Mull & Iona

Escape to another world on Mull & iona, a unique combination of adventure and tranquillity

Mull and Iona, with their enchanting offshore islands, provide an exhilarating springtime escape.

The coastlines and shell-sand beaches fringed with turquoise seas, and the hillsides draped in bluebells, provide inspiration for artists and photographers and delight walkers and outdoor adventurers.

The abundant wildlife on these islands is legendary. Otters are frequently seen along the 300 miles of coastline and the springtime breeding season is a good time to spot the rare corncrake on Iona and white-tailed and golden eagles on Mull. Meanwhile, puffins and many other seabirds are returning to the off-shore islands’ nesting sites in large numbers, with boat trips allowing close encounters on Staffa and Lunga.

The landscape of Mull and Iona has barely changed in centuries and there’s an abundance of evidence of a rich and fascinating heritage. Attractions such as Iona Abbey, Duart Castle and the evocative deserted townships of the clearances provide fascinating visits, with more to be learned in museums and heritage centres.

Tobermory is the “capital” of Mull and offers a great day out with specialist shops and award-winning eateries. Popular attractions such as the Mull Museum, the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, Mull Aquarium, An Tobar Arts Centre and Mull Theatre all reflect the unique heritage of the islands.

Gourmet local produce is a specialism of Mull and Iona. In the spring, new season hill beef and lamb become available, alongside shellfish from the clear surrounding waters. Visitors can purchase direct from the croft as well as local shops, and enjoy meals from a selection of quality eateries, from sea food shacks to fine dining restaurants.

With a packed programme of events, accommodation to suit all budgets and a very scenic 50-minute ferry journey from Oban, the islands of Mull and Iona are an irresistible choice for a visit.

Mull & Iona hAnD pICKED

top things to see, do and experience

tobERMoRy Mull’s main town is the starting point for sea trips, speciality shopping, award-winning eateries, coastal walks and indoor attractions, including arts, museums and wildlife centres.

bEn MoRE and buRg The destination for mountain walking and those seeking wilderness. Ben More is Mull’s only Munro, and the peak provides a fantastic viewpoint for the surrounding islands.

WIldlIFE and advEntuRE touRs Specialist guides will help you to explore Mull and Iona’s great outdoors, and ensure that you find the best places for close encounters with the abundant wildlife. www.visitmullandiona.co.uk/guides Iona This tiny island (accessible via foot passenger ferry from Fionnphort) is known as the cradle of christianity. It is home to a 13th- century abbey, Scotland’s best preserved nunnery, amazing beaches and a real sense of tranquillity. www.welcometoiona.com

oFFshoRE Islands From Mull, take an exhilarating sea tour to the offshore islands of Lunga and Staffa where you can encounter puffins and other sea birds, and the astonishing Fingal’s Cave.

thE noRth WEst Coast Head this way for an art trail, whale trail, public gardens and dramatic coastlines . thE south East Coast Take this route if you love castles, golf and stone circles. If you are searching for golden or white-tailed eagles, look to the skyline, or take a tour with an expert.

thE Ross oF Mull A haven for geologists and historians, this is where you’ll find red granite coastlines, evocative cleared townships, shell-sand beaches, arts & crafts and boat trips from Fionnphort.

IslE oF ulva Lachlan Macquarie, described as ‘the Father of Australia’ due to his work as Governor of New South Wales, was born on Ulva in 1761. The island is also known for its miles of scenic waymarked walks.

Mull & Iona Food tRaIl The islands are known for their fantastic, fresh local produce from land and sea, as well as award-winning restaurants. www.mullandionafood.co.uk

thE QuEst Take this challenge, for a fun family trail across Mull & Iona. Solve the clues and discover more about our magical islands: www.mullandionaquest.co.uk

MULL & IONA Mull and Iona are two islands which serve up breathtaking landscapes, MULL & IONA unrivalled wildlife spotting a real taste of island life from food and drink to local crafts and activities.

With so much to do, see and try, plan a stay which allows you the time to go explore fully and at an island pace – it really is the best way to feel part of this place, especially Mull, as the largest and most mountainous of the Inner Hebrides.

