Stay on Mull in autumn!
Mull in autumn is my favourite time of year, as the island begins to slow down. The landscape has shifted from green to autumn ochres, golds and browns.
It can be a lovely time of year to be here. Once the English schools go back at the beginning of September, the roads become quieter and the wild camping site at Calgary Beach visibly empties! The weather can be fantastic – in every sense of the word…. sunny and bright, or wild and wet! However our cottages are warm and cosy, perfect for relaxing when you get back after a bracing day out walking or exploring!
Open or closed
We are open all year round but the main season on the island when you are more or less guaranteed that places will be open runs from the middle of March to the middle or end of October. Most visitor attractions are open from Easter until the middle or end of October. The Mull Museum in Tobermory stays open until the end of October. Duart Castle is open until the 18th October 2017. The island art centre, An Tobar, in upper Tobermory, stays open until the end of the year – as well as putting on exhibitions they have a great cafe serving delicious vegetarian food.
Eating out
Most places will stay open until at least the middle of October. Have a look at the Mull and Iona Food Trail for places that support local producers and use island produce. Ballygown and Am Birlinn are the two closest restaurants to us recommended by many of our guests and ourselves! Calgary Tearoom near the beach is open during the day for teas/coffees, lunches.
Boat trips
As you can imagine, boat trips are subject to the weather! Turus Mara run trips to Staffa and the Treshnish Isles from Ulva Ferry, and offer a 10% discount if you are staying with us. Contact them for advice about their autumn trips. In previous autumns we have had lots of very happy guests go out to Staffa with Turus Mara. Fantastic dolphin, porpoise sightings as well as seals – and White tailed eagles.
Mull Aquarium
The Mull Aquarium in Tobermory is open through the October holidays and is planning a host of events for kids and adults. It is Europe’s first Catch and Release Aquarium, community owned and managed too. Have a look at their website for further information closer to the time. I like the sound of the Cocktails film night for adults showing Jaws! There is a great sounding Halloween event which will be on either the 27th or 28th, and lots of other kids activities during the school holidays including a Sleepover night! The final event will be when they release all the creatures back into the wild on the 29th October.
What wildlife might you see?
Our cottages sit on the low ground of the farm. In late September and early October you will hear Red deer stags roaring from the hill, as it is the rutting season when stags fight over the hinds in great plays of power and manliness. We had a magical walk whilst checking the sheep a couple of Octobers ago. We were up above East, Middle and West and came across this group of deer. Quite dramatic, to say the least!
For an idea of what else you might encounter here at Treshnish have a look at Prasad’s Treshnish Wildlife Diary. He has been recording wildlife here since 2006.
Wildlife tours
The nearest wildlife tour operator to us is Nature Scotland, based at Dervaig. Ewan Miles who runs the company is extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic – and has an imaginative selection of tours including a trip to Ardnamurchan… and a Stargazing trip giving you a chance to look at the stars and photograph an Aurora Borealis if the conditions are right. Have a look at their website for details.
Ewan will give you a 10% discount if you are staying with us.
Availability
September is fully booked now but we have space in October. Please have a look at our Make a Booking page, and please get in touch to hear about our Special October Offer!!
