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Highlights
The Isle of Mull is one of the more southern Hebridean islands, easily accessible by a short boat ride from the bustling mainland port of Oban. However, don't be fooled by its accessibility - this large island has only 2,500 inhabitants and feels impressively wild and remote. Whilst Mull's eastern shores are attractive, tranquil farmland and forestry, it's west side contains magnificent landscapes and seascapes, with some of the remotest settlements in Scotland. The island is also a haven for wildlife, with white tailed sea eagles and otters both plentiful. A short boat ride away is the famous and beautiful island of Iona, where St. Columba first brought Christianity to Scotland, and which today still draws pilgrims from all over the world. Though tiny, Iona retains a very distinctive character - few visitors, religious or not, fail to be moved by its quiet air of spirituality. As with all our walking holidays, the emphasis is on relaxed walking with lots of time to admire the views, take photographs and watch wildlife. We will be covering around 8 miles at a gentle pace most days. |
2025 Dates:
Sat 24th - Fri 30th May 5 places left How long: 6 nights, 5 days walking Start / Finish: Oban Price: £1,925 Single supplement: £160 ***£50 discount for returning clients!*** |
Tour Details
(please note that this schedule may be subject to change depending on weather conditions during the trip).
Included meals are shown as follows: B - breakfast; D - dinner
DAY 1 - ARRIVE IN MULL (D)
The holiday starts at Oban train station at 2.30pm. Once everyone has arrived, we will go to the ferry terminal then take the afternoon ferry to Craignure on Mull and drive to our accommodation at Dervaig on the island's north coast.
Accommodation: Dervaig B&B
DAY 2 - QUINISH POINT (B, D)
For our first day we will set off from the tiny village of Dervaig, famous for the beautiful early 20th Century Kilmore Church. Inspired by the Arts & Crafts movement, its stunning circular white tower echoes the round towers of Ireland. From here we head through the gorgeous native woods that surround Quinish House, an area that is bursting with birdsong in April and May, before making our way out to the remote headland of Quinish Point. At the very tip of headland we will ascend a small crag, the site of a medieval dun (fort), which provides breathtaking views to Coll and Tiree and the Small Isles (Muck, Eigg, Rum and Canna).
After our walk we will explore Tobermory, Mull's charming little capital, where we can wander past the famous multi-coloured shops and houses that line its picturesque harbour.
Accommodation: Dervaig B&B
DAY 3 - TRESHNISH POINT (B, D)
This is one of our favourite walks anywhere in Scotland! An absolutely stunning hike around the north-west tip of Mull, with ever-changing views across to the Treshnish Isles, Staffa and the Ross of Mull. With excellent coastal scenery, dramatic cliffs, hidden waterfalls and evocative abandoned villages, we are sure you will love this hike as much as we do...
Accommodation: Dervaig B&B
DAY 4 - ULVA (B, D)
Today we will be moving to our second guest house at the south end of Mull. Along the way we will stop to admire Eas Fors, one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the Hebrides. We will then head to the stunning little island of Ulva, a 5 minute boat ride from the west side of Mull. Ulva is a fascinating combination of pastoral farmland, rocky hills and evocative abandoned villages. We will be heading out to explore the remote west side of the island, where we will get amazing views out across the sea to other islands of the Inner Hebrides. On our return we will be calling in at one of Scotland's finest little teashops before catching the wee ferry back to Mull. A dramatic drive around the shores of Loch na Keal - one of Scotland's finest sea lochs and a great place for spotting white-tailed eagles - takes us to our accommodation near the village of Bunessan on the Ross of Mull.
Accommodation: Bunessan B&B
DAY 5 - STAFFA (B, D)
Today, weather permitting, we will be taking a day trip to the Isle of Staffa and the famous rock formation of Fingal's Cave, where Felix Mendelssohn wrote his famous Hebrides Overture. After seeing the renowned cave, with its towering basalt columns, we will spend some time exploring the island, hopefully meeting some of the many puffins who come to the island in the summer months to breed.
