Cameron McNeish on Mull

[barryd]

Looks a long way from the shore for a blow up Kayak thats on its last legs as well

I keep wondering about a Scottish trip though as part of next years epic adventures Its getting the timing right though with Europe as I want to do all of the Alps as well. The thing to do is not to go to Arran first otherwise we won't go anywhere else. Im wondering about May and June, a few lochs, west coast, Mull and then Arran.

 

[runnach]

What is good with Mull, Barry is, you have three ferry options, our very first trip out with our old 1980 VW T25 pop top camper, we did the Ardnamurchan Peninsula, alomg the stunning Loch Sunnart, to Kilchoan, for the ferry direct into Tobermory, no need to book this ferry, you just rock up. From Tob, anti clockwise around the island, past Craignure, booking required for this Ferry to Oban. Up towards Salen, and crossed at Fishnish to Lochaline ferry, no booking required for this one either.

If one has the time and weather for touring, Mull does open up other mainland areas to tour, without having to double back on yourself.

 

[Fisherman]

Looks a long way from the shore for a blow up Kayak thats on its last legs as well

I keep wondering about a Scottish trip though as part of next years epic adventures Its getting the timing right though with Europe as I want to do all of the Alps as well. The thing to do is not to go to Arran first otherwise we won't go anywhere else. Im wondering about May and June, a few lochs, west coast, Mull and then Arran.

Don’t forget the east coast Barry.
So many from Europe and down south head up the west of Scotland without giving the east a second thought. And it’s just about midge free. You can sit outside on a summers night with a glass of wine without the wee buggers biting you.
Also the Mull of Galloway has much to offer, and excellent for WC, particularly New England Bay, and Port Logan where you get sunsets to die for looking over to Northern Ireland. And the Mull itself with the famous lighthouse with access is well worth a visit.
There’s a lot more to our country than Arran Barry.
Also Terry makes a good point about Mull, it’s a gateway to Ardnamurchan from Tobermory.

 

[barryd]

Don’t forget the east coast Barry.
So many from Europe and down south head up the west of Scotland without giving the east a second thought. And it’s just about midge free. You can sit outside on a summers night with a glass of wine without the wee buggers biting you.
Also the Mull of Galloway has much to offer, and excellent for WC, particularly New England Bay, and Port Logan where you get sunsets to die for looking over to Northern Ireland. And the Mull itself with the famous lighthouse with access is well worth a visit.
There’s a lot more to our country than Arran Barry.
Also Terry makes a good point about Mull, it’s a gateway to Ardnamurchan from Tobermory.

I have been all over Scotland over the years Bill, just not for some time. So I started looking at a plan for May and June 2026 but I have to say so far I'm a little disheartened so maybe you can persuade me not to be. The rough plan was Loch Lomond, Loch Awe, Loch Etive, Mull, Arran and whatever there is inbetween. Now I am maybe using the wrong tools but I started looking on SFS and I found nowhere around any of those places I thought looked great places to stay. There are virtually no CL's, sites are horrendously expensive and the wild spots look like scrappy laybys or places you might stop for a one night only, bugger off early sort of place. I'm not feeling inspired here. I found not many great options on Mull either although I didn't spend that much time looking.

Do I need to start another epic thread?

 

[mistericeman]

I have to say.... Having visited Arran some years back (weekend Diana died)
I wouldn't rush back ..

Skye is impressive out of season (carnage in season)

Ardnamurchan is always a fave....
Coigach peninsula was stunning and unspoiled by being over visited (and the geology stunning)

We desperately try to avoid the honey pots and seek out quiet deserted areas rather than ones plastered all over the net...

 

[Fisherman]

I have been all over Scotland over the years Bill, just not for some time. So I started looking at a plan for May and June 2026 but I have to say so far I'm a little disheartened so maybe you can persuade me not to be. The rough plan was Loch Lomond, Loch Awe, Loch Etive, Mull, Arran and whatever there is inbetween. Now I am maybe using the wrong tools but I started looking on SFS and I found nowhere around any of those places I thought looked great places to stay. There are virtually no CL's, sites are horrendously expensive and the wild spots look like scrappy laybys or places you might stop for a one night only, bugger off early sort of place. I'm not feeling inspired here. I found not many great options on Mull either although I didn't spend that much time looking.

Do I need to start another epic thread?

No, no, no, no no, please no.

Don’t forget other than car parks Loch Lomond and the Trossachs does not allow WC between April to October.

Start off as I said in the Mull of Galloway it’s really nice down there, ignore the silly no overnight parking signs that Dumfries and Galloway put up. New England Bay and Port Logan are great, and you can get freshwater and empty your cassette at NEB. Also you could have lots of fun with your kayak in Luce bay. Then head up to Stranraer a nice town and you can park in the car park there. Then head for a cracking Aire in Kirkcolm were we were this year. The pitches are enormous were sea planes used to be kept. Book in advance and you can empty your toilet and get freshwater there to. Then start heading up the Ayrshire coast to Ballantrae, there’s a nice carpark with places for motorhomes. It’s £10 a night with toilets but no services. Continue up to Girvan and again you can park for £10 a night in large motorhome parking spaces, you can empty your cassette there and get freshwater. Then you could head for Largs and get the ferry over to Millport, there’s an Aire there or continue up to Troon and head over to Arran. Then take the ferry from Lochranza to Claonaig, and there are options aplenty. You could head for the Gigha ferry port in Tayloan there’s an Aire there with freshwater and elsan point. You could now either head over to Gigha, or head north and head for Oban and then on to Mull. From there you could then get the Ferry from Tobermory to Kilchoan in Ardnamurchen. From there Scotland is your oyster Barry. But take my advice avoid Skye like the plague, we only go there in winter when the madness has subsided. Also as I mentioned you could head east there’s lots of places there, and they don’t tend to be as busy as the west.

 

[runnach]

Silver sands or Morrar have breath taking beaches, and ideal for your canoe.

 

[barryd]

No, no, no, no no, please no.

Don’t forget other than car parks Loch Lomond and the Trossachs does not allow WC between April to October.

Start off as I said in the Mull of Galloway it’s really nice down there, ignore the silly no overnight parking signs that Dumfries and Galloway put up. New England Bay and Port Logan are great, and you can get freshwater and empty your cassette at NEB. Also you could have lots of fun with your kayak in Luce bay. Then head up to Stranraer a nice town and you can park in the car park there. Then head for a cracking Aire in Kirkcolm were we were this year. The pitches are enormous were sea planes used to be kept. Book in advance and you can empty your toilet and get freshwater there to. Then start heading up the Ayrshire coast to Ballantrae, there’s a nice carpark with places for motorhomes. It’s £10 a night with toilets but no services. Continue up to Girvan and again you can park for £10 a night in large motorhome parking spaces, you can empty your cassette there and get freshwater. Then you could head for Largs and get the ferry over to Millport, there’s an Aire there or continue up to Troon and head over to Arran. Then take the ferry from Lochranza to Claonaig, and there are options aplenty. You could head for the Gigha ferry port in Tayloan there’s an Aire there with freshwater and elsan point. You could now either head over to Gigha, or head north and head for Oban and then on to Mull. From there you could then get the Ferry from Tobermory to Kilchoan in Ardnamurchen. From there Scotland is your oyster Barry. But take my advice avoid Skye like the plague, we only go there in winter when the madness has subsided. Also as I mentioned you could head east there’s lots of places there, and they don’t tend to be as busy as the west.

Done Mull of Galloway a fair few times Bill and actually fairly recently. 2022 I think. It was ok for a week or so coming back from Arran but I wasn't massively keen. Nothing up the coast that I am particularly blown away by either. Its years since I did Loch Lomond. Probably twenty I would think but I have fond memories of Arrochar area and also the Kyles of Bute area. Its just on the way up if you were heading to Mull. I just thought there would be more great place to stay but certainly not around there by the looks of it or any of the other places mentioned.

Lets turn it around then. Where are all the fantastic places to park up for a few nights in Scotland? Im more than happy to get off the tourist trail as long is ticks all our boxes for great places to stay, kayaking, walking and most importantly great biking roads, mountains etc. East or West. Not bothered.

 

[Fisherman]

Done Mull of Galloway a fair few times Bill and actually fairly recently. 2022 I think. It was ok for a week or so coming back from Arran but I wasn't massively keen. Nothing up the coast that I am particularly blown away by either. Its years since I did Loch Lomond. Probably twenty I would think but I have fond memories of Arrochar area and also the Kyles of Bute area. Its just on the way up if you were heading to Mull. I just thought there would be more great place to stay but certainly not around there by the looks of it or any of the other places mentioned.

Lets turn it around then. Where are all the fantastic places to park up for a few nights in Scotland? Im more than happy to get off the tourist trail as long is ticks all our boxes for great places to stay, kayaking, walking and most importantly great biking roads, mountains etc. East or West. Not bothered.

Have you been to New England Bay Barry, it’s great for Kayaking. The campsite there even has special provisions for those with boats. You can park right outside the campsite with views onto the massive beech with good access to the water. You could walk to the other side of the peninsula to port Logan, where you could also kayak if you spent the night there.

 

[barryd]

Have you been to New England Bay Barry, it’s great for Kayaking. The campsite there even has special provisions for those with boats. You can park right outside the campsite with views onto the massive beech with good access to the water. You could walk to the other side of the peninsula to port Logan, where you could also kayak if you spent the night there.

I have Bill. Yes its quite nice but I think there is much more spectacular places to see and go in Scotland for sure. If we spend two weeks on Mull and two weeks on Arran that leaves a month or so for the rest so not that long so I would prefer to concentrate on the places that tick all the boxes. If that is possible of course.

 

[Fisherman]

I have Bill. Yes its quite nice but I think there is much more spectacular places to see and go in Scotland for sure. If we spend two weeks on Mull and two weeks on Arran that leaves a month or so for the rest so not that long so I would prefer to concentrate on the places that tick all the boxes. If that is possible of course.

Once you get of Mull on to Ardnamurchen then Yiu should find plenty of places.
But it’s remote make sure you’re well stocked up. Don't go by the pois on here or SFS. There are loads of nice spots there not listed.

 

[runnach]

Barry, late April the Mull music festival long weekend takes place, be right up your frett it would. Site booked well in advance, as Tob is heaving. A brilliant atmosphere for sure

Mull Music Festival 2025 | Visit Mull & Iona

fabulous free long weekend of Scottish music featuring folk-rock bands, fiddle, accordion, dance and ceilidh bands

visitmullandiona.co.uk

 

[barryd]

Thanks. If we go though I suspect it won't be until May and we would do a few other bits first. Its just one of many plans formulating at the moment.