busy Isle of Skye with a trip to Mull instead.
How to get around Mull
There are a few local buses on Mull, but they are really not designed to cater to travellers or backpackers. Without your own car, you will have to rely on guided tours, expensive taxis or hitchhiking. I would therefore highly recommend bringing your own (rental) car across to the island.
Note, that the vast majority of roads are single-track roads, something to keep in mind when you calculate how long it takes to drive around. I use Google Maps to calculate distances and driving times, but always add at least 30% to the suggested driving time to allow plenty of scenic spots. On single-track roads, I’d add a little extra as you have to drive slower.
Be mindful on these single-track roads and follow the local traffic guidelines. Let faster drivers behind you (most likely locals) pass when you reach a passing place, stick to the left side of the road even when the passing place is on the right – oncoming traffic will use it to swivel around you – always watch out for oncoming traffic or sheep on the road, and be always ready to stop and reverse into a passing place if you must. Check out my driving tips for Scotland to drive better and safer!
The upside of the single track roads on Mull is that they are incredibly scenic!
You might also like: Practical Guide to Hiring a Car in Scotland
Where to stay on Mull
There are a lot of different options for accommodation on Mull. You can find hotels, mostly concentrated around Tobermory, countless B&Bs dotted around the coastal villages, holiday rentals and cottages, and a few hostels for budget-friendly accommodation. Of course, there are campsites as well as plenty of locations suitable for (free) wild camping.
The earlier to look into booking, the greater is your choice. Mull is incredibly popular among local travellers and accommodation is limited, which is a dangerous mix for visitors who think they can just take the ferry across and wing it during the high season. I recommend booking your accommodation as early as possible, but definitely by January/February of the same year you’re are planning to travel.
By the time we started looking (a couple of months in advance of our August trip), a lot of affordable B&Bs were already fully booked. Many cottages were out of the questions because they are often let by the week. Travelling with 3 other vegans, it was important to us that we had access to self-catering facilities to prepare our own meals, and so we ended up at Craignure Bunkhouse.
Craignure Bunkhouse is one of my accommodation favourites! Check out more Unique Places to Stay in Scotland!
Craignure Bunkhouse
We booked the last room that was available at Craignure Bunkhouse – with 6 bunk beds, an en-suite bathroom and full access to the kitchen and common areas. The bunkhouse is located a stone’s throw away from the ferry terminal, which was not only convenient when we arrived, but especially handy on the day we left – there was no way, we would be delayed on one of those single track roads!
The bunkhouse is an extension of the neighbouring Craignure Inn and is really new and modern. There is a cozy lounge area and a fully-equipped kitchen. The bunk beds had a comfortable size and each bunk came with its own night lamp and plugs. Windows in the ceiling, both in the room and the bathroom ensured that enough daylight flooded the space. With 6 people and luggage the room would have been quite crammed, but for the four of us, it was just perfect!
We had gone shopping at a large supermarket in Oban and brought everything we needed across to Mull. While there is a Coop supermarket in Tobermory, consider that that’s a 45-minute drive away, and the small Spar in Craignure only sells the bare necessities like milk bread and of course snacks and booze.
My culinary highlight was the BBQ we had for our first night – with a single-use BBQ from the shops, veggie burgers, portobello mushrooms and grilled bananas with melted chocolate for dessert!
You might also like: Traveling Scotland as a Vegan
Things to do on the Isle of Mull
You could spend all your time on the Isle of Mull just hanging out at different beaches or hillwalking your way around the island. Here is what we did to pass the time.
Window shopping in Tobermory
Tobermory is the largest town on Mull, but don’t expect a metropolis! The small quirky seaside town boasts everything you might need on your island trip – a colourful waterfront promenade, a handy supermarket, gorgeous views, cafes, pubs and restaurants.
Swing by An Tobar, a cultural community hub with exhibition spaces for local artists, artist studios, a performance and live music venue, small shop for local crafts and music and a cafe that offers light vegan-friendly bites. The local shops at the promenade are perfect for window shopping or to pick up souvenirs and island essentials. I can highly recommend the Isle of Mull Soap company for a long-lasting takeaway from the island.
An Tobar
Argyll Terrace, Tobermory, Isle of Mull PA75 6PB.
Monday to Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm.
Cafe website – opening times may vary.
Isle of Mull Soap Co.
50 Main St, Tobermory, Isle of Mull PA75 6NT.
Monday to Sunday, 9 am – 6 pm.
Website
You might also like: 20 Beautiful Towns to Visit in Scotland
Learn about Whisky at Tobermory Distillery
The history of whisky on Mull is characterised by ups and downs. While whisky was produced by private and secret distilleries all over the country for centuries, it was actually illegal until the early 19th century. It is said that in 1780 there were only 8 legal distilleries in Scotland and 400 illegal ones!
The distillery in Tobermory was established as Ledaig Distillery in 1798 and has shaped the whisky production on the island ever since. Distillery tours are available year-round. They last about 45 minutes and include a dram of Tobermory 10yo at the end. Tasting tours with a wider range of drams are also available.
Tobermory Distillery
1 Ledaig, Tobermory, Isle of Mull PA75 6NR.
Monday to Sunday, 10 am – 4 pm.
Book tours here, admission fee £8.
Go wild swimming at Calgary Beach
There are many beaches on the Isle of Mull – more below – but Calgary Beach might just be the most famous one. This wide stretch of white sand lies in the north if the island, a short drive from Tobermory. It is a popular holiday destination with plenty of cottages and B&Bs nearby and a large campsite.
The beaches of Mull have a reputation to look like the Caribbean – all that is missing are the palm trees. Unfortunately, the wind was too strong to allow the shallow waters to turn turquoise, but when the sea is really still, you can witness this spectacle of colours from the cliffs above the bay.
Calgary Beach is popular among wild swimmers and snorkellers, but even if you find that too cold, you will enjoy building sandcastles and sunbathing on the beach.
You might also like: 5 beautiful Scottish places for wild swimming
Check out the beaches near Fionnphort
Speaking of beaches – some of the best Mull beaches can be found in the far south-west of the island, near the small coastal settlement of Fionnphort. Most of them can only be reached on foot, so leave your car behind, pack your swimsuit in your backpack and set out for adventure. The Isle of Mull tourism group offers a great overview of picturesque sandy beaches on Mull here.
Fidden Beach lies 2 miles south of Fionnphort. There is a car park and campsite from which it is a short walk to the beach. You will find bizarre pink granite rocks, picnic benches and you might even spot some seals basking on rocks.
Kilvickeon Beach can be reached after a 10-minute walk from the car park at the Old Kilvickeon Parish Church. You might spot seals or sea eagles and if the tide is out you might be able to reach the small tidal island in the bay. Find a walk description here.
Traigh Ghael means white beach in Gaelic, and that is exactly what you will find here! A tropical-looking white sandy beach with turquoise water framed by pink granite and colourful wildflowers. The walk to the beach takes 2-3 hours and leads through the Tireragan Nature Reserve. Find a walk description here.
You might also like: Exploring the Ross of Mull and Iona with Local Guides
Go Hiking with Walk Mull
There is nothing quite like exploring the trails of Mull with a local guide – someone who knows the local flora and fauna like the back of his hand, and can guide you on trails you’d never find on your own. Tony Mclean of Walk Mull is such a guide and I can’t recommend his services enough.
Tony took me on a hike with my parents (who are in their 60s and 70s respectively) – to say, we had very different skill levels would be an understatement. But Tony chose a route that would suit us all and while my dad sat down for a rest, my mum and I went for a wild swim in a loch and followed Tony to a series of waterfalls.
Along the way, Tony pointed out plants and wildlife – but the highlight of our hike was spotting a golden eagle just as we returned to our car.
Walk Mull, private guiding from £90
Visit Duart Castle
If you took the ferry from Oban you will have already spotted Duart Castle towering high above the sea. The former home of the Clan MacLean overlooks the entrance to Sound of Mull the Lochs Linnhe and Etive and the Firth of Lorne, ensuring that no ship could try to sail to these places without the Clan Chief’s knowledge.
The castle was abandoned and fell to ruins in the 18th century, but was bought and refurbished in the early 20th century. Today, Duart Castle is open for visitors and is an interesting place to see on Mull before catching the ferry back to the mainland. Admission to the castle allows you to visit the Great Hall, staterooms and an exhibition about the Clan Maclean of Duart.
There are also several walking trails leading around the Keep and down towards the sea and to access these, you don’t require a ticket.
Duart Castle
Isle of Mull PA64 6AP.
Monday to Sunday, 10.30 am – 5 pm.
Website, admission fee £7.
