5 Day Mull, Iona and Staffa Tour
Join Tour Guide and Historian, Catriona Stevenson on this wonderful tour accompanied by Àdhamh Ó Broin, who is the world’s most sought-after Scottish Gaelic Consultant.
5 Day 3 Isles Cultural Explorer Tour. with Adhamh O’Broin
Join Tour Guide and Historian, Catriona Stevenson on this wonderful tour accompanied by Àdhamh Ó Broin, who is the world’s most sought-after Scottish Gaelic Consultant. We will also be joined by friends who will delight you in local music, song, and storytelling.
See the hauntingly beautiful Island of Mull whilst discovering the island’s history scarred with the legacy of “The Clearances”. Step back in the footsteps of St Columba when we visit where Christianity began in Scotland on the Island of Iona. Soothe your soul on a voyage out to the Island of Staffa, once inhabited by our ancient ancestors, it is now home to a puffin colony and the famous giant – Fingal. You can see his cave on the approach. One of the most important parts of the trip is to immerse yourself in the local culture which centers itself around the Gaelic Tradition. Experience the real Mull as told by the people who live and work there, including our special guest, local Gaelic speaker and singer Alasdair Whyte.
Tour Highlights
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Explore the ancient monuments of the islands including the ancient Glengor Standing Stones
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Basque in the beauty of the Mull Scenery including Calgary Bay, Mishnish, Mornish, and Treshnish peninsulas
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Look on in awe while you witness get the chance to glimpse White Tailed Sea and Golden Eagles in Flight.
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Enjoy Gaelic storytelling and singing in the evenings for own private entertainment nights organized by Àdhamh. One special guest is world-famous Gaelic singer Dr Alasdair Whyte.
Be inspired by the spiritual calling of the Island of Iona that inspired the new Celtic Christian Religion by St Columba.
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Let your hair down in the relaxed atmosphere of island time, it soothes the soul.
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Set your sails as you board a number of ferries, making you feel like you are on the far side of the world.
- Experience the geological wonder that is the island of Staffa. The journey out here is beautiful and you may be lucky enough to see puffins.
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Dive into each island’s unique history and culture.
Mull, Iona and Staffa Itinerary (click for more information)
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Where to meet:
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We will depart promptly at 8 am from the Argyll Hotel in Glasgow.
Once we have collected all of our tour participants, we will make our way for Oban where we will catch the afternoon ferry to Craignure on the Island of Mull. We will arrive into Oban before lunchtime and will have a few rest stops on the way. You will have around 1 hour in Oban of free time before we catch the ferry. On arrival to Craignure, we will make our way to the Duart Castle where you will enjoy an hour visit and learn about the local clan, the MacLeans.
Our base for the trip will be at Tobermory and we will make our way there for around 5 pm. You will be staying at either the Tobermory Hotel or the Park Lodge Hotel. Early booking will ensure you have your preference.
Evening Activity:
Free evening on your own
Important Information:
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Ferry travel to Mull is included in the tour price.
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The Ferry journey is around 1 hour long.
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The accommodation in Tobermory is based on sharing. If you would like a single occupancy rate, please let us know and will let you know the difference in cost.
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For those going to the Highlanders 5 Convention in Birmingham, Glasgow has daily flights to Birmingham, making the most of your time in Scotland.
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Where to meet
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We will collect you at your accommodation at 9 am
We will spend this day exploring the Island of Mull:
How the day will go:
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A trip to the Glengorm Estate where we will make the 2-hour walk to the Standing Stones which also has impressive views of the coastline.
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We will then continue on our journey to the Calgary Bay where you can enjoy the 1 and a half hour sculpture walk.
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We will enjoy our packed lunch by the beach and there is also the chance to see the old graveyard that sits above the Machir.
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We will then make our way back to Tobermory where the group can enjoy a trip to the Mull Museum and the Tobermory Whisky Distillery.
Evening Activity:
A fun evening organised by Àdhamh Ó Broin and a local.
Important Information:
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The walk is moderate however a good level of fitness is required to complete the walk.
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The weather, even in August can be very blustery with a wind chill factor. It is advisable to bring warm hats, closed comfortable footwear (especially for walking on the beach) and layered clothing – the moment the wind stops, the temperature can increase quite considerably.
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Where to meet
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We will start our pickups at 7 am.
We will spend this day exploring the islands of Staffa and Iona.
How the day will go:
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We will make our way to Fionnphort where you will catch the 9.30am boat trip to Staffa. This is a 3 hour trip with 1 hour ashore on Staffa. On the return, you will be dropped off on Iona, where you will meet back up with Catriona.
