The Ultimate 5 Day Isle of Mull Itinerary and Guide
Explore rugged coastline, stroll along picture-perfect white sand beaches, discover vast lochs, hike amongst untouched landscapes, observe rich wildlife, taste delicious fresh local produce and much more on your Isle of Mull itinerary. Continue reading our guide for everything you need to know.
Located off Scotland’s West Coast is the Isle of Mull rewarding visitors with vast raw and untouched landscapes. It’s the second-largest island in the Inner Hebrides after the Isle of Skye. The map below shows its exact location.
Turquoise ocean, rugged white-sand beaches, serene vast lochs, shaded woodland, fascinating castles, diverse wildlife, fresh local produce, craggy mountains and remote villages await you on your Isle of Mull itinerary.
In this guide, we’ll start with the 5-day Isle of Mull itinerary and then share everything you need to know before you go including the best time to visit the Isle of Mull, how to get around, how to get there and much more.
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Contents
Isle of Mull Itinerary
Day 1 Tobermory
Your Isle of Mull itinerary begins before you even step foot on the island. Enjoy the spectacular scenery as you make your way to Mull by ferry to one of the three ferry ports around the island. (We’ll share more on getting to the Isle of Mull later.)
Tobermory is your first stop for two nights which is half an hour’s drive from Craignure which is probably where you’ll arrive onto Mull.
The road initially starts with 2 lanes, I’m assuming because it’s probably the busiest part of the island. But, it quickly becomes a single lane with areas to pull in now and again.
Your first day will be spent exploring the picturesque town of Tobermory.
Tobermory is Mull’s main town and largest settlement with a population of around 1,000! You may recognise it as it was the setting for the popular children’s show Balamory.
First, head to the brightly-coloured buildings along Tobermory’s harbourfront where you can browse independent shops and galleries selling locally made crafts and artwork. There are also a few cafes where you can try local sweet treats and snacks with a magnificent view across the Sound of Mull to Calve Island.
Explore Mull Museum; a small museum dedicated to the island’s history, culture, heritage and geology.
Visit Tobermory Distillery; a Scotch whisky and gin distillery founded in the 1790s and one of Scotland’s oldest commercial distilleries. You can take guided tours to learn how they produce their spirits and enjoy a tasting. This is definitely one of the best Isle of Mull tourist attractions!
Rubha nan Gall Lighthouse (Tobermory Lighthouse) offers incredible views of the Sound of Mull and is surrounded by lovely coastal walks if you have time to head out there.
Tobermory is also one of the best places to visit on Mull for fresh local and delicious food. Some of the best places to eat in Tobermory are:
- Cafe Fish – with a fantastic location on Calmac Pier and boasting incredible views over Tobermory Bay to Calve Island and the Sound of Mull. This cafe has its own fishing boat so langoustines, lobster and squat lobster land daily at 4pm and local boats deliver other seafood.
- Hebridean Lodge – this cafe/bistro has a reputation for delicious homemade soup and baking and in the evening enjoy traditional and adventurous meals, local seafood, game and farm produce.
- Macgochan’s – an award-winning vibrant pub renowned for live music and a popular social hub of the town. The pub specialises in local food with much of the seafood sourced from the bay directly in front of the pub and meat from local farms. Their ‘sourcing local’ philosophy also extends to their drinks with local whiskies and gins served in the bar.
That about wraps up the first day on your Isle of Mull itinerary. Some great accommodation options in Tobermory are:
- Hidden Hut – Aros View: this cute hut is located up a hill with a balcony overlooking the Sound of Mull. It’s equipped with a kitchenette, bed, sofa and bathroom and is a short walk into town. (This is where we stayed and it’s lovely!)
- Harbour Guest House: this bed and breakfast stands proudly on its headland overlooking Tobermory town and harbour and across the Sound of Mull to mainland Scotland.
Day 2 Tobermory and Aros Park
Day 2 of your Isle of Mull itinerary you’ll enjoy one of the best activities on Mull; a lovely walk in Aros Park. Aros Park is a gorgeous woodland home to a tranquil loch, several hiking trails, a couple of waterfalls, incredible views and a range of wildlife.
You can easily walk to Aros Park from Tobermory. In front of the Mull Aquarium, follow the scenic Coastal Path through the woods for just over a mile. Make sure you admire the lovely views back to the town and across the Sound of Mull through the trees.
There are a few spots in Aros Park we’d recommend visiting:
- Lochan a Ghurrabain – an artificial loch created to power an old mill and now provides a lovely place to relax, walk around and spot a range of wildlife.
- Lower Falls and Upper Falls – two waterfalls immersed in thick woodland and two of the most beautiful places to visit on Mull.
One of the best things to do on the Isle of Mull is to combine the Waterfalls Trail and Lochan Trail to see the best of Aros Park. It’s only about 2 miles (after reaching the park from Tobermory) and fairly easy.
Head back to Tobermory for lunch and spend the afternoon exploring the town.
One of the best activities on Mull for your afternoon is visiting the Tobermory Distillery. Established in the 1790s, the Tobermory Distillery produces two single malt whiskies and a Hebridean gin.
There are a few experiences you can do at the distillery:
- A Distillery Tour and Tasting where you’ll discover more about where and how the three unique spirits are produced as well as the history and you’ll taste two of the award-winning whiskies.
- Warehouse 1 Experience is one of the most popular experiences and a must if you love whisky. You’ll enjoy an exclusive tasting of Tobermory and Ledaig whisky taken straight from the cask.
- The Gin Tasting Experience is one of the newer experiences. You’ll sample three Tobermory Hebridean gins and learn more about how they’re produced and the inspiration behind them.
- Tobermory and Ledaig Tasting where you’ll explore the subtle nuances and flavours of two single malt whiskies and embark on a journey through the distillery’s core range, limited edition and distillery exclusive releases.
Day 3 Drive to Fionnphort
Today is road trip day on your Isle of Mull itinerary!
Your final destination is Fionnphort, around 56 miles from Tobermory if you drive straight there. However, you’re going to go the longer way around the island exploring the rugged and unspoiled wilderness of the North West coastline and stop off at some of the best things to do on the Isle of Mull.
Even just driving around the North West of Mull is an experience in itself. A single-track road meanders its way around the coast with spectacular views out to the sea and lochs and the mountainous interior around Ben More. You’ll want to pull over and take photos with every corner you turn!
Our top tip: there are plenty of spaces to pull over when a vehicle is coming the other way. Oh, and watch out for wildlife that sometimes wander into the middle of the road.
Loch Frisa
The first stop on your road trip is Loch Frisa; 4 miles from Tobermory.
Loch Frisa is the largest loch on the Isle of Mull at 4.5 miles long. Along the eastern side is a well-worn forestry track you can walk or cycle along. You’ll pass through dense forestry and clearings with incredible views over the vast and peaceful loch and surrounding hills and countryside.
Eagles are often spotted flying over Loch Frisa so keep your eyes peeled!
Dervaig
4 miles from Loch Frisa is Dervaig, a picturesque village dating back to Viking times.
There’s a famous church with a pencil steeple and beautiful stained glass that hasn’t changed much since it was built in 1799 and endless walking trails from the village.
You’ll also find the oldest inn on the Isle of Mull here dating back to 1608; The Bellachroy. Another great base to explore the island as it’s conveniently located between the golden sands of Calgary Bay and Tobermory. The restaurant and bar serve a great range of local produce and drinks.
We’d recommend finding a spot to park as you’ll drive through Dervaig anyway, and have a bit of a wander.
Langamull Beach
3 miles from Dervaig is Langamull Beach; one of the best places to visit on Mull.
Langamull Beach remains a bit of a hidden gem as it’s a bit of a walk to reach. Park at Kildavie Settlement Trailhead Parking and walk through the countryside and woodland to reach the rugged and remote beach.
Glistening fine white sand and turquoise water reward those who make the walk and on a clear day, you may be able to spot some of the surrounding islands.
Calgary Bay
Calgary Bay is the next stop on your Isle of Mull itinerary, 2 miles down the road from Langamull Beach.
Walking along the rugged and unspoiled Calgary Beach was one of our absolute favourite things to do on the Isle of Mull.
A vast expanse of fine white sand surrounded by incredible natural beauty. Dramatic cliffs, rolling countryside, coastal paths, turquoise ocean and rich wildlife make a walk along Calgary Beach one of the best Isle of Mull activities.
Calgary Beach is one of the most popular places to visit on Mull. It’s very easily accessible unlike Langamull Beach so on a sunny summer’s day the car park will fill up quickly.
Loch na Keal
A longer drive of around 15 miles will take you to your next stop, Loch na Keal where you’ll have some of the best views on Mull.
Loch na Keal is a sea loch on the west coast sweeping inland and offers spectacular views with a mountainous backdrop.
The drive to Loch na Keal from Calgary Bay is without a doubt the most spectacular drive you’ll do on your Isle of Mull itinerary.
