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Mull
26 June – 3 July 2023
Scottish wildlife at its best
The Isle of Mull has a growing reputation is great place to see wildlife, with many good reasons. The second largest island – after Skye – in the Inner Hebrides, it’s a short ferry ride from the mainland at Oban. Mull’s reputation is often on account of white-tailed eagles and otters, though the reality is a lot broader than that, including a fine selection of flowers, butterflies and seabirds that lend themselves to Honeyguide’s interest in all kinds of natural history.
Tobermory, the main town on Mull.
Our choice of mid-summer is to enjoy that broad mix of wildlife when the days are long and, we hope, the weather is mild. A week on Mull gives a good chance to see much of the island, plus a visit to Iona, best known for its abbey and corncrakes, and to take a boat trip to the seabird-rich Treshnish Isles.
With 22 pairs of white-tailed eagles on Mull, you can understand why the island has quite a reputation linked to their presence. Golden eagle, hen harrier and countless buzzards are the other big birds of prey.
Mull is also known for its otters, and Ruth of Mull Magic runs regular events to see them. We'll take advantage of this experience, naturally, and the places where otters live also have lots of other good wildlife.
Iona
The island of Iona has hay meadows with corncrakes, and the distinctive Scottish coastal habitat of machair on its western side. Machair is low-lying grassy plains where thyme, birdsfoot trefoil and clovers grow on its lime-rich shell sand, here and there with heath spotted and northern marsh orchids and an attractive range of other flowers. Ringed plovers and oystercatchers are the commonest waders; passerines include twites, skylarks and meadow pipits. The abbey on Iona is a distinctive part of this landscape.
Iona, from the ferry.
Tobermory, and the Treshnish Isles
Mull’s main town of Tobermory is known for its colourful painted houses. From Tobermory there is a nice walk to Aros Park for a range of coastal wildlife.
It’s also the starting point for the boat to the Treshnish Isles*, including Staffa. Confiding nesting puffins are inevitably a big draw here, plus guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, shags and fulmars.
* This depends on the boats running during our visit: weather and bird flu might be issues. And we can suggest an unguided day, on foot from Tobermory, for anyone who doesn't wish to do this trip.
Lunga, in the Treshnish Isles
Other wildlife
Butterflies are quite a feature of various unimproved habitats. In high summer there are fast-flying dark green fritillaries, and we might see a late marsh fritillary. Wall brown, common blues and graylings on the machair and speckled woods in among open woodland are among other species.
Golden-ringed dragonfly; spot the graylings.
Boggy areas can be botanically rich, with bog asphodel, marsh lousewort, brookweed and sundews. Small areas of open water may have beautiful demoiselles and golden-ringed dragonflies. Yellow rattle is common.
Bog asphodel and heath spotted orchid
Itinerary
Four days in various parts of Mull. One day on Iona; one day a boat trip to Treshnish Islands. These are included in the guiding price.
Travelling to Mull
Our suggested arrangement to travel by train via Glasgow and Oban, then as a foot passenger on the ferry from Oban to Craignure. Then by bus or taxi to Tobermory. Travel by car is also possible (the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry will cost more, and needs booking well in advance). Flying: flights to Glasgow might may also be possible, though we are not offering a flight-inclusive package for this holiday.
Hotel
Our base is the Western Isles Hotel in beautiful Tobermory. We have rooms held here for Honeyguide/Mull Magic: please ask us for the rates. You then book your room, which is held against a credit/debit card, with the hotel's standard conditions.
Lunches: the itinerary includes places to buy lunches while out, or lunch may be provided by Ruth of Mull Magic on occasions.
Holiday details & how to book
Days/dates: the dates above are full week, Monday to Monday, with six days in the field.
Price: £150 per day fee for your guide. This includes guide's expenses, travel & ferries within Mull, the boat trip to the Treshnish Islands and conservation contribution.
Deposit: none to Honeyguide. You will be invoiced after the break.
Booking: no booking form is needed. Just keep us informed!
Local travel: by Mull Magic's minibus.
Maximum number (one guide): 6 plus one guide.
Conservation project
£40 per person will be donated to the RSPB's work to protect white-tailed eagles on Mull.
Guide
Ruth Fleming runs Mull Magic, offering wildlife walks on Mull, Iona and Ulva. She is an all-round naturalist and, living locally, knows Mull as well as anyone. This holiday is run a collaboration between Honeyguide and Mull Magic.
"Mull Magic is a small, family-owned business, and has a well-earned reputation built on the dedication and knowledge of its owner, who has 30 years' experience of walking and wildlife tours." Regarded as the friendly face of Mull’s wildlife, Mull Magic takes pride in the quality of the experience offered to guests. Cheerful, chatty and blessed with a sense of humour, Mull Magic aims to take guests on an unforgettable natural and social history journey."
Mull holiday reports
Holiday reports:
Photos
Photos 2022 by David Bennett here.
Mull, July 2021 on Facebook
Photos on this page by Chris Durdin unless otherwise noted.
Puffin on Lunga, July 2022 (David Bennett).
If you have time in Oban, look for the black guillemots that nest in Oban's harbour wall.
White-tailed eagle [Christoph Müller (www.christophmueller.org) via Wikipedia]
Staffa
Fingal's Cave, on Staffa.
Shag, on Lunga (Treshnish Isles).
Razorbill on Lunga (Treshnish Isles).
Puffins, on Lunga (Treshnish Isles).
Lake at Aros Park, near Tobermory.
Greater butterfly orchid, Tobermory.
Oblong-leaved sundew.
Create your own Mull break
Our guide, Ruth Fleming, runs Mull Magic, offering wildlife walks on Mull, Iona and Ulva.
Chris Durdin from Honeyguide says: "Ruth's tours are brilliant. She is an excellent all-round naturalist, knows Mull inside out and our family loved her trips."
Contact Ruth via her Mull Magic website.
Honeyguide always likes to offer local expertise. That's why the holiday on this page has been set up as joint project between Honeyguide and Mull Magic.
Customer protection
Honeyguide normally offers customer protection through our Air Travel Operator's Licence (see our ATOL page). There are no flights so that doesn't apply.
Your accommodation contract is with the hotel and with only guiding provided by Honeyguide/Mull Magic, there is no holiday 'package'.
If you are flying to Glasgow and finding buying flights is outside your experience, we may be able to help.
Shallon Gaultheria shallon an introduced member of the heather family, at Aros Park, Tobermory. It foxed me (Chris), so added here as useful reference!
Tree lungwort lichen Lobaria pulmonaria. This was on Ulva.
