Isle of Mull has an abundance of things to do and see. It really is a gem of a place nestled in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Whether you are a nature enthusiast, history buff, or simply seeking tranquility amidst stunning scenery, Mull offers something for everyone and it exceeded our expectation.
We only had 4 & a half days to explore Isle of Mull during our visit in April 2024. I would advise booking in advance as we were expecting to turn up and get on the ferry but the boats fill up quickly with limited space for Camper vans/Motorhomes. During our short stay these are our recommendations:
Isle of Staffa
Overnight Stop – Fidden Farm campsite
Fidden Farm campsite could be a must see on its own. We spent a couple of days at this campsite which charges £24 per night without electric but with all other services. It has hard grass pitches and you can park where you want but the majority of the pitches overlook Fidden beach which is a beautiful little bay with sheep grazing and coves to explore. We even managed a dip as we were very lucky with the weather.
Tour operator – Staffa Trips
The purpose of staying at Fidden farm was to stay close (about 1 mile) to Fionnphort in order to catch the boat over to Iona and Staffa. We booked our tour (£40 per person) with Staffa trips and were extremely lucky with the calmest weather. The tour took us past seals and across to Staffa where you can find FInghals cave as well as go searching for Puffins. We took two infants with us with one in a baby carrier and managed to get to both areas easily. It is not pram friendly but we did leave a pram onboard the boat. Unfortunately we were a little too early in the season for the puffins but we did manage to see a small group of them in the water. The tour lasted 3 hours with 1hr20 on Staffa itself.
Tobermory
Overnight Stop – Calgary bay car park
On route from Fidden farm you pass incredible scenery as well as the Three lochs view point. We decided to stop at Tobermory on the way to Calgary. Tobermory is where the children TV show Balamory was filmed and the colourful houses can be seen from various angles however the town has many other little charms to discover. We also visited the Tobermory distillery where we purchased a peated whisky to try called Ledaig. The lady who served me was extremely knowledgable and friendly and I am gutted we did not have time to do the tour.
Calgary bay
Overnight stop – Calgary bay car park
After a peaceful night in Calgary overlooking the beach and waking to the sound of the waves, we wanted to explore the beach. Calgary bay is one of the most well known beaches on Mull and for good reason. It has white sand and calm crystal clear water. We even managed a (cold) dip. The area feels very remote and spending the day exploring and taking in the breathtaking scenery was needed. If you are self contained, you can sleep overnight in the car park near the cafe for a £10 donation which goes to help a charity. It is a must when in Isle of Mull.
Aros Waterfalls
Just south of Tobermory on the Isle of Mull is a little car park signposted as Aros falls. We did not know what to expect as we pulled in but like all waterfall walks, we packed our swim stuff just in case. From the car park there is a well developed path which takes you down a steep section before you come across the first upper waterfall which exceeded our expectations and was in full force. You then follow the stream down before crossing the road and eventually coming to the lower falls which is just as nice. The best thing about this was the view of Tobermory from the lower falls.
On the way down we were on the lookout for a wild swimming spot as there seemed to be many pools which were waist deep. One in particular near the upper falls was perfect for us to safely leave the kids throwing rocks into the stream while we both stripped and dunked. It felt very secluded during this walk and we only passed one other person during the whole time. A worthwhile stop while in Mull.
