The Isle of Mull off the west coast of Scotland is a popular tourist destination for people from all over the world. While some people come for a day trip, many spend a couple of days to several weeks enjoying the hospitality of the island and exploring the wonderful scenery and wildlife of Mull and its neighboring islands. Mull and Iona offer a good range of accommodation, from bed and breakfasts to self-catering cottages to hotels. There are a number of great places to eat that offer local produce and the local whiskey has to be sampled. Most of the island has single-track roads, so check out tips on how best to drive on these roads before you go.
There are many places to explore on Mull and its surrounding islands and many wild animals, including magnificent sea eagles, to be seen. Most accommodation providers will help people decide what they want to see and suggest naturalistic excursions that can be undertaken. For shorter breaks people often choose to stay in a bed and breakfast where they have the added benefit of their guests' local knowledge and experience. For those who wish the independence of self-catering information packages are often provided. There is also a Visit Scotland tourist information center in Craignure.
Most people come here by car and will need information on the ferries between Mull and the mainland and how to drive on single track roads (always use the passageways to allow approaching vehicles to pass and overtake if the vehicle behind you want to pass; and always stay on the left side even if it means stopping in front of a passage space). If people want to leave their cars behind, it is possible, with some planning, to get around the island by public transport. For more energetic visitors, bicycles can be hired to explore the island.
Tobermory is a thriving village and is often referred to as the capital of Mull. There are many bed and breakfasts and other types of accommodation to choose from and plenty of dining options. The village has an excellent artistic center called An Tobar and the Mull Theater which attracts touring theater companies and organizes its own productions. Tobermory also boasts a small but excellent museum which, together with the Rossess Mull Historic Center based in Bunessan, offers useful information for people who wish to research the history of their family. There is the Tobermory distillery and a number of different shops to visit too.
Mull and the nearby islands of Iona, Ulva, Staffa and the Treshnish islands offer spectacular scenery and, if the weather is on your side, they offer some of the most beautiful places to visit on this planet. Iona is a small island with a rich history and can be reached by ferry from the village of Fionnphort, at the southwestern end of Mull. A visit to the Abbey is essential, however the whole island has a relaxing spiritual atmosphere. If you have time to walk north-west of the island you will find some beautiful sandy beaches with more than the unique pink marbled granite that makes up this part of Mull and Iona. Another unforgettable experience is a trip to Staffa with its basalt columns and in the months from April to early August you can combine Staffa with a visit to Lunga (one of the Treshnish islands) where you can see puffins and many other species of sea birds.
Mull himself has an amazing range of different landscapes including spectacular cliffs, sea and inland lakes, beautiful beaches and mountains, including his Ben More munro. There are also castles to explore. If you like eating out you will be spoiled for choice as there are some good restaurants and cafes offering local produce all over the island. The Isle of Mull is an excellent vacation spot for wildlife lovers, bird watchers, hikers, cyclists, geologists and anyone who wants to experience a relaxing and peaceful vacation in a beautiful and unspoiled part of the world.
