In the Inner Hebrides, off the West Coast of Scotland lie the Isle of Mull and Isle of Iona. Together with Mull’s idyllic offshore islands, they provide an outstanding abundance of scenery, culture and wildlife to discover.
Beautiful rugged cliffs, silver-sand beaches, dramatic mountains, ancient forests, flowering machair. Also, there are sparkling lochs, rivers and waterfalls that combine to make the islands of Mull and Iona a simply breathtaking place to visit.
Throughout the islands, there is evidence of a fascinating past. Uncover the ruins of ancient history to dramatic historic monuments and evocative deserted townships.
Mull and Iona have a fascinating diversity of environments. So, when planning your trip make sure you check out each of the seven distinct regions. Each region has unique landscapes and geology. In other words, it's a big place! Therefore, this provides visitors with lots of activities, cultural attractions and close encounters with wildlife!
Mull & Iona Regions
Tobermory & North East Mull
Tobermory, in its colourful harbour setting, has many lively pubs and attractions; inland, scenic Loch Frisa is home to Mull Eagle Watch.
Tobermory, the main town on Mull, offers accommodation, specialist shops, eateries, pubs and many attractions including boat trips. Outwith Tobermory, north east Mull feels remote and wild. Loch Frisa is home to Mull Eagle Watch, offering way-marked trails in stunning scenery.
The villages of Salen and Craignure provide excellent transport links and services, within a scenic coastline peppered with sea inlets.
The south east coast is an essential transport hub for Mull, but there are also ancient monuments, coastal walks and stunning secret bays to discover. Salen is the central point in Mull for travelling to all other areas, while Craignure is the busy ferry port for Oban. Iconic Duart Castle, dramatically perched above Duart Bay, is one of several historic attractions.
The passage through the Ben More mountains reveals the Ross of Mull peninsula, fringed with amazing rock formations and silver-sand beaches.
There are many small communities from Pennyghael to the main centre Bunessan, home to the Ross of Mull Historical Centre. The whole area is a hotspot for rare wildlife. Small villages and evocative abandoned townships are scattered along the coast. At the very tip is Fionnphort, departure point for the ferry to Iona and boat trips to Staffa and Treshnish.
The Isle of Iona is tiny in size but huge in terms of special charm, wildlife, beauty, global influence and fascinating history.
Known as the “cradle of Christianity”, Iona has an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity enhanced by shell-sand beaches fringed by intense blue-green seas. Accessed by a short ferry journey from the Ross of Mull, the main attraction is a visit to the Abbey. But Iona has many other exceptional qualities including an unspoiled natural environment where rare wildlife thrives.
Ben More and Burg are on the Ardmeanach Peninsula, in the mountainous centre of the Isle of Mull, strikingly set between two magnificent sea lochs.
The magnificent Ben More can be seen from all over Mull, while the rugged cliffs of Burg are almost architectural in structure. Together, they provide an outstanding and unique dramatic backdrop to the landscape of Mull, mirrored in the sea lochs below. A scenic route across the peninsula takes in wild coastline, cliffs and mountain vistas.
Many islands lie off the west coast of Mull and Iona. Few are inhabited but several can be visited; all are important wildlife habitats.
Of the many uninhabited islands, the beautiful Treshnish Isles are havens for wildlife and can be visited by daily boat trips departing from Tobermory, Ulva Ferry, Fionnphort and Iona. The nearby Isle of Staffa, of Fingal’s Cave fame, is also a very popular destination. Inhabited offshore islands with a few residents which are also accessible include Ulva, Gometra and Erraid.
The north west of Mull is an unspoiled wilderness, with a dramatic coastline of cliffs and beaches and picturesque village of Dervaig at its centre.
Along the coast, high cliffs plunge to the sea, interspersed with secret sandy beaches and rocky coves, home to rare wildlife. Beautiful Calgary Bay is a great attraction, while historic Dervaig, surrounded by forest paths, is a popular base for the outdoor enthusiast. To the south, a wild coastal trail overlooks Loch Tuath with many diversions on the way to Loch na Keal.
Find inspiration for discovering the best of what the Isle of Mull & Iona has to offer. Our guides are crafted hand in hand with our local community. So, they are full of local knowledge!