Farm to fork eating has never been easier when you visit Mull, with honesty boxes and micro farm shops popping up all around the island to bring locally grown produce to your plates.

Read on for our tips on where to visit around the island, from fresh fruit and vegetables to hearty beef and freshly caught shellfish. A great way to add an island flavour to your holiday!

Isle of Mull Farm Shops in North Mull

Tobermory Stores

A buzzing wee shop on the corner of Tobermory’s harbourfront, you’ll find everything from local cheese to locally roasted coffee here! Plus plenty of meat from local farms in the fridges and freezers and an ever-changing range of seasonal vegetables freshly grown at Glengorm Gardens.

Sgriob-ruadh Farm Shop

At Isle of Mull Cheese and the Glass Barn, you’ll also find a great wee farm shop stocking local meat, cheese and the tempting range from their innovative distillery too.

Island Meats in Tobermory

Based just outside the town on the road to Glengorm, this butcher’s shop stock lots of local meat with a great range of cuts on offer – whether for a warming roast or summer barbecue. Opening times can vary, so best to check their Facebook page to plan your visit.

Tobermory Fish Company

If you’re keen on smoked fish, this is the place for you! A delicious array of salmon, trout and other seafood delights awaits at this charming shop on the edge of the town. Plus recipe books to help you make the most of the ingredients should you fancy a little inspiration.

Blue Veg Hut at Pennygown Farm

Bringing in regularly changing seasonal vegetables every week and offering a home delivery service too, you can take your pick of fresh produce here with plenty of fruit and vegetables on offer – whether planning a big meal, a tasty dessert or even a bit of jam making!

Isle of Mull Oysters in Croig

Available from April to September in an honesty box by the pier in Croig, oysters don’t come fresher or more local than this!

Isle of Mull Farm Shops in South Mull

Inverlussa Shellfish

Keep an eye out for the roadside sign indicating the mussel box is filled when you pass. On the shore of Loch Spelve, you can pick up quantities of locally harvested mussels for an excellent price at the Inverlussa honesty box. Just remember to bring ice!

Ardalanish Weavers

You’ll likely spot the Highland coos as you make your way down the lane to Ardalanish and at the weavers, you can find delicious local Highland beef and Hebridean hogget available to buy direct from the farm.

Greenleaves Croft in Ardtun

Seasonal vegetables, fresh hen eggs and Ardtun pork fill the shelves of the wee croft shop at Greenleaves on the Ross of Mull.

Bert’s Barrow & the Lochbuie Larder

Take your pick of seasonal flowers, plants and produce in an ever-changing ensemble in Bert’s Barrow wee honesty stall in Lochbuie. Perfect tied in with a trip to the Old Post Office, where you can add local estate venison, lamb and beef to the menu from the Lochbuie Larder.

Isle of Mull Guide Books for Wildlife Lovers

Birdwatching on Mull and Iona: A Pocket Guide

Written by David Sexton, this guide book combines practical advice, fieldcraft tips and maps to open up the wilds of Mull and give you plenty of tips for what you can see and where to go. At 40 pages long, it’s a great guide to tuck into your rucksack and take into the field with you, tapping into David Sexton’s extensive knowledge of the island and its wild creatures, having been Mull’s RSPB officer for many years.

Mull in the Making

For a different take on Mull’s wild landscapes, perusing a copy of Rosalind Jones’s Mull in the Making will turn up plenty of interest. An exploration of Mull’s dramatic and distinctive geological past that formed the island you see today, with its volcanic roots thoroughly examined.

Isle of Mull Guide Books for Walkers

Mull and Iona: 40 Favourite Walks

A great wee starter guide to different walks on Mull and on Iona too, a short CalMac passenger ferry from the south-western corner of Mull. A good range of routes and abilities required, whether you fancy a coastal adventure or want to get high into the hills.

Brown & Whittaker Walking Guides

Check out the series of walking guides produced by Brown and Whittaker too, with editions to cover North Mull as well as South Mull and Iona. Pocket-sized again, they’re great to take out and about with you, offering plenty of choice of inspiring routes to add to your itinerary, along with maps and illustrations to help you choose.

