Isle of Mull holiday

[DarrenSV650S]

Went to the Isle of Mull on Saturday for 3 nights.

Left at 5.20am Saturday morning in the pitch black, misty and absolutely freezing. The ferry at Oban was booked for 9.30am and they told you to arrive half an hour early to get tickets in plenty time. It was so cold on the way I took much longer than I should of to get there. Arrived at 9.25am with all the cars already on the ferry. Parked the bike as someone says to me to hurry up, everyone was waiting for me :shock: . I tried to run but my feet were completely numb with cold, so I sort of hobbled quickly. Got on the ferry and got a hot chocolate to warm me up :lol:
Arriving in Craignure the sun was shining and it was nice and warm. The place I was staying at was about 4 miles past Salen, so I had a nice blast along the coast there. Arrived at the lodge but the owners were out for a walk so I went for a wee run to explore the place.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/31-03-07%20-%20Isle%20Of%20Mull/S2010018.jpg
I was staying at a sort of hostel, just a bed and a sink in your room, and a shared living room and kitchen. There was just one family there though so plenty of room. :) Had a cracking view from the livingroom over the water to Morvern.
On the Sunday I took the coastal road right around the island. Took about 5 hours at a very leisurely pace at about 30mph. The views around the island were just stunning, every time I went around a corner I was amazed at the scenery. All single track roads and sometimes a bit dodgy but the sights more than made up for it.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/31-03-07%20-%20Isle%20Of%20Mull/S2010027.jpg

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http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/31-03-07%20-%20Isle%20Of%20Mull/S2010050.jpg
The oldest inn on Mull

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/31-03-07%20-%20Isle%20Of%20Mull/S2010059.jpg
Calgary Bay

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/31-03-07%20-%20Isle%20Of%20Mull/S2010062.jpg
Saw this unusual truck on the way round

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/31-03-07%20-%20Isle%20Of%20Mull/S2010064.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/31-03-07%20-%20Isle%20Of%20Mull/S2010065.jpg
Some of the tarmac was a bit dodgy in places :shock:

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/31-03-07%20-%20Isle%20Of%20Mull/S2010068.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/31-03-07%20-%20Isle%20Of%20Mull/S2010070.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/31-03-07%20-%20Isle%20Of%20Mull/S2010074.jpg
These guys started running along beside me as I road along beside their field, which was a little scary :lol: So I stopped and they posed for a photo

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/31-03-07%20-%20Isle%20Of%20Mull/S2010077.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/31-03-07%20-%20Isle%20Of%20Mull/S2010078.jpg
The people that get to live here are so lucky!

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/31-03-07%20-%20Isle%20Of%20Mull/S2010085.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/31-03-07%20-%20Isle%20Of%20Mull/S2010089.jpg
This has got to be my favourite view on the island: Looking across Loch Na Keal at Ben More

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/31-03-07%20-%20Isle%20Of%20Mull/S2010092.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/31-03-07%20-%20Isle%20Of%20Mull/S2010093.jpg
This photo cost me an indicator, as I walked away from the bike I heard a loud thud :cry: I think the stand must have sunk in to the grass then rolled off it. Fortunately the crash bung took most of the damage and left a big hole in the grass :lol: So the only damage was a slightly scuffed bung and a demolished indicator

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/31-03-07%20-%20Isle%20Of%20Mull/DSC00348.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/31-03-07%20-%20Isle%20Of%20Mull/DSC00349.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/31-03-07%20-%20Isle%20Of%20Mull/DSC00350.jpg
Managed to bodge it up with some tape though :lol:

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/31-03-07%20-%20Isle%20Of%20Mull/S2010095.jpg

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http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/31-03-07%20-%20Isle%20Of%20Mull/S2010106.jpg
Tobermory distillery. I bought the smallest bottle of Scotch whiskey in the world, as seen in the Guiness book of records.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/31-03-07%20-%20Isle%20Of%20Mull/S2010111.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/31-03-07%20-%20Isle%20Of%20Mull/S2010115.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/31-03-07%20-%20Isle%20Of%20Mull/S2010118.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/31-03-07%20-%20Isle%20Of%20Mull/S2010120.jpg
Tobermory Bay

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/31-03-07%20-%20Isle%20Of%20Mull/S2010122.jpg
Time to go home.

It really is a beautiful island, and couldn't have asked for better weather, sunny and calm all weekend. Got back today, oh and I stopped off in Oban for some tablet :D

[Filipe M.]

Superb pics... nah, not jealous at all! :D

[injury_ian]

:notworthy: Superb, I went to Mull as a young'un (10 yrs ago). I want to go back there now!

