Full Description
Mull and its neighbouring islands, Iona and
Ulva, are gems of Scotland's
Inner Hebrides, and havens for walkers. Mull, the largest, entices with enchanting forests,
cascading waterfalls, quiet lochs, and a dramatic coastline where white-tailed
eagles soar. Iona - smaller, gentler - holds history and spirituality in equal
measure, with trails leading to some of Scotland's most sacred spots, whilst
Ulva, community-owned and a short ferry ride away, offers village ruins, cliffs
and moorland to explore.
Walks on Mull
have something for everyone. Starting at Tobermory's colourful harbour, a
coastal path leads to the Rubha nan Gall lighthouse, where stunning views span
the Sound of Mull. Trails through Aros
Park wind past lush
forests and plunging waterfalls, while the tranquil shores of Loch Buie and
trails at Quinish Estate promise solitude. Calgary
Bay's white sands and Art in Nature
Trail capture Mull's creative spirit, while
hides at Fishnish tempt with sightings of otters, porpoises and dolphins. Ulva's
trails meander through woods and beside caves and cliffs, while Iona's gentler paths lead to St Columba's Bay or the
abbey, both steeped in legend.
The adventure starts with a ferry from Oban to
Craignure; additional crossings from Lochaline and Kilchoan provide alternative
routes. Buses link Craignure and Tobermory to the ferries for Iona
and Ulva, making these islands accessible without a car.
Contents
Rubha
nan Gall
The route to Tobermory lighthouse begins
along Main Street,
passing the colourful buildings lining the sheltered bay that starred as
'Balamory' in a popular children's TV series. Behind the ferry terminal, you
join a wooded path that runs on a level above the shore with views opening
across the water to the mainland peninsulas of Morvern and Ardnamurchan. The
lighthouse stands on Rubha nan Gall, a wild and wonderful headland; you can
return the same way or by a higher, tougher route.
Coastal
path walk to striking lighthouse and Sound of Mull views
Aros
Park
Publicly owned Aros
Park is described as a 'fabulous back
garden for the town of Tobermory',
with trails through lush woodland and delightful water features. This walk
starts with a gentle circuit of the Lochan Trail, marked by white- ringed
posts. If you have the energy, continue on the more strenuous but thrilling
blue-marked Waterfalls Trail. At time of writing, the pier is closed while its
old buildings are developed as Aros Waterfront, a community hub for outdoor
activities.
A
waterlily lochan; gushing waterfalls; luxuriant woodland trail
Glen
Aros
The full walk leads to an intriguing artwork,
enjoying magnificent views of Loch Frisa and surrounding Glen Aros, or you
could choose a 1-mile circuit to a historic site. The ruined chapel and
graveyard feel like a place that time forgot. In this peaceful spot you can
find traces of past lives in carved gravestones. Most of the walking is on
broad forest tracks, lined with wildflowers and flitting butterflies in summer.
Benches at The Fank are a great place for a picnic.
Medieval
chapel ruin; an intriguing artwork; great view of Loch Frisa
Fishnish
Few locations provide as good a view of the
Sound of Mull as Fishnish. From the wildlife hide you may spot some of Mull's iconic species, such as eagles, otters and
dolphins. The café at the ferry terminal is a wonderful place to watch the
Caledonian MacBrayne vessel plying to and fro across the straits, while bigger
'CalMac' ships sail by bound for Coll, Tiree or the Outer
Hebrides. Broad forest tracks offer easy walking and sunny glades
attract dragonflies, bumblebees and butterflies.
Ferry
history; forest paths; spot eagles and otters from the wildlife hide
Lochbuie
The sheltered bay
of Loch Buie on Mull's
south coast is one of the island's most idyllic spots. Its tranquil atmosphere
belies a long and often bloody history that includes a Neolithic stone circle,
medieval Moy Castle, and a 19th-century church. This
circuit follows the shore to the castle with a there-and-back leg past a wide
beach to the mausoleum. It returns through woodland and along a minor road,
with another detour, over wet ground, to the stone circle.
Loch Buie,
one of Mull's most idyllic spots; Moy
Castle; stone circle
Iona
Iona has been a spiritual centre since St
Columba came to the island in 563 and founded a monastery, from where Celtic
Christianity spread through Scotland
and Northumbria.
This walk starts at St Ronan's Bay, where the ferry lands, and explores the
main sites around Baile Mòr, the island's village. It visits the nunnery and
the abbey on the way to a dazzling white-sand beach on the north coast then
loops through the interior and returns past Martyr's Bay, where monks were
slaughtered by raiding Vikings.
Iona's spiritual heart;
white-sand beach; option to climb Dùn Ì
Tiroran
Community Forest
Tiroran Forest fills Gleann Seilisteir, where the
single-track B8035 climbs between Ben More, Mull's
highest mountain, and the Ardmeanach headland. Views stretch south over Kilfinichen Bay to Loch Scridain, the sea loch
separating Ardmeanach from the Ross of Mull. Since coming into community
ownership, the forest has been developed to benefit both people and wildlife,
with a natural playground designed by children, sculptures and interpretation
boards. The walk follows good tracks and minor roads in this tranquil corner of
Mull.
Glen and
forest walk, with township history and superb bay views
Ulva
In 2019, Ulva was acquired by the community,
in order to secure its future for the islanders and people of north-west Mull. At that point only five people were left on the
island, but the population began rising as houses were restored - to 16 in
2024. There are no tarmac roads and islanders use quad bikes or mountain bikes
to get around, so it is gloriously peaceful. This walk uses good tracks and
rougher paths, which can be omitted if a shortcut is taken.
Lush,
traffic-free island; crofter's cottage; walled garden; Dr Livingstone
Calgary
Bay
The stunning white sands of Calgary Bay
shade into turquoise between the enfolding arms of rocky moorland. The beach
here, probably the most popular on Mull, is
backed by fertile grassland framed by wooded hillsides. This walk consists of
three parts, which can be tackled separately and in any order - possibly with
refreshment in between from Robin's Boat or Calgary Farmhouse Café. Each part
offers a different flavour of the place and contrasting views. Come early for a
parking space or arrive by bus.
Turquoise
sea; white-sand beach; Art in Nature; Iron Age dun
Dervaig
This walk explores woodland on Quinish, the
peninsula running north from Dervaig, a small village that still looks much
like it did when built two centuries ago. Starting along the lane towards
Quinish House, the route has lovely views over Loch
a' Chumhainn, a sea inlet that penetrates deep inland. Beyond pillared gates,
it makes a loop on good tracks around lovely estate woodland, with a mix of
native hazel, oak and birch, planted beech, and introduced conifers and
rhododendrons.
