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Mull and Iona
Tobermory, Duart Castle, Staffa and the abbey island of Iona
Mull is the second-largest island of the Inner Hebrides, about 875 square kilometres of hills, sea lochs and single-track roads, with Ben More (966 m) at its centre. Wikipedia gives a population of 3,063; Tobermory, the main town, is a harbour of painted houses in the north. The main ferry from Oban lands at Craignure, a 45-minute crossing according to CalMac.
Iona lies off the south-west tip of Mull, a 10-minute ferry ride from Fionnphort. It is about 6 km long, home to around 180 people, and holds Iona Abbey, founded on the site of St Columba's monastery. Boat trips from Mull and Iona visit Staffa, with Fingal's Cave, and the seabird colonies of the Treshnish Isles.
- Oban to Craignure45 minutenCalMac's main ferry to Mull; vehicle reservations recommended
- Fionnphort to Iona10 minutesPassenger ferry; most vehicles are not allowed on Iona
- Hoogste puntBen More, 966 mThe only Munro on a Scottish island outside Skye, according to Wikipedia
- PopulationAbout 3,060 on MullWikipedia; Iona has about 180 residents
Buurten
2 places to begin
Each area has its own mini guide with 19 sights, places to eat and drink, and where to stay across the city.
Tobermory and Mull
Tobermory harbour, Duart Castle, Calgary Bay and boat trips to the Treshnish Isles
Open de minigids →
Iona and the Ross of Mull
Iona Abbey and Nunnery, Staffa's basalt columns and the long peninsula to Fionnphort
Open de minigids →Bezienswaardigheden
Highlights across Mull and Iona
A sight from each area. Every area guide lists the rest, with directions and official links.
Duart Castle
Seat of Clan MacLean above the Sound of Mull; the castle dates from the 13th century and was restored from ruin in 1911.
Iona Abbey
Benedictine abbey founded around 1200 on the site of St Columba's monastery; its museum holds early medieval carved stones and crosses.
Tobermory harbour
Mull's main town, a harbour of painted houses along Main Street; about 1,045 people lived here in 2022.
Iona Nunnery
Ruins of an Augustinian nunnery founded in the early 1200s, next to the village; among the most complete in Scotland.
Tobermory Distillery
Single malt whisky and gin distillery on the Tobermory waterfront; it also makes the peated Ledaig whiskies.
St Oran's Chapel
Twelfth-century chapel beside the abbey, restored along with it and part of the Iona monastic scheduled monument.
Glengorm Castle
A 19th-century listed country house at the end of a dead-end road about 6 km north-west of Tobermory.
Staffa and Fingal's Cave
Uninhabited island of basalt columns; Fingal's Cave inspired Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture. Reached only by boat trip.
Foto's
1 / 9With kids in Mull and Iona
Animal attractions, railways, science centres, beaches and caves from our Mull and Iona guide, grouped by type. We hold no age ratings or child prices: check each place’s own site for age limits, height rules and family tickets.
Beaches and swimming
- Calgary BayBeach, Tobermory and Mull
Caves and underground
- Staffa and Fingal's CaveIsland and sea cave, Iona and the Ross of Mull
Practical help: travelling with children and where to stay in Mull and Iona.
Hoe komt u er
Arriving in Mull and Iona
All routes to Mull are CalMac ferries from the mainland; Iona is reached from Fionnphort on Mull. Book vehicle space in advance in summer and check service status before you travel, as sailings can be disrupted by weather.
Ferry from Oban to Craignure
CalMac calls this the most direct route to Mull: the crossing takes 45 minutes and vehicle reservations are recommended. Smaller ferries also run from Lochaline to Fishnish and from Kilchoan to Tobermory.
Ferry from Fionnphort to Iona
The Iona ferry leaves Fionnphort on the Ross of Mull and takes about 10 minutes. Most vehicles are not allowed on Iona, so leave your car at the free Columba Centre car park in Fionnphort.