[cuffy]

Cracking photos :notworthy:

I liked the heath robison approach on the damaged indicator..:lol:
Keep a crushed coke can under ya seat for the times you think your gonna park on soft ground ;)
Another top tip from yours truly

[Ed]

Beautiful pics:D

[Stingo]

Yep - superb - long time since I was in that neck of the woods - and back then i was a young 'un and had to sit in the bar...:D:smt030 8-) . If I could do it all again.....:smt051 \\:D/


That picture of Tobermory Bay - I couldn't see Archies Pink Castle :confused: ?;)

[DarrenSV650S]

That picture of Tobermory Bay - I couldn't see Archies Pink Castle :confused: ?;)
Ahh well that castle isn't actually on the Isle of Mull;) Not sure where it is though

[gettin2dizzy]

gorgeous. Just added that to my list of places to go

[kwak zzr]

them pic's are great! well done! and well done with the indicator mod :)

[fizzwheel]

What a beautiful part of the world. Good pics and writeup.

:cool:

[keithd]

they have to be amongst the best pics i've seen on this site. a fair few contenders for main site pic there....

fab!

[Tim in Belgium]

Some nice pics, looked very Tranquil, how warm (or should I say cold) was it for most of your visit?

[Tiger 55]

Ooh, looks like you hit some nasty traffic there mate. Try to stay off the roads during rush hour...
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/tigerboz55/mulltraffic.jpg

[John 675]

I have to ask you, did you go on your own? i live in the middle of nottinghamshire and we do not get anything like that even in the nicest places, my Mrs isnt into going on holiday on the back of a bike, And it WONT Happen, I've wanted to just pack my bags and go on an adventure somewhere but it just seems out of the question, but it is so easy on a bike, i'd be more inclined to get a B+B though :D

[seedy100]

I want to go there!

Now!

Like lylej I will never get the Mrs on the bike so there is no chance, unless I go on m own.

I must admit to being scared to death of the HISSY FIT the would result if i was ever caught enjoying myself like that though.

Awsome Photos!

[falc]

Wicked pics mate, really good shots, shame about the indicator but it makes you appreciate good crash bungs :D

[Prawn]

Wow! Beautifuls pics! I go to Mull most years with a friend but this year is going to be our first year that we've both had the bikes to take! Can't wait to get across there after looking at your pics! :D Have you got any recommendations of where to stay? Think we plan on being there for 3 days and then maybe getting the Tobermory ferry back. We were thinking about giving the road south past Calgery a miss but sound like you managed OK!

Thanks for sharing! :thumbsup:

[DarrenSV650S]

Thanks for all the comment everyone:D The thing that amazed me was that in the four days I was there I didn't see one other biker!


Some nice pics, looked very Tranquil, how warm (or should I say cold) was it for most of your visit?
All three days were beautiful sunshine.8) When I was doing the road right around the island I stopped half way, sat on the grass and had my lunch. Felt brilliant just sitting there enjoying the views and the sun. Its maybe hard to understand but its just the freedom feeling for me.

I have to ask you, did you go on your own? i live in the middle of nottinghamshire and we do not get anything like that even in the nicest places, my Mrs isnt into going on holiday on the back of a bike, And it WONT Happen, I've wanted to just pack my bags and go on an adventure somewhere but it just seems out of the question, but it is so easy on a bike, i'd be more inclined to get a B+B though :D
Yeah I was on my own. To be honest I think its better on your own: you can go at your own comfortable pace, go where you want and stop when you want.

Wow! Beautifuls pics! I go to Mull most years with a friend but this year is going to be our first year that we've both had the bikes to take! Can't wait to get across there after looking at your pics! :D Have you got any recommendations of where to stay? Think we plan on being there for 3 days and then maybe getting the Tobermory ferry back. We were thinking about giving the road south past Calgery a miss but sound like you managed OK!

Thanks for sharing! :thumbsup:
Three days is enough really to explore the island. Unless you want to go to other tourist attractions. On my last day I was sort of stuck for things to do and ended up just revisiting the same roads and places. Why would you want to miss that road? Calgary Bay is beautiful. If your worried about the road conditions, there were worse places than Calgary. It wasn't a problem for me though, because I was taking it easy at about 30-40mph just enjoying the views. The road from Craignure to Tobermory is better maintained and where I could go faster after getting to know the roads. I didn't know you could get the ferry back via Tobermory. The place I stayed at was called Arle Lodge - http://www.arlelodge.co.uk/
Its really nice inside, with good views over the water. Right on the beach too (although not the best beach). But the best part was that it was just £30 a night. There are plenty places to stay but I would book ahead if your going at a popular time.

[northwind]

Good innit... Was that the MV Isle of Mull you were on? Watch out, that's been prophecised to sink :)