Exploring Mull & Iona private guided walking tour

Isle of Mull and Tobermory

Mull is one of the largest of the Hebridean islands but it is bitten into by so many sea lochs that the sight, smell and sound of salt water is never far away. This makes for a long coastline and, with its high cliffs, sandy and rocky bays, caves and arches there is always something to draw you on around the next corner.

The island is divided into north and south by a narrow waist of land at Salen. The southern half has a core of dramatic hill country culminating at 3169 feet (966 metres) on the summit of Ben More. To the west the lower peninsula of the Ross of Mull runs out almost to touch St. Columba's holy island of Iona. Northern Mull holds the island's tiny 'capital' of Tobermory (= Mary's Well), where we'll stay the first three nights. The scenery is a stepped landscape of lava flows from eruptions of around 50 million years ago. The vertical edges of these flows give numerous waterfalls, some falling straight to the sea where, to the west, lie the lava islands of Staffa, Treshnish and Ulva.

Isle of Iona

Perched in the Atlantic Ocean off the Isle of Mull lies the tiny windswept island of Iona; 3 miles long, with a population of around 120 permanent residents. This will be our base for the second half of the holiday. Iona is famed worldwide as one of the earliest centres of Christianity. In 563AD the Irish monk Columba (Columkille) established a monastic settlement that evangelised large parts of Scotland and the north of England. Iona not only became a place of pilgrimage, but also a centre for learning and culture, with its monks producing some of the world’s earliest illuminated manuscripts, including the Book of Kells. Between 795 and 806 Vikings raided Iona on 3 occasions during which the monastery was destroyed and many monks killed.

An abbey and nunnery were established here around 1200 and the island was a focus for medieval pilgrimage. Both the Abbey and the Nunnery fell into disuse during the Reformation of the late 16th century. The Nunnery is still in ruins, but the Abbey was rebuilt at the beginning of the 20th century.

Wildlife

Mull and it's surrounding islands are famous for it's wildlife along the coast. We will certainly see common and grey seals during our boat trip to the Isle of Staffa and if we are lucky dolphins. During the summer months there is a good chance to see basking sharks. Mull is one of the best places to see otters.

Sea bird colonies are a feature during their breeding season: puffins, guillemots and razorbills. Cormorants, fulmars and many other seabirds can be seen most of the year. If you are lucky you might see a golden eagle and the even bigger white tailed sea eagle - neither is certain, but Mull is one of the likeliest parts of Scotland in which to see both of these magnificent birds.

Example itinerary: