Oban to Mull and Iona

We were blessed with a gloriously sunny day for our organised coach tour to Mull and Iona. We travelled over from Oban to Mull (Craignure) as foot passengers on the ferry with what seemed like a multitude of other people. It was warm enough to sit on the open deck, enjoy the lovely views, and take lots of photos.

At Craignure we joined one of several tour coaches for the drive across to Fionnphort on the south west coast of Mull. This was a scenic route following the southern shores of Loch Scridain for the last part of the journey. The coach driver provided an excellent, and humorous, commentary.

The unexpected part of the day was when we arrived at the ferry for the short trip across to Iona to find that there were too many people to go on the first ferry and we had to wait for 25 minutes for it to make the trip there and back and then take us over. There was still plenty of time for us to see the Abbey and other buildings/ruins and enjoy a light lunch in the sunshine in the café garden of the Visitor Centre. Despite the large number of people at the ferry it did not seem over-crowded on Iona. We had a quiet and peaceful visit.  Some of us dozed on the return coach trip.

On arrival back at Oban Vanessa took to the wheel for a journey of about an hour north east across the bright red Connel Bridge and along the shore of Loch Linnhe to Onich. We stayed at Cuilcheanna House which is a handsome old estate house with spectacular views down to Loch Linnhe. Both couples had charming rooms in this very attractive house and enjoyed meeting our Yorkshire hostesses, Kirsty and Mary, and Brodie, their black Labrador. We went to the Loch Leven Seafood Café on Loch Leven for dinner and had some excellent fish/seafood. This was the only time during our holiday when we knew we were in ‘midge land’. Just as the sun was setting they came out in force, but luckily none of us was bitten.