Accommodation: Bunessan B&B
DAY 6 - IONA (B, D)
For our final day we will head to Fionnaphort, at the southwestern tip of Mull, where we will take the short boat crossing to Iona. Once on the island we will have a chance to explore several beautiful beaches as well as the stunning Iona Abbey. Steeped in history and famous as the island where St. Columba first brough Christianity to Scotland, Iona today retains a distinctly spiritual atmosphere. It is also extremely beautiful and has a thriving little crofting community, along with a number of artisans making high quality jewellery and artworks.
If time permits, after returning to Mull we will take a short walk to the wonderful tidal island of Erraid, one of the most beautiful places imaginable and which featured in Robert Louis Stephenson's famous children's novel "Kidnapped".
Bunessan B&B
DAY 7 - DEPART (B)
We will take the morning ferry back from Craignure, arriving in Oban at 12 noon.
(please note that this schedule may be subject to change depending on weather conditions during the trip).
Included meals are shown as follows: B - breakfast; D - dinner
DAY 1 - ARRIVE IN MULL (D)
The holiday starts at Oban train station at 2.30pm. Once everyone has arrived, we will go to the ferry terminal then take the afternoon ferry to Craignure on Mull and drive to our accommodation at Dervaig on the island's north coast.
Accommodation: Dervaig B&B
DAY 2 - QUINISH POINT (B, D)
For our first day we will set off from the tiny village of Dervaig, famous for the beautiful early 20th Century Kilmore Church. Inspired by the Arts & Crafts movement, its stunning circular white tower echoes the round towers of Ireland. From here we head through the gorgeous native woods that surround Quinish House, an area that is bursting with birdsong in April and May, before making our way out to the remote headland of Quinish Point. At the very tip of headland we will ascend a small crag, the site of a medieval dun (fort), which provides breathtaking views to Coll and Tiree and the Small Isles (Muck, Eigg, Rum and Canna).
After our walk we will explore Tobermory, Mull's charming little capital, where we can wander past the famous multi-coloured shops and houses that line its picturesque harbour.
Accommodation: Dervaig B&B
DAY 3 - TRESHNISH POINT (B, D)
This is one of our favourite walks anywhere in Scotland! An absolutely stunning hike around the north-west tip of Mull, with ever-changing views across to the Treshnish Isles, Staffa and the Ross of Mull. With excellent coastal scenery, dramatic cliffs, hidden waterfalls and evocative abandoned villages, we are sure you will love this hike as much as we do...
Accommodation: Dervaig B&B
DAY 4 - ULVA (B, D)
Today we will be moving to our second guest house at the south end of Mull. Along the way we will stop to admire Eas Fors, one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the Hebrides. We will then head to the stunning little island of Ulva, a 5 minute boat ride from the west side of Mull. Ulva is a fascinating combination of pastoral farmland, rocky hills and evocative abandoned villages. We will be heading out to explore the remote west side of the island, where we will get amazing views out across the sea to other islands of the Inner Hebrides. On our return we will be calling in at one of Scotland's finest little teashops before catching the wee ferry back to Mull. A dramatic drive around the shores of Loch na Keal - one of Scotland's finest sea lochs and a great place for spotting white-tailed eagles - takes us to our accommodation near the village of Bunessan on the Ross of Mull.
Accommodation: Bunessan B&B
DAY 5 - STAFFA (B, D)
Today, weather permitting, we will be taking a day trip to the Isle of Staffa and the famous rock formation of Fingal's Cave, where Felix Mendelssohn wrote his famous Hebrides Overture. After seeing the renowned cave, with its towering basalt columns, we will spend some time exploring the island, hopefully meeting some of the many puffins who come to the island in the summer months to breed.
Accommodation: Bunessan B&B
DAY 6 - IONA (B, D)
For our final day we will head to Fionnaphort, at the southwestern tip of Mull, where we will take the short boat crossing to Iona. Once on the island we will have a chance to explore several beautiful beaches as well as the stunning Iona Abbey. Steeped in history and famous as the island where St. Columba first brough Christianity to Scotland, Iona today retains a distinctly spiritual atmosphere. It is also extremely beautiful and has a thriving little crofting community, along with a number of artisans making high quality jewellery and artworks.
If time permits, after returning to Mull we will take a short walk to the wonderful tidal island of Erraid, one of the most beautiful places imaginable and which featured in Robert Louis Stephenson's famous children's novel "Kidnapped".
Bunessan B&B
DAY 7 - DEPART (B)
We will take the morning ferry back from Craignure, arriving in Oban at 12 noon.
The holiday starts and ends in Oban or Inverness. Most clients choose to meet us at Oban Ferry Terminal where we will collect people at 2.30pm.
Alternatively, if you would like a lift from Inverness, a minibus will collect you from Inverness train station at 10.30am.
Trains
There are regular trains from Glasgow Queen Street station to Oban. For full details and to buy tickets go to www.scotrail.co.uk.
Inverness can be reached by train from Edinburgh, Glasgow and England. Travellers coming from London and the south of England can take advantage of the overnight Caledonian Sleeper service. For more information on train services see the following websites:
www.scotrail.co.uk
www.nationalrail.co.uk
www.thetrainline.com
www.sleeper.scot
Coaches
The following operator offers coach services from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Oban Inverness:
www.citylink.co.uk
Please note that all coach tickets must be purchased in advance of travel. We recommend that you do this as soon as you book your holiday as coaches can get booked up. Advance tickets can also be considerably cheaper than ones bought at the last minute.
Cars
It is straightforward to drive to both Oban and Inverness.
Weekly parking permits allowing parking in several town car parks in Oban can be purchased from Argyll and Bute Council at the following website: www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/car-parks-and-parking/parking-permits. Click on the "Season Ticket" link then create an account and purchase your weekly permit online.
For secure parking in Inverness we recommend the Highland Council run Rose Street multi storey car park. This is staffed until 10pm each night and is fully covered by CCTV. The cost for a week's parking here is about £57.
Alternatively, if you would like a lift from Inverness, a minibus will collect you from Inverness train station at 10.30am.
Trains
There are regular trains from Glasgow Queen Street station to Oban. For full details and to buy tickets go to www.scotrail.co.uk.
Inverness can be reached by train from Edinburgh, Glasgow and England. Travellers coming from London and the south of England can take advantage of the overnight Caledonian Sleeper service. For more information on train services see the following websites:
www.scotrail.co.uk
www.nationalrail.co.uk
www.thetrainline.com
www.sleeper.scot
Coaches
The following operator offers coach services from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Oban Inverness:
www.citylink.co.uk
Please note that all coach tickets must be purchased in advance of travel. We recommend that you do this as soon as you book your holiday as coaches can get booked up. Advance tickets can also be considerably cheaper than ones bought at the last minute.
Cars
It is straightforward to drive to both Oban and Inverness.
Weekly parking permits allowing parking in several town car parks in Oban can be purchased from Argyll and Bute Council at the following website: www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/car-parks-and-parking/parking-permits. Click on the "Season Ticket" link then create an account and purchase your weekly permit online.
For secure parking in Inverness we recommend the Highland Council run Rose Street multi storey car park. This is staffed until 10pm each night and is fully covered by CCTV. The cost for a week's parking here is about £57.
What's Included: 6 nights accommodation, 5 days walking. Accommodation at local quality B&Bs / guest houses*, with full Scottish or continental breakfasts; packed lunches; evening meals at local restaurants (whilst staying at Dervaig) or at our guest house (whilst staying at Bunessan. (Included meals are detailed in the itinerary).
All transport during the holiday. The services of an experienced walk leader.
Transport is provided by our comfortable, modern minibuses. On transfer days luggage is left in the minibus whilst we go for walks; whilst walking you will only need to bring a small daysack in which to carry your packed lunch, waterproofs, etc.
What's Not Included: Day trip to Staffa. (The trip is weather dependent so we don't include it in the price of the holiday. The cost is £40, payable on the day to your guide if the day trip goes ahead). Food & drinks at any cafes we may visit. Entrance to any visitor attractions. Alcoholic drinks. Restaurant tips. Travel insurance.
*This holiday involves staying in two separate B&Bs / guest houses (three nights in each). We start off with three nights in Dervaig at the north end of Mull before moving to Bunessan at the south end of the island. Having two bases greatly reduces the amount of driving we need to do during the week.
We will be staying in carefully selected guest houses. All rooms will have ensuite or private bathrooms. Single occupancy rooms are available at an additional cost of £160.
