Oban, Mull and Iona Small Group Tour
3 day / 2 night tour
The West Coast of Scotland contains some of the finest scenery in Europe. Your base in the picturesque port of Tobermory is ideal for touring the rugged scenery of the Isle of Mull and the tranquil island of Iona, ancient burial place of the Scottish Kings. It was here that St Columba founded his monastic settlement more than fourteen centuries ago. On this tour you’ll experience many aspects of Scotland’s rich heritage.
Price range: £275 - £410
Small Group Tour - travel in an intimate group of just 16 passengers
Oban - visit Oban Distillery to discover the traditional way of making Scotch whisky
Isle of Mull - explore the stunning scenery and rich wildlife of this beautiful island
Isle of Iona - escape to this tiny and tranquil island wilderness
Morvern Peninsula - take to the backroads and discover hidden Scotland
Movie locations - Balamory, Blooded and Ring of Bright Water
Guest house accommodation included - hotel upgrade option available
Full Tour Itinerary
Select Day:
Day 1 - Edinburgh/Glasgow - Oban - Tobermory (Isle of Mull)
From Edinburgh and Glasgow we enter the picturesque Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Very soon we will be leaving the Lowlands behind and entering the beautiful Scottish Highlands!
We’ll make a stop in the little village of Luss where you can enjoy the views over the "bonnie, bonnie banks” to towering Ben Lomond. At Arrochar we drive around the head of Loch Long then enter the Argyll Forest Park. The long climb over the Rest and be Thankful pass rewards us with panoramic views of Glen Croe and Ben Arthur.
Inveraray Castle has been the home of the Duke of Argyll for centuries. The castle you’ll see today was built by the Third Duke who also decided to move the village to make room for his new home. The result was a pretty town on the banks of Loch Fyne that exudes 18th Century charm, as we will discover.
Our journey continues along the banks of Loch Awe where we’ll see the ruins of Kilchurn Castle before making our way through the Pass of Brander and onwards to Oban. On arrival you’ll have the chance to visit popular Oban Malt Whisky Distillery to enjoy a tour and tasting. Alternatively you can just relax in the town or, if you are feeling energetic, you can climb up to McCaig’s Tower to enjoy the stunning views.
Later this afternoon we’ll board the ferry for the short sail to the Isle on Mull. On our arrival in Craignure we’ll make our way to Tobermory, our home for the next two nights.
Overnight: Tobermory, Isle of Mull (2 nights),
Day 2 - Mull and Iona Excursion
A very special day awaits as our tour of the Isle of Mull takes us to Glen More and then along the banks of Loch Scridain to the winding road across the Ross of Mull to reach Fionnphort. Here we join the ferry for Iona.
It was in 563 that St Columba arrived on Iona from Ireland to found a monastery and bring Christianity to Scotland. Many early Scottish Kings are buried here, including Macbeth. There’s plenty of time to explore Iona Abbey and soak up the sense of peace and history that pervades the island.
Later we’ll return by ferry to the Isle of Mull and rejoin our coach. Our journey back to Tobermory takes us on the less-travelled route which skirts the foothills of Ben More then follows the banks of Loch na Keal to reach Gruline, where Governor Lachlan Macquarie, "The father of Australia” is buried.
Day 3 - Tobermory (Isle of Mull) - Glen Coe - Edinburgh/Glasgow
Our last day starts with a short sail from Fishnish to Lochaline on the Morvern Peninsula. This area is regarded by those in the know as "Scotland’s best kept secret”. As we travel through this remote and wild landscape keep a careful watch and you might be rewarded with a unique wildlife encounter as this area is home to many West Highland species including otters, pine martens, red deer and golden eagles.
At Ardgour we’ll join our second short ferry of the day to cross the Corran narrows. This was an old drovers route that was used to take cattle raised in the Hebrides to the markets in Central Scotland. As we make the short crossing look out for Ben Nevis, Britain’s tallest mountain, which towers over the surrounding countryside.
We’ll make a stop in Glen Coe where in 1692 Campbell soldiers cold-bloodedly slaughtered more that forty members of the MacDonald Clan who had been their hosts. The sad story will be told as you discover the sombre beauty of the glen for yourself.
We continue through the wilds of Rannoch Moor before making our last stop of the day in the village of Tyndrum. We drive the entire length of Loch Lomond before arriving in Glasgow then making the short drive to Edinburgh.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect on this Small Group Tour?
