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Heading up to Scotland (from London) for about 6 days next month. Want to spend at least one day/night in Edinburgh, and then drive over to the west coast to check out the islands (or spend time in Ed at the end of the trip).
- I've been to Skye twice so would rather avoid, or at least not spend the whole time there
- Want to do some hiking, see a castle or two (some cultural stuff) , beaches/swimming, maybe some kayaking etc
- Likely stay in airbnbs or similar, otherwise camping is an option.
- Don't want be doing tons and tons of driving
Any suggestions on where to head, and for how long? Mull looks good, enough to do for a few days?
Thanks,
Duane.
Mull's nice and should be a bit quieter at that time. If you leave your car behind and take bikes then Coll and Tiree are worth a day or two - Coll is very small and you wouldn't want to spend too long there really check the ferry timetable though as it's a bit odd. The other pair of islands worth visiting would be Islay and Jura. Again leave the car on the mainland and explore by bike.
Worth getting Haswell-Smith's book on the Scottish Islands as well
Mull is a great base. Calgary bay and a trip to Iona and Staffa well worthwhile. For hiking you could try Ben More.
Islay seconded, also suggest Colonsay day trip as a MUST (from Islay, with bike, *check sailings - only a couple a week - lovely obvious road loop with a wee bit of gravel if you out and back, fab picnic spot) - Jura is nice BUT has a lot of midges *when we were there) and is LONG out and back to the end.
Other ideas -Â Arran (walking, biking, scenery, museum - a truly nice place, we love it and it has bad weather options), can then Lochranza over to Claonaig, imo W end of Crinan canal is well scenic, we went over to Gigha (lovely road out and back, *watersports hire at pier [*pls check], pub , shop and little else) then N to see Easdale (slate island - lots of big holes, a sometime open pub pub and a museum)
I'd check facilities on all islands and in general - esp at end of season as in bad weather your options might be somewhat limited (ie 4 days in driving rain with no tv, no internet and nothing useful nearby can get a bit tedious)
as a complete off piste - you could fly to Orkney (or Shetlands), Orkney certainly has lots of interesting archaeology and some good scenery and is big enough for a few options. (imho Shetland a bit less so) .
On your time scale and not wanting to drive for ever I'd fire over to Arran.
Thanks for the replies. I think it would be cool to do a circular route where we manage to spend a couple days each on two islands, ideally going by ferry between the islands so we aren't driving back on ourselves the whole time - but I can't really see which islands that might work on..
Went to the isle of Bute yesterday for the first time. Pleasently surprised, lovely beaches, nice and quaint if a little small.
Circular route you say? Ardrossan - FERRY -Â Arran - FERRY - Tarbert - Lochgilhead - Oban (my plan goes via Taynuilt) - FERRY - Islay - FERRY - Kennacraig - FERRY - Arran - FERRY - Ardrossan
Kicker is that the Oban to Islay Ferry only runs on a Wednesday
Or Oban - FERRY - Barra - up to Lochmaddy  - FERRY - Uig to Armadale on Skye  - FERRY - Down Ardnamurchan  - FERRY - over Mull  - FERRY - Oban
that's based on parking at Oban / Ardrossan and doing the route by bike, btw
I'd go for the Ardrossan-Brodick-Arran-Lochranza-Cloanaig-Mull of Kintyre-Oban-Craignure-Isle of Mull - Tobermory-Kilchoan - Ardnamurchan route. Â On the way to Oban, take you time to go to places like Tayvallich, Crinan and Seil Island. On Mull, drive up the west side and go to Ulva Ferry (lunch stop, explore the island), Calgary Bay. When you get off the ferry at Kilchoan, stop for 15-20 minutes and let all the traffic clear and take it easy as you drive through Glen Borrowdale - too nice to drive at speed. If you want to extend the route, head out the Arisaig and back via Glenfinnan.