Spot the Highland Coos at Loch Beg
The southern shore of Loch Beg is a great place to spot a local herd of Highland coos. They like coming down to the beach at low tide to add precious salts and minerals to their diet.
There is a large passing place where you can stop briefly without obstructing traffic. Look for the coos and snap away!
Visit the Isle of Iona & Iona Abbey
Iona is a small island off the southwest coast of Mull. To reach it, board the passenger ferry from Fionnphort to Baile Mòr which takes only 10 minutes to cross the sound. Despite its size, Iona has played a huge role in the history of Scotland. In medieval times it was a vibrant centre of Christianity after the Irish missionary Columba arrived here in the 6th century. The monastery he built survived until the 12th century and around 1200 a Benedictine Abbey was founded here.
The importance of Iona and its abbey faded in the 16th century with the Protestant Reformation, but the island attracts spiritualists and Christian pilgrims until this day.
During a trip to Iona, you can visit the Benedictine Abbey Church (for an admission fee) as well as the Augustinian Nunnery (free), learn about the island community at the Heritage Centre, enjoy a bowl of soup in a local cafe or for for a walk to explore the rest of the island. There are two circuits to choose from – northern Iona or southern Iona.
Iona Abbey
Isle of Iona PA76 6SQ.
Monday to Sunday, 9.30am – 5.30pm.
Opening times vary between October and March.
Website, admission fee £7.50.
Calmac timetable for ferry to Iona from Mull: summer / winter.
Hooked on island hopping? The best Scottish Islands to Visit
A Boat Trip with Staffa Tours to Staffa & the Treshnish Isles
There are many opportunities for boat trips on Mull. Many leave from Tobermory and can take you to see the coastline, spot dolphins and seals or some of the sea birds that populate the coast of Mull and surrounding islands. Another great hub for boat trips to nearby islands is Fionnphort and the most famous island to visit by boat from there is without a doubt the Isle of Staffa!
Staffa had been on my bucket list for ages and our weekend trip to Mull was the perfect occasion to finally visit. We booked a tour with Staffa Tours, a well-established wildlife watching and boat trip operator that offers different tours out of Oban, Tobermory and Fionnphort. Since we also wanted to see Staffa but also some puffins, we booked the Staffa and Treshinish Isles Wildlife Tour, which includes two landings on the Isle of Lunga and Staffa, home to the famous Fingal’s Cave.
We spent the morning exploring the Isle of Iona independently and were picked up by our Staffa Tours boat there – when you book, you can decide whether you want to be picked up from Iona or Fionnphort and you can be dropped off at one or the other at the end of the tour too.
Our first landing on Lunga gave us the opportunity to visit the local puffin colony. The birds nest on land between May and early August and spend the rest of the year at sea. We saw groups of puffins hanging out, parents coming home with a beak full of fish and even a baby puffin curiously checking out what was going on outside it’s cozy next!
Love puffins? You might also like my review of our Staffa Tours experience.
Before heading back to Fionnphort on Mull we stopped at the Isle of Staffa, which is frequented by quite a lot more tourists than Lunga. Puffins also nest here, but in early August at the time of our trip they had already gone. Fingal’s Cave is just a short walk away along the bizarre basalt rock shoreline, but you should also spend some time at the top of the island to take in the views across to the Isle of Mull and the Isle of Iona.
The Treshnish Islands Wildlife Tour costs £60 and takes around 5 hours starting and ending in Fionnphort. There are plenty of options for shorter and cheaper tours too – head to Staffa Tours for more information.
Listen to my podcast episode on Iona, Staffa & Lunga!
Bag a Munro and climb Ben More
The vast majority of Munros in Scotland – that’s mountains over 3,000 feet, by the way – are on the mainland. There are only two islands with mountains high enough to qualify as Munros: Skye and Mull.
Ben More is the roof of Mull. At 966 m (3,169 ft) is offers an excellent vantage point for views over the hundreds of islands dotting the landscape and a challenging mountain day.
The distance of hiking Ben More via the A’ Chioch ridge and Beinn Fhada (a Graham at 702 m / 2,303 ft) is 14.5 km (9 miles) and it takes at least 8-9 hours to complete. There are some steep ascents, loose rocky slopes and exposed scrambling to master, so it definitely is a hike for advanced hikers with navigation skills. Find the full trail description here.