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Once on Iona, you will have the chance to see the ruined Nunnery and the world-famous Iona Abbey, the birthplace of Celtic Christianity in Scotland.
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You will then be given free time to explore the gift shops and shoreline on Iona.
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We will then return back to Tobermory
Evening Activity:
A fun evening organised by Àdhamh Ó Broin and Alasdair Whyte
Important Information:
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Ferry travel to Iona is included in the tour price and is around 15 minutes long.
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The Staffa Boat Trip is included in the cost
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Admission to Iona Abbey is included in the cost.
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The time allocations in the itinerary are set to a maximum. We may well take less time while we are there due to weather etc however we cannot stay longer due to our ferry departure time. The timings have been set at a very healthy level and at no point will any stop feel rushed.
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Where to meet
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We will depart at 10 am from the accommodation with Alasdair Whyte.
How the day will go:
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We will then make our way on a day around Mull to Alasdair’s favourite spots, incorporating local history and lore.
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We will return back to our accommodation for around 5 pm in time for our last dinner.
Evening Activity:
Last Supper of the tour
Important Information:
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The weather, even in August can be very blustery with a wind chill factor. It is advisable to bring warm hats, closed comfortable footwear (especially for walking on the beach) and layered clothing – the moment the wind stops, the temperature can increase quite considerably.
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Where to meet
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You will check out of accommodation and we will depart at 8 am
We will then make our way back to Glasgow and the mainland. We will check out early and catch the ferry to Kilchoan in Argyll from Tobermory.
How the day will go:
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We are making our way back to the mainland. It is a short ferry journey of around 45 minutes.
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Enroute to Glasgow we will make stops at Castle Tioram and Glenfinnan.
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Finally, we will make our way back to Glasgow for 5 or 6 pm (traffic depending). Our drop off point will be at the Argyll Hotel.
Evening Activity:
A farewell soiree will be had around 8 pm at the Islay Inn (2 blocks away from the Argyll Hotel in Glasgow).
Important Information:
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Ferry travel to Kilchoan is included in the tour price.
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The time allocations in the itinerary are set to a maximum. We may well take less time while we are there due to weather etc however we cannot stay longer due to our ferry departure time. The timings have been set at a very healthy level and at no point will any stop feel rushed.
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Hints and Tips
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Other Accommodation:
Glasgow – In Glasgow we recommend staying at the Argyll Hotel or the Argyll Bed and Breakfast. The restaurants and bars in the area are also fantastic and you have views of Kelvingrove Museum and park.
Mobility:
There is a reasonable level of walking on this tour and therefore if you have mobility problems, please let us know as we can still accommodate you but there may be elements that are inaccessible or where you may require assistance.
How to Dress:
Scotland, even in the Summer, can be unpredictable. We would suggest bringing closed comfortable footwear, a rain jacket and layers. Scotland can get hot too, so a hat and some sunscreen are advisable.
The most important thing to remember is you, a smile and your camera 😉
For any questions, please let us know!
Terms and Conditions
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We require a 50% deposit at the time of booking. The remainder will be due up to 1 month prior to the trip.
We accept payment via bank transfer, online via credit or debit card.
Luggage:
1 piece of standard hold luggage and 1 piece of hand luggage per person allowed.
Refunds and Cancellation:
There will be a cut off date of the 1st of January 2020. If too few people have chosen to participate in the tour, a full refund will be given. We will have an indication pretty early of interest and will update the participants accordingly.
Customer Cancellations:
10% charge for cancellation more than 45 days before tour departure.
20% charge for cancellation 45 – 30 days before tour departure.
50% charge for cancellation 30 – 15 days before tour departure.
For cancellation less than 15 days before tour departure any refund is at the our discretion.
Slainte Scotland (Clyde Coast Tourism Ltd) Cancellations:
If we cancel the tour for any reason, we offer a 100% refund on the tour OR an alternative date agreed by the customer.
Refunds: Refunds will clear into the customer’s account within 10 working days however this may take as long as 14 days depending on the card issuer or bank’s policies.
Customers may also be liable for costs for cancelled accommodation.
We strongly recommend having travel insurance incase of cancellations on ferries etc. Slainte Scotland cannot be held accountable for situations out of our control such as cancelled ferries, road conditions or adverse weather.
Five Day, Iona, Staffa and Mull tour: Download our Brochure
Slainte Scotland Discover Mull and surrounding Islands Tour 2020
Slàinte Scotland Tours
Slainte Scotland / Clyde Coast Tourism Ltd
74 Davaar Road
Greenock
PA16 0RD
Scotland
