Isle of Mull Tours

About Isle of Mull

The Isle of Mull is the second-largest island of the Inner Hebrides, reached by a 45-minute CalMac ferry from Oban to Craignure. At roughly 340 square miles, it is large enough for a week of exploration — dramatic mountain scenery, quiet single-track roads, remote beaches, and a concentration of wildlife that rivals anywhere in Scotland. Tobermory is Mull's capital and most recognisable landmark. Its curved harbour lined with brightly painted buildings has appeared on postcards and children's television alike. The town has an independent character — craft shops, the Tobermory Distillery (established 1798, one of Scotland's oldest), seafood restaurants, and a working fishing fleet. The harbour was painted in its distinctive colours by fishermen in the 19th century so they could identify their homes from sea. Duart Castle stands on a dramatic clifftop at the eastern entrance to the Sound of Mull. Home to the Chief of Clan Maclean for over 700 years, the 13th-century keep was restored from ruin in 1912 and is open to visitors from April to October. The state rooms, dungeons, and summit views make it one of the finest castle visits in Scotland. Mull is a gateway to some of Scotland's most remarkable smaller islands. Staffa, six miles off the west coast, is famous for Fingal's Cave — a sea cave formed entirely of hexagonal basalt columns, which inspired Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture. Boat trips run from Fionnphort and Ulva Ferry (April to October). The Treshnish Isles, nearby, host one of Scotland's most accessible puffin colonies from May to early August, along with guillemots, razorbills, and grey seals. Wildlife is Mull's other great draw. The island has one of the highest densities of white-tailed sea eagles in Europe — reintroduced in the 1970s, they now breed successfully across the island. Boat-based eagle-watching tours operate from several locations. Minke whales, dolphins, basking sharks, and otters are regularly spotted from the coast, particularly along the south and west shores. Golden eagles nest in the mountains inland.