Magical Mull, Isle of Iona & West Highlands 4 Day Tour

Find yourself in perfect harmony with nature, as you relax amidst the beauty of Scotland.

Your journey

Because you won’t want to disturb the tranquil wildlife, unspoilt blonde beaches, and traditional fishing villages. You’ll simply want to take in as much of the natural harmony as possible.

You stay in the brightly coloured fishing village of Tobermory, where the locals live peacefully alongside the wild ocean. You visit ancient abbeys and prehistoric standing stones that have stood serenely for centuries. And you get the chance to see the unchanging geological wonder of Fingal’s Cave.

So take part in this tour and rejuvenate your senses in the peaceful natural surroundings of Iona and Mull.

Tour Details

Departs

09.00 - Gate J and Gate K, Edinburgh Bus Station, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH1 3DQ

Returns

19.00 approx

Discounts

Students, seniors over 60, and children between 5 and 15 (unfortunately, we don't carry children under 5 years old)

Important information

Pack your waterproof clothing and walking shoes
One 15 kilogram bag, and one carry-on bag per person

Tour inclusions

All ferry fares except the optional trip to Staffa
Transport in a 16 seat Mercedes mini-coach
Air conditioning as standard
The stories and services of a Rabbie's driver-guide

Tour exclusions

Entry fees to visitor attractions
Tour accommodation

Itinerary

Day 1

Learn about the epic battles that took place as you travel to Callander
Surrender to the majesty of Glencoe
Fall in love with the lovely little harbour town of Tobermory

You leave Edinburgh and travel past Stirling Castle to the small bustling town of Callander.

From here, you continue through the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park and bristling terrain of the Trossachs, before reaching the wide and remote expanse of Rannoch Moor.

Your drive north brings you to Glencoe, scene of the infamous massacre of Clan MacDonald in 1692.

After a short ferry ride across Loch Linnhe, you meander through the impressive mountains of Morven to Lochaline, where we take another ferry to the Hebridean island of Mull.

You arrive in Tobermory, the island’s capital, for our three-night stay. Tobermory, meaning ‘Well of Mary’, has brightly coloured houses looking over the sea and is often referred to as one of the prettiest harbour towns in Scotland.

Day 2

Enjoy the serenity of the tiny settlement of Dervaig
Explore the quaint shops of Tobermory

You drive to the remote areas of the island and visit the pretty settlement of Dervaig.

From here, you venture to the wild thrashing sandy shores of Calgary Bay. And if you’re lucky, you may see the huge white tailed eagles, which live in this area.

An early afternoon return to Tobermory, allows you to soak up the atmosphere of this pretty town. You have a chance to peruse the small shops, and the local Tobermory whisky distillery.

Day 3

Examine the geological and mythical wonder of Fingal’s Cave
Visit one of Scotland’s most sacred places at the Iona Abbey and Nunnery

You head south to Fionnphort, where you take a passenger ferry to the small island of Iona.

Iona is an island of quiet charm, and is the cradle of Celtic Christianity.

You have time to explore the island’s Abbey, and museum of history and Celtic heritage. There are magnificent Celtic crosses and headstones to see, or, alternatively, you can enjoy a stroll along the peaceful sandy beaches.

In the afternoon, you have the opportunity to take a small boat to the island of Staffa, where nature enthusiasts can seek out the abundant marine life.

Staffa is home to Fingal’s cave, which is one of the most amazing geological sites, and is known as ‘Nature’s cathedral’.

After a day in the great outdoors, we return to Tobermory for the night.

Day 4

See the pristine Inveraray castle on the shores of Loch Fyne
Look down a cascading valley at the ‘Rest and be Thankful’ viewpoint

Departing Tobermory, we head south to Craignure for a short crossing to Oban, the biggest town in Argyll.

From here, you head to Kilmartin Glen, and get the chance to explore an area of Neolithic Burial Chambers, known as’ the valley of ghosts’.

Continuing west, you arrive in the whitewashed 18th Century town of Inveraray, on the shores of Loch Fyne. Inveraray castle is a mixture of Scots Baronial and Neo-Gothic architecture and is the seat of Clan Campbell.

After leaving the town, you arrive in the National Park of Loch Lomond and climb up more than 800 feet to the ‘Rest and be Thankful’.

You continue to drive east towards Stirling, with opportunities for photos of the castle, before we return to Edinburgh in the early evening.

Customer Reviews

Magical Mull and Iona... and puffins :)

Charl Posted on 16/07/2017

Ive been wanting to do this tour for a couple of years now, timing it for when the puffins were on land. This year I managed it and it was well worth the wait. Day one we left grey wet Edinburgh behind in the extremely capable hands of Ross, heading west through Callander, the majestic Glencoe and the highlands to catch the ferry over to Mull late afternoon. Luckily the weather picked up by lunchtime on the first day and we were pretty lucky for the rest of the trip. Day two was by far the highlight of the tour for me. Awakening to blue skies and sunshine, we hit the road down to Fionnphort to catch the ferry over to Iona. The scenery was stunning and we started the wildlife spotting with highland cows and deer. Fionnphort itself gave us a hint of what was to come with still turquoise waters and white beaches. 20 minutes on the ferry and we were on Iona - a beautiful island with more turquoise waters and beaches. We had a couple of hours to explore the abbey and the ruins and take in the amazing scenery before boarding a boat out to Staffa. The rest of the afternoon was such a wonderful experience, the geology of the island is amazing, seeing really is believing from the beautiful Fingals cave to the unbelievable rock formations. We climbed up to the top of the rocks and made out way along to where hundreds of puffins were on the edges of the cliffs. Sitting down watching them come in to land and walk around you was just the most special time. I would love to do this again. Out trip back to Tobermory again took in some amazing views. Day three and more beaches and lovely scenery as we explored Mull, though the rain was threating now. Calgary bay didnt quite show us her best colours but you could just imagine what it would be like on a sunny day. The afternoon was free time to explore Tobermory. We chose to tour the distillery and try a couple of wee drams. A visit to the cafe in the chocolate shop is also recommended as somewhere to hide from a shower of rain. The last day came too quickly and we left Mull behind, sailing back into Oban. Then heading back down to Edinburgh via Kilmartin Glen and the standing stones, Inveraray and the lovely village of Luss on the banks of Loch Lomond. All in all this was another brilliant Rabbies tour with a great guide. Huge thanks to Ross for making this as good as it was.

