WALKING & WILDLIFE ON MULL AND IONA - SELF DRIVE HOLIDAY

Explore the spectacular Inner Hebridean Isles of Mull and Iona on foot. Encounter the prolific sea life of whales, dolphins and basking sharks while watching the soaring eagles that make their home in these islands. Walk in the footsteps of St Columba at the historic Iona Abbey, and marvel at the rich coloured houses of Tobermory in Mull. A boat trip out to the majestic Fingal’s Cave on Staffa will surely impress where the cry of the resident seals echo the

inspiration behind Mendelssohn’s ‘Hebrides Overture’.

Follow our suggested route by car and ferry with daily walks through differing landscapes created by a

mixture of ancient volcanic activity and Ice age glaciers. As you explore the islands, the natural landscape

seem in perfect harmony with the long, rich history of this magical area. With 3 nights on historic Iona and

4 nights in Mull we provide you with suggested walks each day.

The trip includes your return ferry crossings from Oban on the Scottish mainland to Craignure on Mull, the

passenger only ferry to Iona and also a boat trip out to the famous Island of Staffa. Each night you will be

accommodated in quality and traditional B&B and Guest Houses. Further we will supply you with a guide

book of walks and a comprehensive information pack with our recommendations. This trip is suitable for

those with use of a car as there is little public transport and many of the walks are remote. Car hire is not

included but if you wish we can book as an additional option.

Indigenous wildlife including eagles, whales, dolphins and otters

Explore the 13th Century Iona Abbey

Picture postcard village of Tobermory in Mull

Majestic geology of Fingal’s Cave that inspired Mendelssohn’s ‘Hebrides Overture’

WHY CHOOSE A SELF GUIDED WALKING HOLIDAY WITH US?

Macs Adventure is a small, energetic company dedicated to delivering adventure excellence. We have

hand picked the best possible accommodation in order to make sure that you experience the best the

Islands have to offer. We are passionate about delivering outstanding walking holidays where every last

detail is taken care of. Each holiday we offer is unique, tailor made to meet your requirements.

From your first contact with Macs Adventure you will deal with a local specialist who knows the region

intimately. Self guided walking holidays are a wonderful relaxed way to discover the magic of an area.

Free to travel at your own pace and wander off the beaten track, you will discover the beauty of the

landscape, the warmth of the people and the long history of this spectacular land. In the unlikely event you

should require emergency support our office is always more than happy to help with your queries.

WALKING & WILDLIFE

ON MULL AND IONA

EXPLORE THE WILD INNER HEBRIDES

SUMMARY

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

Ferry crossings: Return crossings from Oban to

Mull and from Mull to Iona. Boat trip to the Isle of

Staffa.

Accommodation: Friendly B&B’s and Guest houses

Meals: A hearty breakfast included. Lunch and

dinner not included but always available at accom-

modation or nearby.

Information Pack: Guide Book as well as a pre-

departure information pack.

Tour: Walking & Wildlife on Mull and

Iona

Code: WSSMI

Type: Self-Guided Walking Holiday

Price: see website

Single Supplement: see website

Dates: March - October

Days: 6

Nights: 7

Start/Finish: Oban

Grade: Easy to Moderate

HIGHLIGHTS

IS IT FOR ME?

This holiday allows you to travel through

the Isles of Mull and Iona staying in

friendly traditional B&B accommodation.

Each day provides a new experience and

we suggest many walks on the Islands.

Enjoy the wildlife and spectacular land-

scapes that make this area so special.

Walking on Mull and Iona

Walking Days: 6

Nights: 7

Average Daily Distance: Approx 5-10 miles per

day.

Grade: Easy to Moderate

DAY 1

Travel to Iona

Your journey begins as you depart Oban on the

ferry crossing to Mull. As you pass the Island of

Kerrera you start to see porpoises rolling in the

turbulent waters while gannets and gulls lead you

on to the port of Craignure in Mull. The journey

to Fionnphort for the passenger ferry to the Isle

of Iona is a delight. Indeed there is a good walk

just south of Craignure at Port Donain where

there is a lovely beach and the chance to see red

deer. Keep a look out over the moorlands for a

chance to view hen harriers quartering the

heather.

Leaving your car at Fionnphort harbour you will

now have 3 days without the stress of driving.

Following your first night in your hand picked

accommodation you will be ready to enjoy the

delights of this most attractive little Island.

Overnight: Iona

Your accommodation is a real highlight of this trip

and on Iona we utilise the best possible options.

Some of our favourites include the following:

St Columba Hotel

Beautifully positioned close to the shore and

adjoining the Abbey this mid19th Century Hotel is

proud of it’s organic produce and local seafood.

Argyll Hotel

Looking after visitors for over 140 years, this old

Hebridean building is full of character and a real

home from home.