There is a more straightforward route leading up Ben More from Dhiseig which does not require any scrambling. It is only 9.25 km (5.75 miles ) and takes 5-7 hours, but uses the same trail up and down. The hike is described in full here.
Of course, there are also many other walks on Mull which stick to lower grounds – you can find them here.
Love spending time outdoors? Here are 18 outdoor activities to try in Scotland.
Hiking on the Isle of Ulva
The Isle of Ulva is a local hidden gem just off the west coast of northern Mull. The journey there is an adventure in itself. After mastering yet another narrow single track road, you will arrive at the Oskamull ferry landing which connects Mull with Ulva. To summon the boat you have to slide across a wooden panel above the pier so that a red square appears. Once you see the boat approach from Ulva, slide the panel back and hop on board.
The Isle of Ulva is privately owned and so is the boat that brings you across – which explains the slightly more expensive ticket than what you might be used from Calmac ferries. However, Ulva is definitely worth the £6 return trip though!
After a quick coffee at the Boathouse (where you also pay for your ferry ticket), we decided to explore Ulva along one of its many walking trails. Pick up a brochure that contains trail information and a map of the island and plan your route. We decided to follow the 2.5-hour Woodland Walk around the southern part of Ulva. There are also longer and shorter trails and they lead through all kinds of landscape – Ulva might be small, but it’s incredibly varied.
The Woodland Walk lead us past meadows filled with wildflowers and through fairy-tale woodlands before we reached the coast and followed the shoreline. On a little beach, we took some time to pick up some of the plastic rubbish that had been washed ashore by the strong Atlantic currents. You could spend weeks doing just that and probably wouldn’t manage to pick up all the tiny pieces of plastic that have found their way into the ocean. It really is a shame!
Apart from that though, the Isle of Ulva is a true paradise for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts!
Tired of plastic waste? Check out my Zero Waste Shopping Guide for Glasgow!
Back at the Boathouse, we sat down for some lunch – soup and a sandwich; vegan options are available!
Visit Eas Fors Waterfall
Back from the Isle of Ulva, there is one final scenic stop you must not miss: Eas Fors Waterfall!
Its name is a joke – eas is Gaelic for ‘waterfall’ and fors comes from foss, which is Old Norse for ‘waterfall’. It’s literally called Waterfall Waterfall Waterfall. But with a waterfall so beautiful, it is no surprise that you have to say it three times to make it true!
It is fed by rainfall and thunders into a river that leads under the road and into the sea. The final plunge of the waterfall before it reaches the sea can be viewed from a stony track north of the Ulva ferry landing. The walk only takes about half an hour, but watch your step here, especially when there is a lot of water in the river, as it can be slippy and fast-flowing.
Drive the Scenic Route to Salen
If you’re looking for a scenic drive on the Isle of Mull look no further than the road that leads around Ben More. The route starts at Loch Beg Bridge on the road towards Fionnphort. Turn right here towards Gruline and follow the narrow single track road all the way until Salen.
From stunning mountain views to open coastal scenery, this road is a spectacle. We spotted herons on the shore, watch dramatic cliffs rise into view and dodged a sheep or two.
The most scenic stretch of the road is arguably along the northern coast of this peninsula where the road is edged between the ocean and the towering cliffs.
Whether you have just a weekend to spare or an entire week – with this list in your hands you should never again wonder what to do on Mull. There is so much to see and new things to explore every day, you could easily spend your entire vacation on the Isle of Mull.
Are you ready to go island hopping?
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Hi Kathi,
Thank you for sharing your experiences, this is a great website! For some reason, I’m unable to access your itinerary for the Isle of Skye (the page doesn’t load) and I’m wondering if there is another link?
Thank you so much!
Janice
Hi Janice, if any of the internal links don’t work, you can use the search function on my website. Here are all my Skye articles: https://watchmesee.com/?s=Skye Hope this helps! Kathi x
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Wow, it looks like there is a lot more on Mull than I expected. Working out our itinerary for our first visit to Scotland next year so very helpful in getting an idea of whether to spare a bit of time for this isle. It looks beautiful, but then, so does pretty much all of the west coast of Scotland that we’ve looked at so far!!!