With an average of just 16 passengers (and never more than 20) a Small Group Tour will provide a more intimate and flexible travelling experience. These tours are carefully planned to travel off the highways so you’ll discover quaint villages and picturesque vistas that other tours just can’t access. All the small group tours that we feature are operated by purpose built luxury minicoaches that feature air-conditioning, panoramic windows, wifi, usb charging points and comfortable seating. Each group is led by an experienced driver/guide who will entertain and inform you with stories of our history, nature and folklore. Comfortable guest house accommodation with en-suite bathrooms, tv and other amenities is included in the price of all tours. You can choose to upgrade to hotel accommodation, at extra cost, if you wish. A delicious Scottish breakfast is included each morning of your stay. If you’ve got more time to spare a series of extraordinary itineraries has been created by combining one or more shorter tours. Seamless in operation these unique holidays allow you to discover even more of Scotland’s Highlands and Islands. A feature of these tours is that you will travel with a different driver/guide and fellow travellers for each portion of the itinerary.
What are the optional extras on this tour and how much do they cost?
To give you complete choice admission fees are not included in the cost of this tour. The tour itinerary has been carefully designed to provide sufficient time for you to visit these attractions:
Oban Malt Whisky Distillery
Iona Abbey and Nunnery
If you click on the links above they will provide you with more information on each attraction including current admission prices. In some cases a special discount is offered to tour passengers, your driver/guide will provide details if this applies.
Please note that credit/debit cards are not always accepted so it is recommended that you carry sufficient cash with you should you want to make a visit.
Tell me what the visit to a whisky distillery will be like?
A visit to a traditional whisky distillery is a feast for all the senses. After a warm welcome you’ll normally have a short audio/visual presentation on the the history of the distillery and the traditional methods used in the distilling process. Next is a tour of the distillery where you you will experience all stages of the whisky making process from mashing and fermenting to distilling and maturation. Your tour will end with a tutored tasting of a malt whisky and the opportunity to buy a souvenir of your visit in the distillery shop.
Tell me about my accommodation and which type of room should I choose?
The cost of accommodation is included in the price of your tour. On this tour you can choose between Guesthouse/B&B or Hotel accommodation: Guesthouse and B&B. The guesthouses and B&Bs are family run and offer comfortable accommodation in bedrooms that have en-suite bathrooms, tv, tea/coffee making facilities and other facilities. Bedding, towels and basic toiletries are provided. Some guesthouses and B&B’s offer enhanced facilities such as a resident’s lounge where you can relax with other guests. Hotel. We select comfortable hotels that are a minimum of 3 stars with bedrooms featuring en-suite bathrooms, television, tea and coffee making facilities and other amenities. Most have restaurants offering a selection of Scottish and international dishes as well as comfortable bars where you can relax and un-wind. Accommodation is spread throughout the communities that we stay in and are seldom more than a 10/15 minute walk from the town or village centre.
How much luggage can I bring?
Luggage space on the tour is restricted so the amount of luggage that you can bring is limited to 1 bag per person that weights no more than 15kg and has maximum dimensions of 55 x 40 x 20cm. Luggage larger than this will only be carried if space is available.
Inclusions
Accommodation
- 2 nights guest house or hotel accommodation
- Location: Tobermory, Isle of Mull (2)
Meals
- Scottish/Continental breakfast (2)
Tour Essentials
- Transportation by luxury air-conditioned minicoach with wifi and usb charging points
- Live commentary in English
- Services of an experienced driver/guide
- Service charges and taxes
Exclusions
- Admission charges
- Meals, snacks or items of a personal nature
- Gratuity to your driver/guide
Departure information
From Glasgow
From Parish Hall Coach Tour Stop
266 George Street
Glasgow G1 1QX
Check-in: 09:30 hrs
Tour Departs: 09:45 hrs
Tour Returns: 17:45 hrs
From Edinburgh
From 1 Parliament Square
Royal Mile/High Street
Edinburgh EH1 1RE
Check-in: 08:15 hrs
Tour Departs: 08:30 hrs
Tour Returns: 19:00 hrs
Child details
Concession discount applies to adults aged 60 years and above; students and children aged 3 to 15 years inclusive.
We’re really sorry but children aged under 3 years cannot travel on this tour.
Photo-ID may be requested to confirm discount entitlement.
Price Notes
Accommodation
The price of this tour includes guest house accommodation with en-suite bathroom. You can up-grade to hotel accommodation at extra cost during the booking process.
Luggage Allowance
One medium sized suitcase/bag per person (maximum weight: 15 kilos)
Admission Prices
In order to give you maximum flexibility admission fees are not included in the cost of this tour.
Flexi-tour
This tour departs from Edinburgh and Glasgow. You can choose to return to either city at no extra charge! Please make your selection during the booking process.
FAQ's
Please see the FAQ section for more information on this tour.
Product code
HEX 02601
