Has anyone visited Balamory in Tobermory? Also cheap campsites around Oban?

appleblossom

Going to Scotland next month and want to take the kids over the see Balamory on the Isle of Mull. Just wondered if anyone had been there and what they thought of it, also the cheapest way of getting across.
Also, we need a camp site around Oban but preferably not just a field lol, would like one with some entertainment - clubhouse etc - any recomendations to a cheap place?
Thanks.

ramk_

Hi appleblossom.
If you are staying in Oban and going across for the day you will get the ferry from Oban to Craignure in Mull. It's about a 40 minute journey and if you look up www.calmac.co.uk you'll get the timetable and fares. Craignure is about 20miles from Tobermory so you'll need to get a bus up there, and you will find the timetable here http://www.bowmanstours.co.uk/495Summer2008.pdf Hope this of use to you. I'm originally from Mull so if you have any questions just ask and I'll do my best to help!!

Oh the other thing to note is that the houses in Tobermory featured on the show aren't all in one nice wee row, they involve a trek up the hill to see Miss Hoolie, PC Plum and Josie Jump's house! Most people don't realise that.

appleblossom

Thanks Ramk, we were hoping to take the car over with us so we could see a bit of Mull (scenery looks fantastic) as I don't think it's going to be a whole days visit to Tobermory - but it seems really expensive to get the car and family across for the day (just out of interest when you lived on Mull, did you have to pay full price to pay to get to the mainland?), I've seen on the balamory site about the houses being pretty spread out and I don't think we will be able to see Archies castle - just hope the kids don't get disappointed as they will be expecting it to be like on the tv show - is the harbour shown on balamory 'real' though?

vikingaero

We've been to ToberBalamory with our kids when they were about 1 and 3 years old. Now when we ask them they remember going there but don't remember a thing about it! :rolleyes:

We took the ferry from Oban to Craignure and it was a one day return trip from where we were staying near Loch Lomond. The main road from Craignure towards Tobermory starts off wide and open but halfway it becomes like a curled ribbon and progress is more leisurely.

There isn't a million and one things to do on Mull or even at Tobermory. We parked up went for a coffee in the chocolate shop, walked around for a bit, had lunch and drove towards Iona. In hindsight we would have maybe visited a couple of castles or returned on a different ferry. We had a great time though and the scenery is outstanding. On the way over we saw a lot of Scottish tourists visiting Mull and recognised their cars parked up having lunch at viewpoints and beauty spots.

IM

Was absolutely lashing it down when we went.

But they called off the Dad of the Year competition early, as the contest was over!

daveyjp

I was there a week ago. It rained for us too!! We were staying near Fort William so took the Lochaline-Fishnish ferry £19.30 day return for car and £4.45 per adult, plus the Corran Ferry of £12.40 return and an hours drive from Corran Ferry to Lochaline (same as driving from Fort William to Oban for the alternative ferry).

Cal-mac do an Island Hopscotch ticket which allows you to do Oban-Craignure then Fishnish-Lochaline, or reverse. If you are camping why not go to Mull for a couple of days and get the most of the ferry cost? It's a big place - in one day we only did the north of the Island - Tobermory, Calgary Bay for a picnic lunch and Craignure for a wander round and look at the railway - had it been sunny we would have stayed at Calgary longer as the beach was excellent so would have seen less - free rough camping available on Calgary Bay - toilet facilities available.

We have camped at Oban Divers (assume it's still there), but it didn't have entertainment.

BTW Archies "Balamory Castle" is near Edinburgh, so don't go looking for it!

You can't spend more than an hour or so in Tobermory, unless you go to the distillery (no good for youngsters) or the Mull museum which may stretch your visit out to two hours!

ramk_

Hi appleblossom. I just lost the reply I typed out there, so I hope I can remember everything I said!!!

Yes it is expensive to take the car from Oban. I get a 6 journey ticket when I go home which does me three trips and works out slightly cheaper. As Daveyjp says you can also go from Lochaline for slightly cheaper, but you can also go from Kilchoan in Ardnamurchan to Tobermory. It is a very long (but scenic) drive though and may not be best if you have wee ones.

I would recommend that you stay at least one night though if you are taking the car over. It's a fairly big place and the single track roads make it hard to see it all in one day!! As daveyjp said there's camping to be had at Calgary beach, but there's also a wee campsite just outside Tobermory and two outside Salen if you are looking to stay in the North of the island.

Again, you can probably see from IM's really cute picture the harbour is just the same as in the program and so is easily recognisable......but that Archie's castle isn't there. There is a playpark just round the corner from Josie Jump's house which may provide some entertainment if the weather is good.

If you do end up staying the night I'd recommend the MacDonald Arms hotel for food. Although it's a pub (so perhaps not ideal?) the food is simple pub food, really tasty and reasonably priced. We go there a lot.

Well, I hope you have a great time on your holidays whether or not you choose to visit Mull. Again, if you have any other questions I'll do my best to help!

Tigsteroonie

Wish I could recommend campsites but, as I live near & work in Oban rather than visit it, I have no idea how good any of them are!

If you're staying in Oban, you definitely need the Oban-Craignure ferry to get to Mull as it'll be a long drive round the other way. The kids will love watching the island of Kerrera go by, and then Duart Castle (used in Entrapment) as you pull into Craignure.

If you're stuck for other things to do on Mull, if it's nice weather then you can take a wander along some of the forest walks or go to Aros Park near Tobermory - new play equipment was installed a year or two back.

If you've got any specific questions, feel free to send me a PM.

Tigs.

mymatebob

There is a rare breeds farm in Oban that the kids will enjoy.

Never used the campsites so not sure what this one is like
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=4833

(and Miss Hoolie lives round the corner from me here in sunny Glasgow)

Tigsteroonie

mymatebob wrote: »

There is a rare breeds farm in Oban that the kids will enjoy.

'fraid not. It closed at the end of last summer, and is now being converted into two houses. Sorry!

Becles

We were staying at Fort William and got the ferry from Kilchoan. It's a beautiful drive along the side of lochs and the scenery is fabulous. However it is a long drive and some of the roads are single track. Make sure you have plenty petrol in too as you really are in the middle of nowhere!

You can leave your car at Kilchoan and go across as a foot passenger. I think it took about 30 minutes. It's a small basic ferry and from memory I think it sold hot drinks, soft drinks and snacks like crisps and biscuits.

The Kilchoan ferry is the only one that sails right into Tobermory (or Balamory!) The long drive was worth it when I saw the look of surprise on my sons face. He was 6 then and Balamory crackers, and he had no idea where were were going for the day.

Here he is: