Ferry to Mull in July

jellymid

I have just booked a fortnights holiday in Mull, and am now looking at the ferry trip. The straightforward Oban to Craignure would need booking now, I am advised, and costs £135. However, someone suggested the Lochaline to Fishnish ferry as an alternative - £52 + £6 for the small ferry, more of a drive, but no pressure to be at the port for the 'right time'.

It seems to make sense, but can anyone confirm this, please?

Is the extra drive a nightmare...at the end of a 6 hour journey from the Midlands? Are there usually big queues at Lochaline on a Saturday in early July?

I'd be very grateful for any advice.

espresso

Yes it makes sense when travelling so far and when I drove to Mull I used the two alternative ferry's. We reached the ferry to Corran at midday and had lunch at the Corran Inn just yards from the slipway - the cars, coaches queue for the ferry alongside the Corran Inn. Then drove the very pleasant 36 miles from Coran to Lochaline where we boarded the second ferry to Fishnish. Return tickets were purchased on the outward leg on each ferry. Do make the effort to take yet another ferry over to the magical island of Iona while you are there.

daveyjp

We have only taken the short ferry on a day trip from Fort William. It is a drive from Fort William on not the best roads, but the scenery makes up for it and there is very little traffic.

I would check your timings before making the decision, the drive is 90 minutes longer to go via Locahline instead of Oban. Also consider where you are staying on Mull as it is not a small island.

vikingaero

We stayed in Fort William two years ago and did the trip to Mull. We took the Corran Ferry and went to Mull via Lochaline/Fishnish. Once out of Ardgour the A861 becomes National Speed Limit and you can maintain 60mph for most of the way until you turn off onto the A884(?) to Lochaline. Once you turn onto the A884 it becomes much more mountainous and slower going although far more scenic.

One thing to consider is that the ferry on the Lochaline/Fishnish route is far smaller and I'm fairly sure it's a non-bookable ferry.

jellymid

Thank you all.

Yes, it is unbookable - but that is part of the attraction. It takes the pressure off having to be at Oban for a specific time, and I think the journey will be all the more relaxing for that. It does sound a very beautiful journey, but yes, an extra 90 minutes on an already long journey does need consideration - especially if it's pouring down!

We are staying on the coast South of Tobermory for the first week - so the journey from the Fishnish will be shorter than the one from Craignure.

So far, I'm still wavering!