ISLE OF MULL

Mull has it all: towering peaks, ancient castles, sparkling sands and a rich cultural life. It has a coastline of 300 miles and the only ‘Munro’ on the inner Hebrides, Ben More. The island is large and has a varied landscape offering unrivalled opportunity to spot birds of prey, otters, red deer, dolphins and whales. Inhabited since 6000 BC there are numerous standing stones, brochs and stone circles on the island. Don’t miss Duart Castle, the 13-century fortress perched on a rocky outcrop, or the white-tailed eagles at Loch Frisa. It also has Tobermory, one of the most attractive fishing port on the west coast of Scotland and well-recognised for its rainbow of coloured buildings, reflecting in the water no matter the season. This is the main town on Mull with many intersesting shops and eateries. Mull will certainly surprise you at every twist and turn, but you’ll never lose sight of that island magic.

ISLE OF IONA

Iona sits less than a mile off the south western-most tip of Mull. This tiny island at only 3 miles long and 1.5 miles wide is in stark contrast to the scale of Mull. Iona is a cradle of Christianity in Great Britain, and a place of pilgrimage for many. The ruins of the medieval abbey, established by St Columba when he arrived here from Ireland in his coracle in 563, are utterly absorbing.

ISLANDS WEST OF MULL TO VISIT BY BOAT Isle of Ulva and Gometra

Once a thriving community with 600 people living in 16 villages, Ulva is now a world apart but always attracts visitors, including famous trips from Sir Walter Scott, Johnson and Boswell – and even Beatrix Potter. Will you join the famous with a trip that will make you starry-eyed by natural wonder?

The Treshnish Islands

Eight small islands are located to the west of Mull. They are exposed, uninhabited, with no good landing sites, but home to very vibrant wildlife communities including important seabird colonies.

Staffa

This is one of the smallest islands of the Inner Hebrides and was once inhabitated by 16 people. Staffa is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest best known for its geological features including the dominant Fingal’s Cave and the basalt columns similar to the Giant’s Causeway.

With so much to do, see and try, plan a stay which allows you the time to go explore fully and at an island pace – it really is the best way to feel part of this place, especially Mull, as the largest and most mountainous of the Inner Hebrides.

ISLE OF MULL

Mull has it all: towering peaks, ancient castles, sparkling sands and a rich cultural life. It has a coastline of 300 miles and the only ‘Munro’ on the inner Hebrides, Ben More. The island is large and has a varied landscape offering unrivalled opportunity to spot birds STAY CONNECTED Visit wildaboutargyll.co.uk/destinations/mull-and-iona/of prey, otters, red deer, dolphins and or mullandiona.co.uk whales. Inhabited since 6000 BC there are numerous standing stones, brochs and stone circles on the island. Don’t miss Duart Castle, the 13th-century fortress perched on a rocky outcrop, or the white-tailed eagles at Loch Frisa. It also has Tobermory, one of the most attractive fishing port on the west coast of Scotland and well-recognised for its rainbow of coloured buildings, reflecting in the water no matter the season. This is the main town on Mull with many intersesting shops and eateries. Mull will certainly surprise you at every twist and turn, but you’ll never lose sight of that island magic.

ISLE OF IONA

Iona sits less than a mile off the south western-most tip of Mull. This tiny island at only three miles long and 1.5 miles wide is in stark contrast to the scale of Mull. Iona is a cradle of Christianity in Great Britain, and a place of pilgrimage for many. The ruins of the medieval abbey, established by St Columba when he arrived here from Ireland in his coracle in 563, are utterly absorbing.

ISLANDS WEST OF MULL TO VISIT BY BOAT

Isle of Ulva and Gometra Once a thriving community with 600 people living in 16 villages, Ulva is now a world apart but always attracts visitors, including famous trips from Sir Walter Scott, Johnson and Boswell – and even Beatrix Potter. Will you join the famous with a trip that will make you starry-eyed by natural wonder?

MULL AND IONA ARE TWO ISLANDS WHICH SERVE UP BREATHTAKING LANDSCAPES, UNRIVALLED WILDLIFE SPOTTING, A REAL TASTE OF ISLAND LIFE – FROM FOOD AND DRINK TO LOCAL CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES. THE TRESHNISH ISLANDS

Eight small islands are located to the west of Mull. They are exposed, uninhabited, with no good landing sites, but home to very vibrant wildlife communities including important seabird colonies.

STAFFA

This is one of the smallest islands of the Inner Hebrides and was once inhabitated by 16 people. Staffa is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest best known for its geological features including the dominant Fingal’s Cave and the basalt columns similar to the Giant’s Causeway.