Harveys Map of Mull

Admittedly not a book, but too good not to mention! The Harveys Superwalker map of Mull has to get our vote. It combines the entire island onto one map (whereas you’ll need three OS maps to cover the same area), is waterproof and very convenient to take with you, whether spotting quiet coves to visit, or picking a hiking trail.

Isle of Mull Guide Books for the Foodies

The Ninth Wave

Sharing the same name as the esteemed Ross of Mull restaurant, headed up by Masterchef: The Professionals contestant Carla Lamont and her fisherman husband, you’ll find this recipe book bursting with seasonal flavours, drawing ingredients from the croft through the seasons, as well as the finest catches.

Isle of Mull Seafood Bible

One scroll through the Tobermory Fish Co’s social media channels will have your mouth-watering, awash with inspiration for everything from small plates to seafood suppers and seasonal recipes. Enjoy a taste of it at home with their very own Isle of Mull Seafood Bible and cook up a storm during your cottage stay.

Dervaig is north Mull’s second largest village and hugs the shores of Loch Cuin, a sea loch in the north west of the island. Around 10 minutes from Calgary beach and about 20 to Tobermory, it makes a great base to immerse yourself in wildlife and beautiful views, yet be within easy reach of many great things to do and places to eat too.

In today’s blog, we bring you some of the best walks around Dervaig to enjoy during your stay, whether an easy-going amble, a stunning viewpoint, or an epic all-day adventure. Off we go!

1 Kilmore Standing Stones

For those happy to take on the uphill section along the single-track road (no pavement here, so take care), this walk can begin straight from the village. Otherwise, a quick drive up the tightly winding Tobermory road brings you to a carpark just above the village at the top of the hill.

Park here and you’ll immediately be taken by the views, with panoramas across the hills above Glen Bellart, the glittering water of Loch Cuin and out to sea. There’s a bit of everything in this westerly aspect, which is especially stunning come sunset. In clear conditions, you’ll see the outlying island of Coll and the Cairns of Coll in the distance too.

From this parking area, a short walk brings you to Kilmore, where the commercial spruce forest has long been felled. In what was once a clearing in the woods, the Kilmore standing stones remain – two upright and three now lying. Their towering size is impressive nonetheless.

2 Quinish Point

This one’s at the other end of the extreme for beautiful walks in Dervaig – an all-day hike with epic views to keep you going. Start by taking the Quinish road out of the village above the north shore of Loch Cuin and pass through the estate gates.

Initially, your route takes you through beautiful woodland, before passing the farm steading buildings, after which the views begin to widen as you enter more open, grassy landscapes, with open sea ahead.

The next point of interest are the Quinish standing stones, only one of which remains upright, which you’ll pass before bearing east for a climb towards Mingary. Continue following signs for Quinish Point as you enjoy the dramatic rocky headland views until you reach the point.

The perfect time for a well-earned picnic as you scan the seas before you, with views to Coll, Tiree and Ardnamurchan to inspire you, before making the return journey back to Dervaig.

3 Glen Bellart

One of the most straight-forward walks in Dervaig, this route follows gravel forestry tracks that head out of the village and through Glen Bellart, with many areas of forest now felled. Beginning from the old quarry, there’s plenty of interest from cascading burns to distinctive rocky outcrops and pleasing views to Speinne Mor, North Mull’s highest point.

Easily completed as a there-and-back walk, turning where the track meets the road and a great choice for drier conditions under foot!

4 Loch Torr

Starting from the community tree nursery in the village, this walk follows a forestry track that gently rises through the plantations. You can follow the network of forestry tracks here towards Mingary Burn.

Cross the bridge, follow the narrower gravel path uphill and then turn right at the junction with the wider forestry track. Follow this along, initially rising for a time, then as you descend, you’ll cross another bridge before nearing the dam and the waters of Loch Torr.

You can return the same way, but it would make for a very long walk, so you might prefer to leave a car ready at the Loch Torr wildlife hide carpark to make an easy drive back to the village in after reaching the loch. Alternatively, there are good loops on forestry tracks that you can walk from this carpark too.

