Register today! | Already registered? Sign in

traveldk.com

from Eyewitness Travel Guides: the world's bestselling travel guides
  • Personal guide
  • Open
Member image

West Coast Islands : Itineraries

Submit an attraction

Make sure your favorite shops, restaurants, hotels and more are listed.

Submit an attraction illustration
WIN WIN WIN

Win an Apple MacBook!

Apple MacBook laptop
Download a podcast

Free podcasts Find free podcasts for Boston, New York & more.

Join our free monthly newsletter

Advertisement

  • Morning

    Book both your Staffa boat trip (Tel (01681) 700338) and your car reservation for the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry (Tel (01631) 566688) in advance.

    Depart Oban on the 7:45 am Calmac ferry to Craignure on Mull (45-minute crossing).

    Drive to Fionnphort to catch the 9:45 trip to Staffa (10:45 on Sat). This takes 40 minutes each way and you have one hour on Staffa to walk among puffins and visit the awesome Fingal’s Cave, the basalt rock formation that so inspired Mendelssohn.

    On your return to Fionnphort, leave your car and take the quick ferry crossing to Iona. Have lunch in the Argyll Hotel (a particularly good vegetarian selection).

    Afternoon

    Climb the hill above the abbey. The longer you leave your visit to the abbey the less crowded it will be. Iona is too beautiful and serene to rush, and you may want to spend the rest of the day wandering its shores and rugged terrain, contemplating this small island’s historical significance.

    If not, return to Craignure in time to visit Torosay Castle and its fine gardens. Try to get there before 4pm to make the visit worthwhile.

    Note: If you don’t have a car, you can do most of this tour, in summer, by boat from Oban – call the 01681 number.

Advertisement

 Latest guides
What’s on now in Scotland
  • McFly
    Poptastic quartet McFly bring their 2008 arena tour on the back of fourth album, Radio:Active, to the AECC in Aberdeen. Read more
  • McFly
    Poptastic quartet McFly bring their 2008 arena tour on the back of fourth album, Radio:Active, to the SECC in Glasgow. Read more
  • St Andrew's Festival
    Where better to celebrate St Andrew's Day than with the people of the city named after him. St Andrew's Day falls on 30 November each year, and the capital of Fife celebrates for a number of days... Read more
  • Glamis Castle
    The stunning architecture and beautiful gardens of Glamis Castle make it one of Scotland's leading visitor attractions. Inexplicably tied to the history and myth of the nation, Glamis has been open... Read more