All transport during the holiday. The services of an experienced walk leader.
Transport is provided by our comfortable, modern minibuses. On transfer days luggage is left in the minibus whilst we go for walks; whilst walking you will only need to bring a small daysack in which to carry your packed lunch, waterproofs, etc.
What's Not Included: Day trip to Staffa. (The trip is weather dependent so we don't include it in the price of the holiday. The cost is £40, payable on the day to your guide if the day trip goes ahead). Food & drinks at any cafes we may visit. Entrance to any visitor attractions. Alcoholic drinks. Restaurant tips. Travel insurance.
*This holiday involves staying in two separate B&Bs / guest houses (three nights in each). We start off with three nights in Dervaig at the north end of Mull before moving to Bunessan at the south end of the island. Having two bases greatly reduces the amount of driving we need to do during the week.
We will be staying in carefully selected guest houses. All rooms will have ensuite or private bathrooms. Single occupancy rooms are available at an additional cost of £160.
Easy / Moderate. These holidays go at a gentle pace, with plenty of time to stop, take pictures, soak up the atmosphere and watch the wildlife. However, they are still walking holidays, so you will need to be able to cope with a reasonable amount of hiking each day. As a guide, you should be able to manage small uphill sections, be comfortable walking for 4 - 5 hours and 8 miles or so each day, and be confident walking away from paths - for example over rough, grassy hillsides.
We try to keep to easy ground as much as possible on these walks, but there will be some areas where the going can be a little rough and quite wet underfoot, so good hiking boots are essential. We don't tackle any hills on these walks but there are usually some modest uphill sections each day.
We try to keep to easy ground as much as possible on these walks, but there will be some areas where the going can be a little rough and quite wet underfoot, so good hiking boots are essential. We don't tackle any hills on these walks but there are usually some modest uphill sections each day.
The following reviews are taken from the Hidden Hebrides page on TripAdvisor: For reviews of our other holidays click here.
C.F. (Lancashire, England)
Absolutely fabulous walking holiday. Very comfortable accommodation and wonderful food. Mick is a very relaxed knowledgeable guide and even organised perfect weather. The maximum number of walkers, at 8, is just right for easy conversation and getting to know people. Brilliant trip.
S.M. (Aberdeen, Scotland)
Holiday no 3 with Hidden Hebrides - and it more than lived up to expectations! This time I went to Mull, Iona and Staffa and loved it. Both of the B&Bs we stayed in were comfortable, clean and in great locations, and hosts in both were so welcoming and helpful. Packed lunches with home made quiche and cake were a particular highlight. Mick was our tour leader and pitched the length and difficulty of the walks at just the right level for the group. He is very knowledgeable on a huge range of topics and is very easy to talk to, so every day was really interesting. We did teach him something new though - ask him about the secret whistle on your backpack! We were very lucky with the weather and stayed dry all week which was a bonus - especially as it meant all our ferry/boat trips were smooth. I’m already booked with Hidden Hebrides for another trip next year (might even make it 2 if timing fits). If you’re thinking about booking a trip with them, just do it… you will love it!
C.F. (Lancashire, England)
Absolutely fabulous walking holiday. Very comfortable accommodation and wonderful food. Mick is a very relaxed knowledgeable guide and even organised perfect weather. The maximum number of walkers, at 8, is just right for easy conversation and getting to know people. Brilliant trip.
S.M. (Aberdeen, Scotland)
Holiday no 3 with Hidden Hebrides - and it more than lived up to expectations! This time I went to Mull, Iona and Staffa and loved it. Both of the B&Bs we stayed in were comfortable, clean and in great locations, and hosts in both were so welcoming and helpful. Packed lunches with home made quiche and cake were a particular highlight. Mick was our tour leader and pitched the length and difficulty of the walks at just the right level for the group. He is very knowledgeable on a huge range of topics and is very easy to talk to, so every day was really interesting. We did teach him something new though - ask him about the secret whistle on your backpack! We were very lucky with the weather and stayed dry all week which was a bonus - especially as it meant all our ferry/boat trips were smooth. I’m already booked with Hidden Hebrides for another trip next year (might even make it 2 if timing fits). If you’re thinking about booking a trip with them, just do it… you will love it!