The Isle of Mull: Scotland’s Wild West

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Maximum adventurers: 12
Minimum adventurers: 6
Departure point: Glasgow
Drop off point: ATWS, Aviemore        

One of Scotland’s best kept secrets, the Isle of Mull, is a vibrant and beautiful island off the west coast of Scotland.        

Travelling from Glasgow with a quick stop at Loch Lomond on the way, we’ll stay at the port town of Oban overnight before taking the ferry to Mull on Friday morning. There’s so much to see on Mull that you’ll have a choice of activities for the day to help you get the best out of your visit. Explore the island with a wildlife expert, discover the beauty of the landscape through a camera lens with a photography day or take a boat trip to Fingal’s Cave on the island of Staffa and the Treshnish islands. We’ll spend the night at the Western Isles Hotel overlooking the picturesque town of Tobermory.        

        

On Saturday morning, we’ll visit a local community conservation and tourism project followed by an afternoon of wildlife-spotting with Scotland’s longest running whale-watch boat, Sea Life Surveys.        

On our final day you’ll have some free time to explore Tobermory before we travel to Aviemore for the Summit, via two ferries and some spectacular scenery. Arrival in Aviemore mid to late afternoon.        

Special Requirements: Participants will need to have their sea-legs with them as there is a number of boat trips involved. Come prepared for all weathers – wind-proof, water-proof and warm clothing is essential. There will be some walking involved so sturdy waterproof shoes are also advised.        

If you’re joining the photography workshop, you are welcome to bring your own camera. Cameras are available to use if required.      

 

Day 1 – Thursday, 30th September: We will meet in Glasgow and head north through the picturesque Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. Travelling through the mountains, we’ll reach the west coast town of Oban where we will spend the night. In the evening there will be a briefing about the activities for the following days.        

Day 2 – Friday, 1st October: We catch the ferry for the 40 minute crossing to Craignure on the Isle of Mull, here you will be met by your relevant host for the day. The options are:        

• Boat trip with Turus Mara to the island of Staffa, famous for Fingal’s Cave and on to the Treshnish Islands which are rich in wildlife;
• Photography workshop with Islandscape Photography: brush up on your photography skills and explore the beautiful island with personal tuition from a professional photographer (places limited); 
• Wildlife tour of the island: join a local wildlife expert on a tour of the island and its wildlife highlights (places limited).

We will meet back at Craignure in the afternoon and travel to the pretty town of Tobermory (pop. 700). Our hotel for the next two nights will be the Western Isles Hotel, which commands an enviable position overlooking Tobermory Bay. After dinner at the hotel, we will have a talk from a local conservation group.        

Day 3 – Saturday, 2nd October: In the morning we will visit Mull Eagle Watch, a community conservation and tourism project focusing on the white-tailed eagle, which was successfully reintroduced to Scotland. Lunch will be at a local hostelry before heading back to Tobermory. In the afternoon, we’ll head out to sea with Sea Life Surveys on a whale-watch, where there’s a chance to spot whales, porpoises, dolphins, seals or sharks. Dinner will be at the Western Isles Hotel, followed by some local entertainment.        

Day 4 – Sunday, 3rd October: On our final day you will have time in the morning for some shopping in Tobermory before we catch the Fishnish ferry back to the mainland. Once on the mainland, we drive through stunningly beautiful scenery to our second ferry at Ardgour. Across the Corran strait we drive through Fort William and past Ben Nevis, the UK’s tallest mountain and head inland to Aviemore and the Cairngorm National Park. We will stop for lunch on the way and will be in Aviemore by mid afternoon.        

Trip Design, Logistics & Guiding: Speyside Wildlife in partnership with Wild Scotland        

Speyside Wildlife has been running wildlife holidays for over 20 years and is one of the leading wildlife holiday companies in the UK. From their base near Aviemore in Cairngorms National Park, Speyside Wildlife run holidays throughout Scotland and across the world. The company is also a founding member of Wild Scotland, the Scottish wildlife tourism association.        

Videos:  

• Sea Life Surveys: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa18fMoNqiU harbour porpoise (apologies for the cameraman’s exclamations!)
• Mull Eagle Watch (clip from Gordon Buchanan’s film Eagle Island): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a-02HWf1Ds
• Turus Mara: Common dolphins on Turus Mara: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxBaERPFSRk
• Turus Mara: Grey Seal Pups on Treshnish Isles http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inB9oLHDj7g