A single-lane road winds its way through the rolling countryside with a vast expanse of water with a mountainous backdrop in front of you. There are places where you can stop to take photos, but make sure you’re in a safe place.
Loch na Keal is also a great place to spot Mull’s big five – eagles, deer, otters, seals and if you’re very lucky then maybe even dolphins.
Ben More Mountain
Ben More is Mull’s only Munro and its triangular shape is a prominent feature on the island’s landscapes.
If, like us, you don’t have time for a full hike, either do a shorter one or just enjoy the scenic mountain views as you drive around the coast.
You can enjoy the views of Ben More from miles around. It’ll be on your left as you drive around Loch na Keal and as you follow the road away from the coast, keeping the mountains on your left, you’ll see different vantage points offering a unique angle so keep the camera handy!
Ben More Mountain is a hotspot for golden eagles so keep your eyes peeled and towards the sky.
Loch Scridain
Your final stop before Fionnphort is Loch Scridain, 15 miles from where you leave Loch na Keal at Clachandhu.
Loch Scridain is surrounded by rugged natural scenery, diverse wildlife, dramatic cliffs and a mix of sandy and rocky beaches along its shoreline.
A range of walking trails nearby offer beautiful views of the loch and untouched landscapes or take a peaceful stroll along its beaches admiring the vast ocean and mountain backdrop.
From Loch Scridain it’s 13 miles to Fionnphort, the final village at the end of the road and where you’ll catch the ferry to the Isle of Iona tomorrow.
In the tiny village of Fionnphort, you’ll find a couple of bed and breakfasts (we’d recommend Staffa House), a restaurant with a pub, a general store where you’ll also find gifts and hardware, an ATM and a seafood bar.
For dinner, read to Keel Row with a great location looking out across the sea to the Isle of Iona. Keel Row serves great quality food from the land and sea of Mull and Iona and a great selection of drinks including Scottish ales and gins.
Dinner is served in the restaurant and there’s a cosy pub in the room next door where you may also be treated to live music.
Our top tip: the beer garden is a great spot to watch the sunset over Iona.
Day 4 Isle of Iona
Day 4 of your Isle of Mull itinerary and you’re leaving the island to visit the Isle of Iona.
Iona is very easy to visit as an Isle of Mull day trip as it’s only 1.5 miles wide and 3 miles long so you can explore most of the island in a day.
The Isle of Iona is known for its gorgeous raw natural beauty with untouched and wild white-sand beaches, magnificent wildlife and impressive historic ruins. Iona is one of Scotland’s best-kept secrets.
Head to the ferry port in Fionnphort. Ferries are quite frequent and only take 10 minutes. We’d recommend booking a ticket online in advance if you’re travelling in peak season, otherwise, you can buy them easily at the port before the ferry which is what we did.
Our top tip: ferries between the Isle of Mull and Iona aren’t very big so if the weather is really bad they don’t run. Bear this in mind as you don’t want to be stuck on the island.
Some of the top things to do on the Isle of Iona are:
- Explore the beaches: North End Beach, Traigh Ban nam Monach and Traigh an t-Suidh are the most well-known beaches on Iona. With pristine fine-white sand and turquoise waters, you may think you’re on a Caribbean Island (although the weather may bring you back to reality).
- Wildlife spotting: Iona has an abundance of wildlife, in particular around the beaches so keep watch for dolphins, whales, basking sharks, seals otters, skylarks, oystercatchers, falcons, gannets, goldfinches and corncrakes.
- Hike Dun I: the highest point on the Isle of Iona with spectacular views over the island and across to Mull.
- Iona Abbey: this is one of the oldest and most important religious centres in Western Europe.
- Iona Nunnery: these historic ruins were once a Benedictine nunnery founded in the 13th century.
Day 5 Drive to Craignure
Day 5 and the final day of your Isle of Mull itinerary, you’ll make your way back up to Craignure for the ferry back to Oban on the mainland. On the way, you’ll stop at some of the best places to visit on Mull.
Knockvologan
So, Knockvologan isn’t quite on the way up to Craignure, it’s 5 kilometres along a road from Fionnphort town and you’ll need to drive back to Fionnphort to then leave.
Knockvologan is a gorgeous fine white sand beach lapped by turquoise water and walking along this beach is one of the best things to do on the Isle of Mull.
It’s the perfect place to relax in complete tranquility on a warm sunny day which, unfortunately as you can see from our photo, we didn’t have.
Around Knockvologan are stunning coastal paths and moorland with hiking trails and at low tide you can even walk across to the Isle of Erraid.
Our top tip: keep your eye out for seals, otters and seabirds.
Carsaig
35 kilometres from Knockvologan (and back through Fionnphort) is Carsaig; one of the most spectacular things to see when you visit the Isle of Mull.
Carsaig is one of the most geologically fascinating places to visit on Mull. Huge cliffs plunge dramatically into the ocean at Carsaig Bay while Carsaig Arches have dramatic cylindric rock faces caused by volcanic activity 60 million years ago. Lava flowed for at least 5 years and cooled and contracted and pentagonal and hexagonal columns have formed.
The cliffs at Carsaig Bay are home to golden eagles, buzzards, kestrels, ravens and feral goats.
Three Lochs Viewpoint
19 kilometres from Carsaig Bay is Three Lochs Viewpoint; one of the top things to do on the Isle of Mull.
The Three Lochs Viewpoint offers spectacular views over Loch an Eilein, Loch an Ellen and Loch Airde Glais. It’s immersed in wild and untouched natural scenery and is one of the best places to visit on Mull to see golden eagles.
Lochbuie
20 kilometres from Three Lochs Viewpoint and down a smaller road away from Craignure running next to Loch Spelve and Loch Uisg is Lochbuie.
Lochbuie is a remote village that once had its own Post Office. This has now been turned into a charming cafe on the shore of Loch Buie serving a range of meals, snacks, drinks and local souvenirs and art.
Lochbuie is a haven for walkers with numerous trails around the loch, surrounding mountains, coast and beautiful woodland (probably quite hard to picture that from the weather we had!).
Duart Castle
The final stop on your Isle of Mull itinerary and 24 kilometres from Lochbuie is Duart Castle; one of the best Isle of Mull tourist attractions.
Duart Castle is steeped in 800 years of history of The Macleans; one of Scotland’s oldest Clans. It’s also one of the last privately owned Clan Castles in Scotland.
From Duart Castle, you can enjoy magnificent views over the Sound of Mull from its rocky peninsula.
It’s 5.5 kilometres to Craignure from here, where you take the ferry back to Oban on the mainland and your Isle of Mull itinerary comes to an end.
Everything You Need to Know For Your Isle of Mull Itinerary
How to get to the Isle of Mull
You get to the Isle of Mull via ferry. Caledonian Macbrayne operates 3 ferry routes to Mull; Oban to Craignure, Lochaline to Fishnish and Kilchoan to Tobermory.
Oban to Craignure is the most popular route and vehicle reservations are recommended. These can be booked online here.
The Lochaline to Fishnish and Kilchoan to Tobermory routes are Turn-Up-and-Go. You can pre-purchase an open ticket for a chosen departure date, valid for the season you’ve purchased it but without a specific time. Turn up at the departure port and go. You can also turn up at the departure port, hop on the next available ferry and buy a ticket on board.
Getting around the Isle of Mull
There are a few ways of getting around, although for this Isle of Mull itinerary, you will need a car.
Driving also gives you the most freedom and flexibility and allows you to reach incredibly remote places that you wouldn’t be able to without your own vehicle.
Roads are single-laned and there are passing points now and again. During peak season, the roads get quite busy so bear this in mind and be respectful and mindful of other drivers.
Our top tip: also, watch out for wildlife on the road, animals aren’t always contained in farms and fields so never drive too fast.
If using public transport to get around the Isle of Mull, West Coast Motors is the main bus operator. They operate services between Craignure and Tobermory, Tobermory and Calgary and Tobermory and Fionnphort where you can take the ferry to the Isle of Iona.
Alternatively, you can book multi-day tours through Get Your Guide which start on the Scottish mainland and include all your transport, accommodation and a knowledgeable guide.
Browse the tours below and click on a link to discover more.
Finally, you can do an Isle of Mull day trip from Oban if you take an early ferry to Craignure, bus to Tobermory and return later. Exploring Tobermory and Aros Park will give you a great introduction to the Isle of Mull.
How long to spend on the Isle of Mull
This Isle of Mull itinerary is 4 nights and 5 days (3 full days without travel) and we would have liked another 2 full days, mainly so we could hike Ben More.
Also, the weather on our final day, as you can see from our pictures, was less than ideal so if you can allow an extra day to give yourself more chance with the weather; do so.
The best time to visit Mull
The best time to visit Mull in terms of weather is between April and October. However, the weather is still massively unpredictable at this time.
Much of the island closes between October and March so it may be tricky to find accommodation and places to eat out.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this Isle of Mull itinerary. If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment below. Also, make sure to follow us on Instagram to stay up to date with us in real time.