Tobermory

Mull & Iona

Scotland's Island Coast

Mull & Iona has it all: towering peaks, ancient castles, sparkling sands and rich cultural and spiritual life.

Don’t miss Duart Castle, the 13-century fortress perched on a rocky outcrop, or the white-tailed eagles at Loch Frisa. Tobermory, easily the most attractive fishing port on the west coast of Scotland boasts a harbour, distillery and many local food producers and independent shops.

You can also take boat trips from Mull. Enjoy spectacular views from the sea, visit neighbouring islands and get up close and personal with a host of wildlife.

A highlight is Fingal's Cave and the Isle of Staffa. Impossibly dramatic and romantic, they are a popular draw for visitors wishing to see puffins.

Dreamy Iona sits less than a mile off Mull. The tiny island, a cradle of Christianity, is a place of pilgrimage for many. Visit the medieval Iona Abbey, established by St Columba when he arrived here from Ireland.

You can easily explore the rest of the island on foot, including the stunning sandy bays at its northern tip. As you explore, you'll discover Iona's wonderful flora and fauna.

Gaelic in Scotland

The indigenous language of Argyll contains great richness of expression. Here we have shared a phrase from local Gaelic poetry about Mull.

Iain Domhnallach

'S bu deurach mo shùil nuair thug mi mo chùl (And teary was my eye when I turned my back)

Ri Muile nam fuar-bheann mór (On Mull of the great cold mountains)

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Island Breaks for Wildlife and Wellbeing Experiences

Wild isles with towering peaks and soaring eagles, ancient castles and a rich cultural life. Enjoy Mull & Iona's unique experiences

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Visit Mull & Iona

Mull and Iona together provide breath-taking landscapes and coastlines. Add some rare wildlife, delicious local food and drink, inspirational culture and lots of outdoor activities for an unforgettable island experience. Mull is surprisingly large, with several idyllic offshore islands within reach. So take your time and plan a stay to get a taste for island life.

Explore the island’s mountains, forests, lochs and surrounding seas and coastlines, with the knowledge of a warm Hebridean welcome at the end of the day.

Mull is an island of delightful contrasts, not only in its landscape and unique natural history, but also in archaeology, culture and history.

The north west of the island feels remote and wild, with the chance of spotting whales or dolphins from the coastline. Picturesque Tobermory has specialist shops, excellent eateries and visitor attractions with the colourful houses circled round the pretty harbour.

The rugged and mountainous centre of Mull has Ben More at its heart and the outstanding wilderness area of Burg peninsula. On the coast the villages of Salen and Craignure provide hospitality for travellers with nearby Duart Castle worth a visit.

The Ross of Mull is famed for its outstanding coastline of shell-sand beaches peppered with outcrops of pink granite, whilst the Isle of Iona is also boasts sandy beaches, excellent walking opportunities and a variety of wildlife to look out for.

Top reasons to visit

Scotland's whale watching island

Eagle island

1 distillery

Clan seat and 5 medieval castles

1 marina

Iona - home of Christianity

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Visit Mull's Offshore Islands

The Treshnish Isles

Lunga is the largest of this evocative string of islands, easily accessible by regular boat trips to experience at close quarters its rare marine bird life during the nesting season, and other fascinating flora and fauna.

Staffa

Staffa is a tiny, entirely volcanic, island with dramatic basalt columns and caves. Regular boat trips bring visitors to experience the outstanding Fingal’s Cave which was immortalised by Mendelssohn in his Hebrides Overture. Going ashore, it’s possible to view the many marine bird species nesting above the cave, with puffins very popular.

The Isle of Iona

This tiny island sitting less than a mile from the south west tip of Mull is famed for its serenity, tranquillity and beauty. The unique history of Saint Columba and Iona Abbey makes Iona a place of pilgrimage, but the island also has a rich cultural heritage which inspires creative people to live, work and visit. Despite its size, Iona is a thriving, welcoming community with shops, eateries, outdoor activities and events.

Isle of Ulva

This community-owned island, with the tiny isle of Gometra attached by a small bridge, is an idyllic escape from modern life via a very short ferry crossing from Mull, where the Boathouse offers delicious home cooking. Ulva is a haven for wildlife and a peaceful walkers paradise with impressive archaeological and geological features.

IONA

Iona boasts sandy beaches, a golf course, excellent walking opportunities and a variety of wildlife to look out for.

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ULVA

This community-owned island, with the tiny isle of Gometra attached by a small bridge, is an idyllic escape from modern life via a very short ferry crossing from Mull.

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TRESHNISH ISLES

Lunga is the largest of this evocative string of islands, accessible by regular boat trips to experience marine bird life and other fascinating flora and fauna.

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Ben Duill Cairn Looking Over To Treshnish Isles Copy

STAFFA

The uninhabited island of Staffa includes the famous Fingal's Cave, a distinctive six-sided columns of rock are formed from basalt, the same as the Giant's Causeway.

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All you need to know about visiting Mull & Iona

How to visit Fingal’s Cave on the Isle of Staffa | Argyll & the Isles

The Isle of Staffa is known for rock columns and spectacular sea caves. The most famous is Fingal’s Cave, immortalised by Mendelssohn in his Hebrides Overture.

How the Isle of Mull’s eagles will make your heart soar | Argyll & the Isles

Mull, known as Eagle Island has the highest density of nesting golden eagles, so you’ve a good chance of spotting these feathered giants on a visit to Mull.

Mull & Iona on YouTube

Immerse yourself in all things Mulll surrounding isles by watching our dedicated YouTube playlist for food and drink, activities and so much more!

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Getting here

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Planning your journey

To visit Mull & Iona, you first need to get to Oban.

Oban is easily reached by taking the A82 which skirts the west side of Loch Lomond. Then either via Tyndrum or follow the A83 over the 'Rest and be Thankful' through Inveraray. Both journeys take between 2 and 3 hours
A train service runs from Glasgow Queen Street station to Oban.
There is also a bus service that departs from Buchanan Bus Station in Glasgow and goes via Inveraray to Oban.

Ferries to Mull & Iona

There are three ferry routes from the mainland to the Isle of Mull, and one from Mull to Iona. All ferries are run by Calendonian MacBrayne (‘Calmac’). All ferries that run from the mainland to Mull are passenger and vehicle services. Always check the Calmac website for service status and timetable before travelling.

Oban to Craignure

Oban is the principal ferry port for Mull and (indirectly) Iona. Ferries run seven days a week, throughout the year.

Lochaline to Fishnish

Lochaline ferry port is an unattended slipway. Tickets cannot be booked in advance for this sailing. Just turn up, wait for the next available sailing, and buy a ticket onboard.

Kilchoan to Tobermory

Kilchoan, located in western Ardnamurchan and the most the most westerly village in mainland Britain, has another unattended slipway. This service sails directly into Tobermory. Tickets cannot be booked in advance for this sailing. Just turn up, wait for the next available sailing, and buy a ticket onboard.

Fionnphort to Iona

Fionnphort, located on the south westerly tip of Mull, is where you will find the ferry port for Iona. It’s not required to book this service, just show up and buy a ticket. The sailing takes just 10 minutes.

Iona is unusual in that only those who live there can have a car on the island, so be ready to leave your vehicle in Fionnphort.