Autumn holidays on Mull
If you are planning autumn holidays on Mull I hope this blog will help inform your decision.
What might the weather be like?
By September we start thinking of autumn, and expect the weather to be cooler and more unpredictable as the months progress. We have sat watching the stags during the rut in October, warm in the sun, in our shirt sleeves. We have sat indoors with the wind howling round the house, and rain lashing against the windows! You never can tell! So bring all weather gear and expect the unexpected!
Will there be midges?
Midges aren’t as bad here (honest) as they can be elsewhere on the island, and have usually disappeared by the middle of September.
Will the boat trips be running?
In September there are some boat trips running but not as much choice as earlier in the summer. The Puffins leave at the beginning of August but Turus Mara do autumn seal watching trips which sound lovely (weather depending)! On a still day you can sometimes hear the seals off the north shore of the farm too.
Will there lots of places to eat out?
Most places are still open in September. If there is somewhere special you are thinking of going, then it would be worth checking. By mid October some places start to close. Check Mull and Iona Food Trail listings for further info.
Hill walking/deer stalking
It is worth being aware that the open hills on the island are full of Red deer. Late September/October is the rutting season, so the stags are active and at night you might hear them roaring on the hill from your cottage.
Wildlife stalking as opposed to shooting is a great experience: if you are out walking and you see a group of deer you can sit and watch the unfolding drama of stags fighting each other over groups of hinds. If you are planning walking on the bigger hills or up Ben More it is good to check with the land managers whether they are stalking in the area you want to walk.
Warm and Cosy
Our cottages are warm and comfortable whatever time of year. The Shepherds Hut has a tiny wood burner to heat the hut on cooler evenings. And the cottages are fully heated with either biomass central heating (at Treshnish) or highly controllable electric heaters (at Haunn). All the cottages (except Shieling) have a wood burning stove.
And I haven’t even mentioned the dark skies, and the chances you might have of capturing the Aurora Borealis on camera….