Pilgrims and puffins

Ninsig Posted on 12/07/2017

This was a tour I have been wanting to do for some time and I was not disappointed. The guide was Ross, and once I knew he was the guide I knew I were in good hands. I’ve travelled with him before and he is an excellent guide and a great photograper. The tour started in very wet conditions but it got better the closer we got to Mull. We stayed 3 nights in the beautiful little harbour town Tobermory. All though Mull has a lot of great scenery the real highlight of the tour was the trip to Iona and Staffa. We were very lucky with the weather that day and it was lovely to see Iona in sunshine. A visit to the abbey was interesting and there also seemed to be some pilgrims visiting the island. The boattrip to Staffa was nice and the sea was very calm. The boat actually managed to sail into Fingal’s Cave, something we were told only happens around 20 of 400 times. So we were lucky to have this experience. Once we had landed on the island, the walk to the cave was nice and it was great to listen to the sound of the sea crushing in and see the colours inside. No wonder Mendelssohn was inspired when he visited! And then there were the puffins an absolutely wonderful experience. The birds were so adorable and cute and we got very close. To just sit there on the hills watching the birds was just awesome! This tour is one I wouldn’t mind doing again one day. Thanks again to Ross for another great tour. He’s a brilliant guide.

Magical Mull, Isle of Iona West Highlands 4 Day Tour

Margo Posted on 11/09/2016

The whole trip was really magical - the route was very interesting. We could admire Glencoe, beautiful views along the road from Ardgour to Lochaline. We gazed at breathtaking scenery, colorful Tobermory, castles and diverse wildlife on the Isle of Mull. The Iona Abbey was truly amazing, and the beaches were wonderful there, too. The weather was very nice, which added more charm to the whole experience. The Isle of Staffa is surely worth seeing, especially Fingals Cave and countless wildlife. On the way back to Edinburgh we could see very interesting Kilmartin with standing stones and burial cairns. There were four gorgeous days. I would like to add a BIG THANK YOU to Emily - our tour guide. Here are some photos.....

Accommodation

Where does this tour stay overnight?

You stay three nights in the colourful harbour town of Tobermory, the capital of the island.

How does the accommodation work?

Your tour excludes accommodation; but when you book, you can ask us to reserve local accommodation for you, or you can choose to reserve your own accommodation in the overnight locations.

I want Rabbie’s to book my accommodation, what happens now?

Once you've booked your tour, we'll reserve all your accommodation, and your driver will drop you off with your hosts. You’ll pay your accommodation directly. Most don’t accept credit cards, so be prepared to pay cash.

What if I want to change my accommodation booking with Rabbie’s?

Changes to accommodation cannot be guaranteed and are subject to availability. A minimum amendment charge of £5.00 will apply.

I booked my own accommodation is there anything I need to do?

You’ll need to contact us with your accommodation details. Please only reserve accommodation within the overnight towns that your tour stops in.

Your driver will drop you off at your chosen accommodation as long as it’s relatively central. You can find a selection of hotels at hotels.rabbies.com.

What if I cancel my tour at short notice?

If you cancel less than three days before departure, you may be liable for the cost of your first nights’ accommodation. And occasionally you may be liable for all your accommodation costs.

What are the accommodation types and what do they cost?

We try to reserve accommodation that’s no more than a 20-minute walk from the town centre.

We regularly check our accommodation suppliers to ensure they reach a certain standard. The prices below are for guidance only.

B&B (Bed and Breakfast) Standard

The toilet and showering facilities are shared with at least one other room in the house, and the price includes breakfast. The cost is between £30.00 - £35.00 per person per night. A single standard is between £35.00 - £60.00 per night.

B&B En/suite

The showering and toilet facilities are private, and breakfast is included in the price. The expected cost for a room, based on two people sharing, will be between £40.00 – £50.00 per person per night.

The expected cost for a single room will be between *£55.00 - £80.00 per night.

Hotels

Hotels have a bar or restaurant and provide evening meals. Breakfast is included in the price. The expected cost of Hotel 3* is between £65.00 - £85.00 per person per night. Hotel 4* is approximately £75.00 - £120.00 per person per night.

Hostels

A hostel consists of dormitory rooms with 4 to 16 bunk beds. The bathroom facilities are a short distance from the dorm room. Kitchen facilities are equipped so you can make your own meals. The cost is between £15.00- £25.00 per person per night.

Please note that SYHA hostels only offer same gender dorms. Some independent hostels will offer mixed rooms (males and females together).

I have more questions, who can help me?

If you have any more questions, you can read our FAQs, call us on +44(0)131 226 3133, or email rooms@rabbies.com.

Magical Mull, Isle of Iona & West Highlands
4 day tour

Tour map

Highlights

Places you'll explore