I've lost track - who's been to/going to Mull this year?

[roisin]

We're going in 2.5 weeks' time: can't wait!

Any hints/tips?
Must see/make sure you avoid?

I'm really looking forward to it: just checked and remembered our s/c cottage has d/washer, w/machine and tumbler drier

Recommend - Calgary beach, Iona, all the little beaches around Fhionnphort, Langamull (a bit of a hike from the Dervaig to Calgary road but worth it). The drive around the coast from Calgary to Ulva - the most beautiful views in the world (IMHO anyway). Well....just about everything. Duart castle and the gardens at Torosay.

Just pray it doesn't rain the entire time. I don't mind a bit of rain but even I've been beaten by Mull weather in the past.... It can be seriously wet.

Have fun. Where are you staying... just out of nosiness? We used to stay in Dervaig and loved it.

BTW - get an odrinance survey map - well you'll have to get several as it's on the joins between 3 I think.

Thanks for the tips Joelallie. We've all got 'real' waterproofs, boots, and lots of insect repellent! I think we're being realistic

We are staying in the North here Recommendation from Mumsnet - so it had better be nice!

We've got at least one of the O/S maps already: I'll have to check.

Any more tips anyone?

Calgary is lovely, and the food in the cafe there was good (although if you pay by switch they have to take the machine outside to get enough of a signal to process your payment ). Generally we found cafes a bit hit and miss- Torosay not so good, for example, and the place in Tobermory that is in a converted church (now a gift shop primarily) was dire. The restuarant where you're staying was the best we ate in I think. The whale watching trip was great, the guys were really friendly. Can't think of anything else offhand, but you'll have a great time, I'm sure. The walks they recommend at Glengorm were excellent by the way. Have fun

I do wish you were going in 1.5 weeks' time

Me too Bink!

Sorry to confuse you two Bink and Tamum, but one of you recommended the Burrell Collection to me...?
We have somehow (?!) ended up overnighting at the TravelLodge at Dumbarton on the journey up, and I was wondering about spending some time at the Burrell Collection. Can you tell me a bit more about it? The website is not terribly forthcoming.

Might even have been both of us?

Though I haven't been there since before children & I expect tamum has, being a bit more local ...

What I remember of it is: lovely modern building (ds1 will be amused, though, by the fact that the architects got their sums wrong for the stair down to the cafe so that it is something like a third the width it was meant to be - always nice to find the Error); fascinatingly varied collection, with some things that are very special - dh is a bit of a Chinese porcelain preciosity, so we had to go and swoon over the rare perfection of the Imperial yellows (ds1&2 will probably be intrigued that the yellow = presence of uranium); and lots of attention to information & background - so I'm really surprised it doesn't have a good website - or even (having googled) its own website. Website developer opportunity there!

I'd definitely take my two there, but I'd call ahead and see what they lay on for children, because if there isn't anything specially laid on they'd need to be in quite sensible museum visiting mode (unlike my new love, the Horniman in SE London, which is just paradise for well-targeted kid activities and museum-visiting both).

The cafe at Calgary turns into a lovely restaurant at night. Very good...and romantic place to be as well. The cafe at the Old Byre is quite nice if you like Clouty dumpling... think that's how it's spelt??? Bellachroy Hotel (Devaig) does reasonable pub type food and you can sit outside if it isn't raining. The Little Theatre restaurant is also good. We found that there is good food to be found but you have to pay quite a bit for it. Visit the fish farm shop in Tobermory for smoked trout pate and other lovely eats. Trust me - when we first started going to Mull back in the 80's you couldn't get fresh veg at all and the culinary heights were tinned soup and a roll......it's changed a lot since then.

Glengorm I beleive is on the road between Dervaig and Tobermory?

There used to be a really good restaurant at Salen but I think it's long gone

the bakery in tobermory is excellent. there is a wee book of walks in mull you can buy in tourist info which is great. there is a good walk to see a fossilised tree but it might be abit long depending on the age of your children.

I haven't been to the Burrell with children I'm afraid, and it's years since I went so I can't improve on Bink's description. Definitely worth a try I would say. I would second pesme's recommendation of the bakery too, it's very good.

joelallie, Glengorm is close to Dervaig but on its own road that goes nowhere else!

Ah yes. And they used to grow and sell veg and plants if I remember correctly?

I'm starting getting organised - thinking of packing, printing out info from the internet ...
... and checking the midge forecast hourly

THe Burrell do a quiz sheet for children, suitable for 7 upwards, I'd say. They may do more in the holidays, but our schools start back on 21st Aug, so any holiday activites may be over by the time you come. Kelvingrove art gallery and museum has reopened, and it's great for adults and children. (sorry, too tired to try a link). All museums are free.

Thanks MrsMuddle - I'll look out for the quiz sheet. We will be at the Burrell this Friday!