Find more walks in Dervaig and beyond on Mull

We hope these walks in Dervaig have offered plenty of inspiration for your next holiday. If you’re keen to get out and explore, OS Explorer Maps 373, 374 and 375 cover Mull to help with your route-finding. You can also check out our guide to walks on the island, with routes marked on map excerpts as a handy guide for you too.

The island of Ulva, community-owned since 2018, lies just off Mull’s west coast. It looks so close you might fancy swimming it on a summer’s day, but there’s an easier way to get across than that!

Isle of Ulva ferry crossing

You can get there via the quick passenger ferry service from aptly named Ulva Ferry on Mull, which carries you across to the slipway on Ulva. Simply slide the signal board across to summon the ferryman and he’ll be along to pick you up!

Ulva Ferry has a brilliant shore building now so you can await the boat in comfort, with WCs, a drying room and comfortable waiting area among other facilities on offer. There’s also a carpark – it does get busy, so make sure you arrive in good time to find a space and take care not to park on verges or block access roads.

For 2026, the ferryman is running a service across to Ulva on weekdays only, to give the wee island and resident Ulva population a bit of much-needed R&R come the weekend! The crossing takes about five minutes.

So, if you’d like to hop across to enjoy a superb seafood lunch at the Boathouse, step back in time at Sheila’s Cottage, a reconstructed historic black house, or wander the many waymarked trails across the island, make sure to plan your visit this year on a weekday. Livingstone’s Cave and the Thomas Telford-designed church are also landmarks to look out for as you explore the walking trails.

Ulva House: Now Ulva’s Grand Island Hotel

Of course, Banjo and Ro’s renovation of Ulva House – brought to fame by the Grand Island Hotel TV series – is a highlight for many visitors as the mansion is restored to its former glory. Only a short walk from the pier, the house also once had beautiful walled gardens with it, which a community group still tend to to this day. Particularly lovely in the spring, when the collection of rhododendrons and azaleas are in full, fragrant bloom.

Out in the wilder landscapes, you’ll still be in for a floriferous reward, with wildflowers growing in abundance here, from rare orchids to interesting native lichens and many species in between.

Visting the island of Ulva from Mull

A visit to the island of Ulva makes for a wonderful day spent in the wild west coast scenery, fresh air thanks to the lack of cars on the island and wildlife at every turn. But if you’re not quite ready to finish your adventure yet, back on Mull, there’s more to delight in the area at Ulva Ferry, whether you return to sea once again for a trip aboard the Lady Jayne with Mull Charters, or with Turus Mara to see Staffa and the Treshnish Isles, which also sail from the Ulva Ferry pontoons.

On dry land, Lucy’s stunning and surprising gardens on the steep hillside at Lip na Cloiche promise an enchanting way to while away a few hours in plant-lovers’ paradise, before a locally sourced supper at the excellent Croft 3 restaurant just down the road.

How would you spend a perfect day in the island’s west?

Two of the most sought-after options when guests book their Isle of Mull cottage with us are cottages by the beach and dog friendly cottages. So we thought we’d bring the best of both together in this blog post for you, to share our pick of dog friendly beach cottages on the Isle of Mull. Sandy paws, sea views and magical memories incoming…

An Taigh Cuil in Fionnphort (sleeps 4, dog friendly)

You can follow a grassy path straight from the cottage garden down to the beach here! But that’s not all that’s in store, because from Fionnphort beach, you can also pick up a track around the coastline to reach idyllic hidden coves at Tormore overlooking the Bull Hole, where the Iona ferry anchors overnight.

The Bothy in Lochbuie (sleeps 2, dog friendly)

Just a short walk from the front door down a peaceful farm track delivers you to the sweeping beach at Laggan Sands, one of Mull’s larger beaches. This stunning beach has a mausoleum at one end that’s well worth exploring, or if you follow the coast in the other direction, you reach the ruins of Moy Castle too.

Carsaig House in Carsaig (sleeps 15, dog friendly)

This spectacular house is perfect for family groups or friends gathering together. Stunning sea views welcome you at every turn, with a purpose-built firepit overlooking the beach for cosy summer evenings and the striking black sand beach only a short walk down from the garden across the field. Remote, spectacular and luxurious, all rolled into one.