DAY 2

Walking on Iona

Iona South

The main site of historical importance is the 13th

Century Abbey built on the site of St Columba's

6th Century monastery. The site is visited by

modern day pilgrims and it is worthwhile

spending time here to enjoy the peace and

tranquillity. Wildlife to be seen includes wading

birds such as Curlew as they rise with their calls

from the beaches and moors.

Iona North

Here stands the peak of Dun I, the highest point

at 101 metres. The main wildlife draw is the

Corncrake, one of the rarest breeding birds in

Britain. Even if you do not view the bird you may

be lucky to hear it’s distinctive ’crex’ call that

sounds like a finger being drawn along a comb.

Overnight: Iona

DAY 3

Boat trip to Staffa

Your holiday includes a trip out to the Isle of Staffa and Fingal’s Cave. The Isle is steeped in myth and legend and weather permitting you will have up to 1 hour ashore to enjoy the location that inspired Mendelssohn’s ‘Hebrides’ overture. Sea life abounds with a chance to spot seals, clown like puffins and maybe the fin of a passing basking shark.

Overnight: Iona

DAY 4

Travel to Tobermory, Mull

Following breakfast you are ready to travel back

across to Mull to continue to Tobermory for your

next 4 nights accommodation. En route there are

many opportunities to stop off and explore the

many walks on offer. You will undoubtedly wish

to enjoy the views of Ben More, the highest

mountain in Mull at over 3000 feet, giving it

famed ‘Munro’ status. Golden eagles are a

feature of these uplands and a site to behold as

they soar along the ridges.

Overnight: Tobermory

Once again the accommodation is carefully

chosen to enhance the quality of the trip. Here

are some of our favourite properties:

Brockville Bed and Breakfast

This bed and breakfast is only a 5 minute walk

from the brightly painted harbour. The high level

of comfort coupled with the traditional Scottish

welcome make this an ideal place to enjoy this

charming town.

Strongarbh House Bed and Breakfast

Perched in a cliff top above the Tobermory Bay,

this handsome Victorian Villa has it’s own

spacious gardens linked to the harbour via it’s

own private woodland path. Stylish bedrooms

with all modern conveniences provide a relaxing

retreat in the heart of town.

WALKING & WILDLIFE

ON MULL AND IONA

EXPLORE THE WILD INNER HEBRIDES

ITINERARY: WSSMI

Day Route

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Travel to Iona Walk on Iona- Overnight Iona Boat trip to Staffa—Overnight Iona Depart Iona by ferry for Mull—Overnight Tober-mory, Mull Walk on Mull—Overnight Tobermory Walk on Mull—Overnight Tobermory Walk on Mull—Overnight Tobermory Depart Mull by Ferry for Oban and onward Travel

Up to 10 miles per day

DAYS 5 - 7

Walking on Mull

There are many opportunities to walk in the

immediate environs of Tobermory itself. Further

the town is a base for whale watching and in the

summer season it is possible to take a boat trip

in search of these incredible sea mammals. We

suggest the following walks which will be in your

guidebook provided:

Aros Park

Just south east of Tobermory Aros Park has

gardens of Rhododendrons, woodlands of beech,

hazel and oak surrounding a lochan filled with

lilies are a delight. A walk through the Victorian

estate allows you to view a lovely waterfall and a

chance to see woodland bird species and the

occasional mink.

Ardmore Bay

In this area you have a good chance to see

Britain’s largest bird of prey, the white tailed sea

eagle. It is hard to miss these ’flying barn doors’

as they search the shore for food.

Treshnish Headland

Spectacular coastal scenery is the theme for this

walk on the west coast, with sculpted sea stacks,

caves and arches eroded by the pounding sea.

Views out the west reveal the exposed Treshnish

Isles strung out in a line. At any high coastal

point it is always worth scanning the sea for

whales, dolphins and porpoises as they blow,

leap and roll through the food rich waters.

Overnight: Tobermory on each night

Accommodation

We specifically choose the guesthouses to

ensure that you enjoy every minute of your stay.

They all offer a warm welcome to walkers,

traditional hospitality and delicious local food.

On this trip we only utilise accommodation with a

Scottish Tourist Board rating of 3 star and above.

This provides peace of mind with the knowledge

that you are staying in good quality properties.

Single Rooms

Single occupancy rooms may be booked though

this will incur an additional charge.

Meals

A hearty breakfast is included each morning.

Lunch and dinner are not included so you are

free to choose from the available options. Many

of your accommodations will more than happy to

provide a packed lunch on request and this can

be booked on arrival. Dinner is available either at

your accommodation or nearby pubs. Indeed it

should be pointed out that Mull and Iona offer

some of the best possibilities to dine on the

freshest of Scottish seafood.

Navigation

The walks on the Mull and Iona are generally

NOT way marked and some degree of

navigational skill is required. We provide a

guidebook with basic maps for the walks

however should you wish to back this up then we

would recommend purchasing OS Landranger

maps 47, 48 and 49

Grade

This route is graded moderate as it passes

through some remote country and is not way

marked. Though a guidebook is provided,

navigation skills may be helpful.

Equipment

Your information pack has a detailed equipment

list which includes standard walking gear such as

good walking boots or shoes, warm and

waterproof clothes and a day pack.

Dogs

Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate

walkers with dogs as many of the

accommodation providers do not accept pets.

Getting to and from Mull and Iona

Your trip includes return ferry crossings from

Oban on the mainland to Mull and return

crossings from Mull to Iona. Times may be

viewed on the Calmac ferry websites

Getting to Oban:

GLASGOW AIRPORT: Is the closest airport with 30 airlines serving about 90 destinations worldwide. For information on airlines and transport to and from the airport please visit www.glasgowairport.com.

CAR: Easily accessible via the A82 following the West Side of Loch Lomond and then the A85 at Tyndrum (2.5 hrs). If you travelling from London the most direct route is via the M1/M6 to Scotland from where the M74 will take you toward Glasgow and the route North.

RAIL: From Glasgow you can catch the train to Oban (3hrs) on the world famous West Highland Line.

BUS: From Glasgow you can take the Scottish Citylink bus to Oban (3hrs) www.citylink.co.uk.

Getting around the Islands

We strongly recommend bringing a vehicle to

allow full access to the various walks on Mull.

Travel Insurance

We strongly recommend taking out travel

insurance to cover cancellation or curtailment of

your holiday.

WALKING & WILDLIFE

ON MULL AND IONA

EXPLORE THE WILD INNER HEBRIDES

HOLIDAY INFORMATION

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Minimise Impact & Maximise Benefit

Our operating policies, office policies, holidays

and tours are all designed to minimise impact

and maximise benefit to the environment and

local communities.

Action & Advocacy

We believe that by engaging our team and clients in environmental and community projects

we can make a real difference.

Carbon & Communities

Travel and our business activity does of course contribute to carbon output and climate change. We have put several policies in place to minimise our carbon footprint.

Sensitive & Sustainable

Macs Adventure has worked hard to ensure that our holidays are sensitive to the community you are visiting and sustainable over the long term.

More about M.A.C.S. Responsible Travel

Policy...

Price

Detailed up to date prices for all our Holidays are

available on our website

www.macsadventure.com

Availability

This walking holiday is best enjoyed between

March and October. You will find up to date

availability on our website.

Included

7 nights of hand picked accommodation

A detailed info pack and guidebook for the group leader.

Emergency telephone support from our office in the event of a problem.

Ferry crossings as per itinerary - (1 car per booking)

Boat trip to the Isle of Staffa.

Excluded

Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks.

Travel Insurance.

Personal Equipment.

Luggage transfers.

Options

Car hire— We can arrange if required.

Single supplement.

Once you have read all the information in this

factsheet or on our website and decided on your

preferred itinerary, visit our website or give us a

call to confirm availability. You can then book

securely online at www.macsadventure.com, by

phone on +44 (0) 141 530 8886 or download a

booking form and post it to Macs Adventure, 44

Speirs Wharf, Glasgow, G4 9TH, UK or fax it to

+44 (0) 845 527 5688

Financial Security

In accordance with "The Package Travel,

Package Holidays and Package Tours

Regulations1992" all passengers booking with

Macs Adventure Ltd are fully protected for the

initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all

monies paid to us, including repatriation if

required (this insurance will not cover repatriation

to the country of origin for the passengers

outside of the EU), arising from cancellation or

curtailment of your travel arrangements due to

the insolvency of Macs Adventure Ltd. There is

no requirement for Financial Protection of day

trips, and none is provided. This insurance is

only valid for packages booked that DO NOT

include flights.

Consumer aware: Your booking is insured by

IPP Ltd and its panel of insurers. - This insurance

is only valid for passengers who book and pay

directly with/to Macs Adventure Ltd. For further

information please go to www.ipplondon.co.uk.

This Insurance has been arranged by

International Passenger Protection Limited and

underwritten by Insurers who are members of the

Association of British Insurers & Lloyds

Syndicates.

ABTA Member

Statement

Macs Adventure Holidays is a Member of ABTA.

ABTA and ABTA Members help holidaymakers

to get the most from their travel and assist when

things don’t go according to plan. We are obliged

to maintain a high standard of service to you by

ABTA’s Code of Conduct. For more information

on ABTA, the Code of Conduct and the

arbitration scheme available to you if you have a

complaint, contact ABTA, 30 Park Street, London

SE1 9EQ, tel 020 3117 0581 www.abta.com

WALKING & WILDLIFE

ON MULL AND IONA

EXPLORE THE WILD INNER HEBRIDES

HOW TO BOOK

BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE

M.A.C.S RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

PRICE & AVAILABILITY