Navigating the Best Ferries to Mull for Your Island Escape

Jordan Campbell

5 hours ago

A Caledonian MacBrayne ferry named "Loch Striven" crosses calm water with "Caledonian MacBrayne" displayed along its side. Green hills and a marina filled with sailboats stretch across the background beneath an overcast sky.

Where To Stay on the Isle of Mull

The Isle of Mull doesn’t have a lot of hotels, and of those, I definitely wouldn’t recommend the rusty, crusty hotel and “spa” I stayed at.

Instead, try the Park Lodge Hotel. It’s got decent reviews, and while it’s not the spiffiest or the fanciest, it’s clean and comfy. Also, a lot of people mentioned that the breakfast is REALLY good. So, it has that going for it, too.

Cozy wooden pub bar beside large windows overlooking lush green trees. Drinks sit on the window counter while beer taps bottles and black stools line the warmly lit bar.

Compact bathroom with a glass enclosed corner shower white sink and toilet. Dark shower panels contrast with white tiled walls and wood look flooring.

Cream colored hotel building with a rounded corner tower balconies and manicured hedges under a bright blue sky. A small wall sign displays the word BEST beside the entrance.

Casual dining room with wooden floors and several tables surrounded by mismatched chairs and upholstered seating. Warm pendant lights and wall decor give the space a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

Bright guest bedroom with a neatly made double bed framed by a tall patterned headboard and bedside lamps. A window with gray curtains overlooks neighboring rooftops while a small fridge and wooden desk sit along the opposite wall.

PHOTO CREDITS: PARK LODGE HOTEL VIA HOTELS.COM

PLANNING A TRIP TO THE ISLE OF MULL SOON?

Below are some of the best tours, hotels, and more to kickstart your plans!

Popular Tours & Activities on the Isle of Mull:

Top Places to Stay on the Isle of Mull:

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Everything to Know About Ferries to the Isle of Mull

Before anything else, heed my advice: double-check your stuff before boarding any ferry! So, apparently I have a curse where something goes wrong whenever I try to board a ferry. For the ferry to Islay, I just flat-out forgot to book the return trip. And for Mull, I accidentally tossed my phone in a trash can at the ferry’s car park.

So, uh, yeah. Don’t do that.

Or, if you’re like me, be sure to double-check everything at least thirty minutes before boarding time. That way, you’ll have a little bit of time left to run and grab it (or buy a replacement/substitute) before you’re away at sea.

Now that that’s out of the way, onto the meat and potatoes of actually getting to the Isle of Mull.

Which Cities Have Ferries to Mull?

Unlike Islay, where it’s Kennacraig or bust, there are three different cities that can take you to the Isle of Mull: Oban, Lochaline, and Kilchoan. The best of these ferry routes depends on where you’re coming from and where you want to arrive on the island. For most people looking to grab ferries to Mull, the Oban to Craignure route will probably be the most convenient, but it depends on the rest of your travel plans.

Oban goes to Craignure, and the ferry ride takes 46 minutes. Oban is probably the easiest city to get to thanks to a 3-hour train direct from Glasgow. There’s also a bus from Inverness (with a transfer at Fort Williams) that takes 3-and-a-half hours.

Lochaline goes to Fishnish, and has the quickest route to Mull at only 18 minutes. The main problem is that it only makes sense to go to Lochaline if you’re leaving from northern Scotland – a car ride from Inverness takes just under 3 hours. But if you’re leaving from Glasgow or Edinburgh, it’ll take 5-7 hours.

Kilchoan goes to Tobermory, with a 35-minute ferry ride. However, it only has three to four ferries per day, doesn’t operate on Sunday, and can be pretty inconvenient to get to if you don’t have a rental car. Also: be careful when reading the timetable!! Unlike the other two, the starting point for this timetable is from the Isle of Mull, not the mainland.

I went with Oban since it made the most sense for my road-tripping journey. It also advertises itself as the seafood capital of Scotland, and I can confirm that the fish and chips and curry I had there was amazing.

Colorful waterfront buildings line a stone harbor with red yellow blue and dark painted facades. A white sailboat floats on calm water while green trees and a large stone building rise on the hillside behind.

A small vehicle ferry sits at a dock with its ramp lowered and a car parked inside. Choppy blue water and green hills stretch behind the ferry beneath a cloudy sky.

Bright red kayaks rest on a rocky shoreline beside a calm blue bay. A forested hillside and small waterfront buildings stretch across the background under a bright blue sky.

PHOTO CREDIT: DepositPhotos.com

Booking Ferries to Mull

Mull’s ferries are operated by the same company as Islay’s ferries, Caledonian MacBrayne, better known as CalMac. So, booking a ticket follows pretty much the same rules: sign up for an account on CalMac’s site, pick your dates, make your purchase, and boom! You’re done. Ain’t modern convenience grand?

While you’ll buy your ticket for a specific date, they mainly go by season. Summer season, from April to September, or winter season, from October to March. So, if something happens and you miss the specific ferry you booked, you can still get on another ferry with that ticket as long as it’s the same season.

All Aboard! Those Ferries to Mull Won’t Wait Forever!

That being said, you still want to try to be early, especially if you’re bringing a car along. The site suggests lining up to board ten minutes before departure. The ferry crew like to run a tight ship, and they won’t have any problem leaving without you if you’re late. And sure, you can technically get on another ferry without purchasing a new ticket, but do you really want to throw off your travel schedule like that?

I will say, though, if you’re stuck in Oban for an extra hour or three, it’s a decent spot for sightseeing. So, at least you’ll have a back-up plan so you won’t be completely bored out of your mind.

One last thing: make sure to get a ticket for your vehicle if you’re bringing one. Even if you’re only bringing a bicycle, it will need a separate ticket! Which is funny, since the bicycle ticket is free – but it’s not really a question of money, just space.

Historic stone castle stands on a rocky green hill overlooking the water. Rolling countryside and distant mountains surround the isolated fortress beneath a dramatic cloudy sky.

A Caledonian MacBrayne ferry crosses calm water with green hills and forest in the background. The vessel displays "Caledonian MacBrayne" along its

A white ram with large curled horns stands on a bright green grassy hillside above deep blue water. The striking coastal setting makes the sheep stand out against the vivid sea.

A tall white lighthouse stands on a rocky coastal point surrounded by deep blue water. Dramatic mountains and layered clouds rise in the distance creating a striking view along the rugged coastline.

PHOTO CREDIT: DepositPhotos.com

One Ferry Ride Down, Plenty More Adventures to Go

So, there you have it. Booking ferries to Mull is really not that complicated once you know which port works best for your route and remember not to chuck your phone in a trash can before boarding.

Once you make it across, though, the real fun begins. Go hunt down some unusual things to do on the Isle of Mull, stuff your face at a few of the best Isle of Mull restaurants, and make time to wander along the island’s wildly photogenic Mull beaches.

And if Mull leaves you craving more misty mountains, whisky-soaked islands, and gloriously weird adventures, this Scotland itinerary will help you turn one island escape into a full-blown Scottish debauchery.