Isle of Mull

The Isle of Mull lies off Scotland’s west coast as the second-largest of the Inner Hebrides. Its mountainous core rises to Ben More, the island’s only Munro, while three rugged peninsulas stretch westwards into the Atlantic. Smaller islands dot the surrounding waters, from the holy island of Iona to Staffa with its famous sea cave. The main town, Tobermory, stands on the Aros peninsula with its brightly painted harbourside buildings. A planned fishing town, it became known for the children’s series Balamory which drew summer visitors. The Ross of Mull in the south-west holds the ferry to Iona and quiet sandy beaches. Mull rewards visitors with whisky, gin and Highland games. Tobermory distillery has produced single malt for centuries, while a newer gin distillery near Tiroran opened in 2019. Every July the island hosts its Highland Games, drawing athletes and spectators. Four castles punctuate the landscape: the towering Duart Castle overlooks the Sound of Mull, and Moy Castle stands on the Ross of Mull. A stone circle at Lochbuie recalls Bronze Age builders who left burial cairns across the moorland. Walk the coastal paths past white sand beaches and moorland ridges. Calgary beach on the north-west coast offers soft sand and clear water. The Loch Na Keal National Scenic Area protects inlets and offshore islands like Ulva and the Treshnish Isles. Staffa’s basalt columns rise from the sea, and Fingal’s Cave echoes with Atlantic waves. From Tobermory’s harbour the view stretches to Calve Island, while the Ross of Mull’s southern shore faces the open ocean.