Mull has a lot to offer and it’s such a stunning island. You can also hop over to many of the smaller islands, if island bagging is your thing 🙂 All of the west coast is stunning – no wrong choices. But Mull is one of my faves and not super overrun in summer either! Have a fab trip – I’d love to hear where you ended up going! 🙂
So glad I found your Blog! I visited Mull 2 summers ago and absolutely fell in love. We previously visited Skye and Mull is far superior in beauty, but don’t tell anyone! My fear is that it will become another Skye and lose its charm and wildness, not to mention the relative low numbers of tourists compared to Skye.
I also realize the people of Mull depend on tourism, let’s hope they can find balance.
I chose Mull to view the wildlife; otters & Sea Eagles and I was fortunate enough to see both. And I did swim at Calgary! Chilly, but not as chilly as Maine, USA.
Sounds like you had an amazing trip to Mull! I think you’re right – it’s all about the balance! Tourism is so important in all the islands, but it has to be done sustainably and in responsible numbers. I think not being connected to the mainland by a bridge makes it automatically easier to regulate the number of people who come to visit. Mull is lovely – so much to do and see! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!!
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Just loved your visit to my home, I haven’t been there for 30yrs and miss it so much, I cried nearly all the way through your visit. My home is Craignure where the boat comes into. Thank you so much it was magical seeing it all again and the changes of coarse.
Thank you so much for your comment, Edna! I hope you get the chance to return one day and see it again! Mull had a very special place in my heart now too!!
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Kathi I adore this post. My favourite singer lives on Mull and it just looks stunning – so it’s SO high on my to do list. I just need to sort out getting there as it isn’t the easiest from here in Cheshire so need a bit of a longer holiday there to make the journey up there worth it. I’ve actually emailed this link to myself so I remember it! Very jealous of your gorgeous photography skills too by the way.
Aw, thank you!! I can be a bit of a hassle to get to from further away, but really, if you add a couple of days in Glasgow on either side of your Mull trip, it’s easy enough to organise! I hope you get to come back to Scotland soon and see Mull for yourself – it’s so beautiful and peaceful!
You’re pictures are amazing and you’re so lucky the weather was on your side! I just want to hop over to the Isle of Mull right now! The scenery and nature of Scotland always impresses me, and it looks even lovelier in sunlight! (When I was in the Highlands we got hit with a ton of rain!)
Aw, that’s a shame! Believe me, I had my fair share of bad weather trips to the Highlands… This summer I’ve been fairly lucky, it wasn’t a particularly warm or sunny now, but not too rainy either – you lose a little, you win a little 🙂 Mull is great – hope you get to come back one days and visit it!
Can we just talk about how cute those puffin are?! Gosh, such beautiful pictures and learned a lot of great tips for when we visit Scotland and beyond in two years. Thanks!
Thanks! Let me know if you need any more help planning your trip 🙂
What a beautiful place! I love Scotland but I’ve never ventured further than Glasgow and Edinburgh. I want to see the puffins!
– Sarah
http://www.moonandforest.co.uk
Both amazing cities! You’ll just have to come back and see some of the countryside too – it’s gorgeous!!
Ok this looks like a place I absolutely must visit! Castles and puffins! I fell in love with Scotland last summer and can’t wait to explore more.
It’s great – it has all the essentials for a great Scotland trip (even a whisky distillery and a munro) minus the crowds 🙂
So I just got back from a 7 day visit to Scotland, with 3 days on the Isle of Skye, and it was so beautiful but also busy. I would love to go to the Isle of Mull, especially to do that wildlife tour! Those puffins <3 I may have a Scotland obsession now!
That’s what Scotland does to you <3 Skye is gorgeous, but personally I also just find it way too busy - and the numbers of tourists are taking its toll on the local landscape and people - it's much better to spread out a little! Mull is great - you'll have to come back!
This post is just what I needed! I really want to visit Scotland and their amazing landscapes. You are giving great tips! Going to keep this for later.
I’d definitely recommend to go off the beaten track – Mull is great for that 🙂
Never quite realised there was this much to do on Mull. You got the weather, lucky duck (or puffin).
Totally – except for when we visited the puffins – the irony… 😀
I really want to go back to Mull as we visited in the winter which was beautiful but meant that lots of attractions were shut. I have yet to visit Treshnish, Staffa or Ulva so they are definitely on my list whenever I do return. Thanks for reminding me how great Mull is 🙂
I loved those little islands so much – Ulva probably the most, because it was so easy to get to, loads of trails and so empty! There were only a few other people on the island, but we really only saw them at the boat house! Such a gorgeous place – I’m sure it would be magical in the winter!