10 Things to do on the Isle of Mull with Kids
Scotland is a special place to explore with children, but taking a short ferry journey from the mainland just makes the adventure even more exciting. There are several different routes to the Isle of Mull making it one of the most accessible islands on the West Coast. With around 300 miles of coastline, white sandy beaches, turquoise waters, mountains and offshore islands to explore, there is something for children of all ages. This blog post details our top recommendations for children on the island.
Mull is a deceptively large island, so I have grouped these recommendations together in terms of location, rather than ranking in preference.
Mull Aquarium was a highlight of our trip. The aquarium is Europe’s first catch and release aquarium which basically means local fisherman bring in creatures of interest. Each creature stays in the aquarium for a short time, before being returned back to the local seas. Included within the ticket price, is an interesting talk around a touch pool. You are invited to hold many of the creatures, while learning all about them. The aquarium is much small than we have previously visited, but this is reflected in the ticket price. Currently it is £20 for a family ticket (2 adults & 2 children).
2: Crabbing in Tobermory. Tobermory was built as a fishing port in the 18th century, but it is now the main town on the Island of Mull. Around the harbour, there are plenty of spots to go crabbing and even a small sandy bay for children to play, or paddle in the sea.
3: Whilst in Tobermory be sure to have an Isle of Mull ice cream. It is made using local dairy produce from Sgriob-ruabh Farm, which is the only dairy farm on the island.
4: Go on a boat tour with Staffa Tours. With several departure points around the island, where will your next adventure take you? Children aged between 5-16 qualify for a children’s ticket, while children under 5 years old go free. The Wildlife Adventure is an exciting cruise for all the family, giving you a taste of whale-watching. Look out for minke whales, basking sharks, common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, common and grey seals, white-tailed and golden eagles, harbour porpoise and a wide variety of seabirds.
5: Mull Pony Trekking gives you the opportunity to ride on native highland ponies. With a range of treks suitable for all ages and abilities, with hill treks, or beach treks, there really is something for everyone. Based in stunning Killiechronan, at the head of Loch na Keal, it is one of only 40 National scenic areas in Scotland. It is also one of the best areas in Mull for spotting wildlife.
6: Loch na Keal is the ideal spot to look out for otters and white-tailed sea eagles. While wildlife spotting does take some patience, the Isle of Mull is one of the best places to spot otters and white-tailed sea eagles in Scotland. Lots of wildlife enthusiasts and photographers visit Mull just to spot these magnificent creatures. Generally if you spot a cluster of cars together and people with binoculars set up, they are usually looking at something! Stop and hop out of the van and hopedully you will get lucky.
For more Vanlife with Kids recommendations, click here.
7: You can’t visit Mull with kids without visiting at least one of the glorious beaches. Calgary is a firm favourite with families. The sand dunes create a little shelter from the wind and the turquoise water is perfect for paddling. There are lots of rocks on one side - perfect for rock pooling and climbing, or if you child/ren is/are older then the water is ideal for paddle boarding or swimming. For details of more spectacular beaches on the Isle on Mull, click here.
8: Go Island hopping. Mull is the second largest island in the Inner Hebrides and fourth largest off the coast of Scotland with a permanent population of approximately 2,800 people. It benefits from lots of other smaller islands around it. You can read more about them all here, but two of our favourite to visit were the Isle of Iona and Ulva. You can see a short video of our time in Ione here. Steeped in history, the magical island of Iona is surrounded by turquoise seas and spectacular white sandy beaches which is sure to capture the imagination of your young adventurer. It it worth mentioning at this point, that you can’t take your vehicle onto Iona. Your only option is to take a 10 minute foot ferry with @calmacferries ferries from Fionnphort, Mull. The main harbour is pushchair friendly, but if you plan to hike to some of the more remote beaches, then I’d suggest a sling for very young children. Don’t worry too much though, because at only 1.5miles wide and 3miles long, it is fairly easy to get about on foot.
Buy your Google Map guide to the Inner Hebrides here. It includes:
Campsite recommendations, overnight parking/ community wild camping spots, chemical disposal points, must see attractions and towns, beaches, hikes, food and drink recommendations, driving routes and blog post links.
9: Hire a Kayak. Salen Bay Campsite offer on-site kayak and paddleboard hire to explore the coastline. Watch out for seals joining you in the water and a whole range of sea birds. You might even spot some deer on the shore, or white-tailed eagles soaring above you.
10: Go chasing waterfalls. There are lots of beautiful ones to explore on the island, you can read more about them all here. Our favourite was Eas Fors Waterfall. This is probably the most well known waterfall on the Isle of Mull and one of the easier ones to access from the road. You spot the first part of the waterfall as you drive past, but be sure to stop and explore because it gets better and better. If the weather is nice, it is the perfect spot for a picnic, or a paddle!