Tigh na Failte in Fionnphort (sleeps 6, dog friendly)

Open the garden gate and step straight onto the beach from this charming cottage. Located in the island’s south west, you don’t only have this beach on the doorstep, but more stunning coves to discover just a few miles along the road at Fidden and Knockvologan too, including the tidal sandbar to Erraid.

Aird Ghlas in Carsaig (sleeps 2, dog friendly)

Another chance to stay above the stunning black sand beach at Carsaig, in a remote-feeling setting where woodland, waterfalls and dramatic headlands frame your coastal views.

Which of these stunning dog friendly beach cottages on the Isle of Mull gets your pick?

Not so long ago, we took a whistle-stop tour around 5 Outdoor Wellness Experiences to Try When You Visit Mull and today, we’re diving deeper into two of them: cold water therapy and heat therapy. Yes, we’re talking all-things cold water swimming with expert guide Emma at Wild Hebridean Swimming and getting fired up with wood-fired hot tubs, saunas and more. So, let’s dive in!

Cold Water: Wild Swimming on Mull

What makes cold water swimming unique on Mull

“There’s something about stepping into the sea that feels like crossing a threshold. The water is clear and the landscape can feel both vast and intimate. Experiencing a place from the water is totally different to doing it on land,” explains wild swimming guide Emma.

“Thanks to the Gulf Stream, the waters are milder than you might expect and the beaches can rival anywhere in Europe – except you might be the only one there!”

“There’s a simplicity to wild swimming but the impact can be profound. There are myriad benefits to cold water exposure that help us better able to deal with stress and blue therapy has been shown to have a significant positive effect on our nervous systems. But it’s important to do it safely – revving up our rest and digest at the same time as our fight or flight causes confusion in the body.”

“Allowing the body to adapt first is key before putting the face in. Cold water swimmers describe feelings of euphoria, a reset and clarity – and sometimes all three! Sharing an experience like this with other people only heightens that enjoyment – there’s a collective feeling of accomplishment and a sense of belonging to a community.”

A landscape made for exploring

“Due to its volcanic origins Mull has lots of rocky outcrops and rugged coastlines that provide sheltered coves and majestic caves to explore,” Emma continues. “On guided swims, it’s not unusual to encounter seals, seabirds and dolphins, and the ever-changing light and unpredictable Hebridean weather mean no two swims are ever the same. High tide can open up swims that completely disappear at low tide.”

Guided swims and retreats on Mull

“Wild Hebridean Swimming offers small-group swims and wellbeing retreats designed to help people build confidence in the water and explore the coastline of Mull and Iona with guides who are local and therefore know the waters intimately. Options range from relaxed “Dip & Chill” sessions close to shore to guided coastal swims and multi-day adventures that include walking tours, sauna and stroke technique coaching.

Whether you’re dipping your toes for the first time or heading out for a longer swim, Mull offers space and a chance to reconnect with nature, with others and with yourself. And sometimes, all it takes is that first step into the water.” To find out more, check out Wild Hebridean Swimming here.

Heating Up: Sauna Experiences on the Isle of Mull

Recharge your mind, body and soul with a deep heat experience island-style. A new addition to Mull in recent years, guests can now enjoy a travelling wood-fired sauna courtesy of Island Sauna Shack. They bring the heat so you just need to bring yourselves and enjoy this immersive experience.

You’ll find them at locations including Aros Park in Tobermory, Salen Bay on the east coast, Fidden in the south west and Calgary beach in the north west. All with easy access to the sea (or buckets of sea water, should you prefer) to make the most of the hot and cold experience – sauna, dip, repeat!

For a more traditional take, you could also check into the Isle of Mull Hotel Spa for the day to take advantage of their sauna, hot tub and treatments.

However you choose to explore heat as part of your wellness experience on Mull, we hope these ideas give you plenty of inspiration.

And relax…

Of course, after a bracing cold water swim or a muscle relaxing deep heat experience, you might want to indulge in some well-earned relaxation. That’s where our hot tub holiday cottages come in.

Available at a size to suit you, from Cherry Tree Lodge and The Sea Shanty offering cosy accommodation and hot tubs for two, to Gorsten House’s huge farmhouse, sweeping grounds, in-house sauna and wood-fired hot tub to boot. If you’re visiting Mull and chasing an island wellness experience, we’ve got the cottage for you.

Planning a big family gathering or get-together with friends this year? Then look no further than our hand-picked and exclusive selection of large holiday houses in Scotland, right here on the enchanting Isle of Mull.

This idyllic island in the Inner Hebrides is accessible in under an hour’s ferry ride from Oban on the west coast, making it the perfect setting to invite your nearest and dearest for a holiday to remember. Here’s our pick of large holiday houses in Scotland to inspire you!

1 Carsaig House | Carsaig

Magnificent in size and style, Carsaig House sleeps up to 15 guests throughout its impressive rooms, with regal elegance and period luxury aplenty. Picture roaring open fires, dramatic sea views and the beach just below the stunning walled garden. All in one of Mull’s most secluded and wild settings at Carsaig, with the dramatic Carsaig Arches all in a day’s hiking from here.

2 Oakfield House and Cottage | Tobermory

One of the most impressive homes in all of Tobermory, the island capital, Oakfield House offers one of the finest large holiday houses in Scotland from which to choose. The main house sleeps 10 with five bedrooms and five bathrooms, plus the adjoining Oakfield Cottage offers accommodation for 4-5 more. Antique furnishings, unrivalled views over the bay and a glorious kitchen make this one hard to miss.

3 Craig Ben Lodge | Loch Uisg

Picture large holiday houses in Scotland and you might even imagine a property with a turret! Embrace the fairy-tale architecture of Craig Ben Lodge from its idyllic position beside freshwater Loch Uisg, complete with crenellations and a turret too. Open fires, dramatic ceilings and spellbinding views make this a property to write home about, in a superb area for access to the coast and wildlife.

4 Kilfinichen House | Kilfinichen

If your hunt for large holiday houses in Scotland takes you to grand Highland estates, then look no further than Kilfinichen House. This stunning mansion sits within manicured lawns close to Kilfinichen Bay on Loch Scridain, in a wonderfully wild setting to the south side of the island’s only munro, Ben More. Opulent interiors make this homestay feel just as special as your surroundings.

5 Gorsten House | Loch Don

Not many large holiday houses in Scotland will also be the home of an artist, but Gorsten House is one of them. This stone-built property blends creative design features with modern luxuries like a sauna and wood-fired hot tub to offer one-of-a-kind multi-generational living immersed in 450 acres of coastal landscapes, with panoramic sea views.

Browse our range of large holiday cottages on the Isle of Mull and plan your perfect stay today.

Many guests ask us what they can expect from Isle of Mull winter weather. Choosing to visit the island out of season, when the roads rapidly empty and you’ll often find you have footpaths and beaches to yourself, has many appeals – with great value rates, short breaks and landscapes and wildlife that are breath-taking year-round.

But what could the Isle of Mull winter weather have in store for you? Moderated by the Gulf stream, our climate here in the Hebrides tends to be milder than that of the mainland, so you’re unlikely to be met with feet deep of snow very often!

The weather in the winter is often a mixed bag that changes by the hour, not the day. So you can expect awe-inspiring downpours, winds that certainly blow the cobwebs away and, with a bit of luck, some dramatic bright light in between too.

Arguably the most magical winter weather to arrive on Mull is snow. Cold, crisp spells with thick hoar frosts and snowfall transform the island anew, with a pristine white cloak, clear blue skies and stunning icicle formations to look out for too.

We were treated to just such a spell as January arrived on Mull this year, with several cold weeks of frozen sunshine, followed by a week of wonderful white snow. So let us take you on a whistle-stop tour around the north west of the island to show you the more beautiful side of Isle of Mull winter weather first-hand.

Discover the best Christmas events on Mull, from the big Tobermory lights switch on to the Ross of Mull tractor run. Whatever corner of the island you’re staying in, find festive markets and feel-good events to get you in the spirit this season.

Christmas Lights Switch-On

The lights switch on in Tobermory is an annual event and wonderful evening out – usually held on the last Saturday in November. Gather on the harbourfront for Christmas shopping aplenty as the Main Street stays open late. 

Visit the stallholders in the Distillery courtyard and find yet more in the Aros Hall. Enjoy mulled wine and mince pies aplenty with a warm welcome as you go. 

The lights are traditionally turned on at 7pm, lighting up the town in a beautiful display, with a speech and festivities around the clock tower by the fisherman’s pier.

If you’re staying down on the Ross of Mull, keep your eyes peeled for the Bunessan big switch on too, usually taking place in early December. Once again, you’ll be in for a night of festive fun with food, drink and local wares often on sale and adding to the atmosphere before the lights are turned on.

Christmas Tractor Runs

This is another event that happens in both the north and south ends of the island. In Tobermory, the Christmas tractor parade sees vintage and new tractors all decked out with lights, snowmen and even Santa riding in a trailer on occasion, and takes place on the evening of the Christmas lights switch on.

In the south west of the island, there’s traditionally a festive tractor parade too running right along the Ross of Mull villages. Keep an eye on Facebook to find the latest details on when and where the event will take place this year.

You can also check our events round-up where we try to include as many events as possible through the year around the island.

The Tobermory Santa Dash

Sporty guests will relish the chance to don a Santa suit and make a run for it around Tobermory, with the festive Santa dash offering races for both children and adults in the island’s harbour capital, all in aid of charity. Usually held on the last Sunday before Christmas each year.

Christmas Markets on Mull

You’ll find festive cheer aplenty at Mull’s many Christmas market events. In addition to the festive markets held at the lights switch-on events, Craignure, Salen and Dervaig usually host Christmas markets each year too. 

Then there are the super businesses that open their doors for Christmas fairs, with artisanal wares available for the occasion at Am Birlinn at Croig. The Coffee Pot in Salen also opens its doors to offer festive gifts and sweet treats galore.

So if you visit the island in the run-up to Christmas, you’ll be sure to find a festive event to get you in the spirit and plenty of opportunities to eat, drink and be merry on Mull this winter. Can we tempt you with a winter break?

When you think of a Scottish Highland bothy, chances are a stone-built, single-storey cottage springs to mind. You’ll picture thick stone walls, slates adorning the roof and a simple layout inside, perhaps just a room or two, with the essential fireplace at the end.

Taking inspiration from bothies on Mull and further afield, we bring you our pick of bothy-style cottages on Mull, with a twist. Because while these cottages have humble beginnings, they’ve been lovingly renovated to offer all the creature comforts you’d expect of an Isle of Mull Cottages homestay.

Which would get your pick?

1 Fisherman’s Bothy

The clue is in the name with this one, packing in the charm with its rock-weighted, thatched roof and pink painted stonework, perched on the edge of Kilfinichen Bay.

2 Tigh na Mara

Translating to house of the sea, it’s easy to guess why, as this red tin-roofed cottage sits a stone’s throw from the shore of Loch Spelve, a view perfectly framed through the wee cottage windows.

3 Aird Ghlas

This one’s a modern take on bothy cottages. This cosy hideaway was once actually a garage! Hard to believe now with its panoramic views and pretty brickwork, but the simple layout inside still pays homage to the Highland tradition.

4 Derryguaig Smiddy

Beautiful dark stonework, a wood burning stove and a stunning setting in the foothills of Ben More above Loch na Keal – this cottage ticks all the boxes when it comes to bothy cottages and more!

5 Dobhran Croft

A bothy with a modern makeover, this wee white cottage in Lochbuie has been transformed to offer contemporary luxury and even a wee bedroom upstairs!

6 Shore Croft

Visitors to this beachfront bothy cottage will be delighted to find mid-century furniture and a beautifully appointed kitchen offering a unique contrast to the cottage’s traditional roots.

7 The Bothy

A classic choice, this cosy stone cottage adjoins a traditional farmhouse in a remote setting at Laggan, within walking distance of the beach, a beautiful walk or adventurous drive around the coast from Lochbuie centre.

Discover more cottages perfectly made for two in our our hand-picked range of holiday cottages for two.