Train or bus to Oban
CalMac says the ScotRail train from Glasgow Queen Street to Oban takes just over three hours and the bus from Glasgow just under three hours. On Mull, West Coast Motors runs buses from Monday to Saturday.
Journey times are CalMac's own figures, checked on 3 November 2026. We do not publish timetables or fares.
Met de auto
Most of Mull's roads are single track with passing places, according to CalMac. Allow plenty of time: Craignure to Fionnphort is the length of the Ross of Mull.
Met de bus
West Coast Motors runs regular services across Mull from Monday to Saturday, including the route to Fionnphort for the Iona ferry.
Per boot
Boat trips to Staffa and the Treshnish Isles leave from Ulva Ferry, Fionnphort, Iona and Tobermory; most run from spring to autumn.
Paying for local transport in Mull and Iona
ScotRail (Scotland’s trains).ScotRail runs most trains within Scotland. Its tickets page refused automated access, so check ticket types and any Scotland-only offers on its site.ScotRail tickets (opens in new tab)
Beste tijd om te gaan
Mull and Iona through the year
Mull and Iona are busiest in summer. Many boat trips and seasonal sights run from about Easter to October.
Turus Mara runs its Treshnish Isles trips, with puffins on Lunga, from April to the end of July.
The busiest months on the ferries; book vehicle space in advance and expect the Iona ferry to be busy.
Staffa trips from Mull run until October and the Mull Museum stays open until the end of October.
Veelgestelde vragen
Goed om te weten voor vertrek
Can I take my car to Iona?
Not usually. CalMac says most vehicles are not allowed on Iona; park in Fionnphort, where the Columba Centre car park is free, and cross as a foot passenger.
How do I get to Staffa?
By boat trip. Operators such as Turus Mara (from Ulva Ferry) and Staffa Tours sail to Staffa in season; the island has no ferry service.
How long is the ferry to Mull?
The Oban to Craignure crossing takes 45 minutes, according to CalMac.
Nearby places
Guides near Mull and Iona
Our closest other guides, by straight-line distance between centres. Road and rail distances are longer: check a journey planner.
Fotoverantwoording
- Mull and Iona (header): Clydiee, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Tobermory and Mull: Philippe Giabbanelli, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Iona and the Ross of Mull: Lisa Stevens from Sutton Coldfield, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Duart Castle: Philippe Giabbanelli, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Iona Abbey: Akela NDE (talk), CC BY-SA 2.0 fr, source
- Tobermory harbour: DeFacto, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Iona Nunnery: Otter, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Tobermory Distillery: DeFacto, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- St Oran's Chapel: Keith Laverack, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Glengorm Castle: Rob Farrow, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Staffa and Fingal's Cave: Sally Hackney, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Calgary Bay: Mary and Angus Hogg, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Carsaig Arches: Hopgrove james, Public domain, source
- Aros Castle: Otter, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Rubha nan Gall Lighthouse: Colin, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Ben More: Released into public domain by author/original uploader was Deus Ex at en.wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Moy Castle: s allison, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Treshnish Isles: Rob Farrow, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Ulva: Zenit, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Loch na Keal: Torsten Henning, Public domain, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Plan het goed
More guides for Mull and Iona
- Where to stay in Mull and IonaWelk gebied bij welke reiziger past, met elk verblijf dat we hebben gecontroleerd.
- Getting around Mull and IonaMet en zonder auto, volgens officiële vervoerspagina's.
- When to go to Mull and IonaWeer, daglicht en wat u moet inpakken, per maand.
- Rainy-day ideas in Mull and IonaBinnenactiviteiten, per gebied.
- Events in Mull and IonaFestivals, markten en seizoensgebonden evenementen van de organisatoren.
- Attractions in Mull and IonaBezienswaardigheden en musea met toegangs- en toegankelijkheidsaanduidingen waar die zijn gecontroleerd.
Blijf ontdekken