5 top tips for a good journey to Mull
I would like to share my 5 top tips for a good journey to Mull. Yes it can be a long journey. But if you plan well, it can be a good one.
Take a proper break
Factor in some good stops, where you can get away from the car, and the drudgery of driving, refuelling, motorway services.
On one of our journeys north we went to a lovely exhibition in Kendal, at the Abbot Hall Gallery – and had lunch in a cafe in town. We got back onto the M6 feeling refreshed and enjoying the fact that we had done more than sit in the car all day.
Why not find a farm shop, away from the motorway or dual carriageway. On the A1, sick of service station coffee we used Google to find farm shops with cafes close to a motorway or dual carriageway exit. It was a relief to be away from the artificial light of a service station and to have a chance to stretch our legs.
Overnight stopover?
Do you want to stop and stay the night somewhere to break the journey? We do sometimes. We travel with a dog so find the hotel at Tebay very useful, the rooms are nice and it is very dog friendly – we tend to grab something to eat at the motorway services rather than in the hotel.
One time we stayed in a (very) cheap Airbnb in Penrith so we could splash out on a meal at a Michelin Star restaurant 15 minutes drive away. That made the journey home feel rather special!
Motorway stops:
We favour the Tebay family of motorway services. The environs are calmer, and there are different options for food and refreshments – and good shopping! They seem to be well spaced for stops heading north on the M6 and the M74.
On the M5, Gloucester Services has a lovely path for walking the dog.
And the Reghed Centre near Penrith, (also Tebay) it is a couple of miles from the M6. There is a cinema, a cafe, some great shops, and an art gallery. We have seen some interesting exhibitions there.
On the M74 Tebay have taken over Cairn Lodge. It has the Tebay shop and cafe, just a little smaller than the English ones.
Ferry options
Once you have booked your accommodation on Mull you need to think which ferry you might come on. Oban or Lochaline, if travelling from the south. Ardnamurchan if coming from Mallaig or if you like the idea of a wonderful detour.
Calmac operate the ferries. If you haven’t been to Mull before you might not be aware that there are other ferry routes than Oban. The Oban route is great, but the ferries do get booked up and if the ferry you wanted to book is already full, the Calmac website does not make it obvious that you can come, instead, via Lochaline. This route is a turn up and go service with no need to book.
The overall drive time via Lochaline is slightly longer, but the scenery more than makes up for it. There are a couple of great places to stop along the way too.
Detours – goat spotting
If you decide to drive through Glen Coe to catch the Lochaline ferry, the route takes you on the Corran ferry across Loch Linnhe first. There is a detour we love, along the coast to Kingairloch. We call it the goat road. Look it up on the map! It doesn’t take much longer to drive, the road hugs the coast, with dramatic cliffs grazed by feral goats.
Give yourselves time and don’t rush
Factor in lots of breaks in to your journey time so you have time to relax. Your holiday starts when you leave home!
