Stocking up on Mull

[Billybagpuss]

We are off to Tobermory in a few weeks and yesterday a friend advised to stock up with food in the big Tesco in Oban before getting on the ferry.

This hadn’t even occurred to me as I would far rather spend my money on fresh produce and spend it to help the local economy rather than Tesco. Is there plenty of choice on the island? Will we have problems with Sunday closing if we arrive late on Saturday.

Also any recommendations for eating out and must see/do things. We want an away from it all walking/swimming/wildlife holiday.

There's a decent sized Coop in Tobermory and Google streetview suggest there's a butcher but I can't see much evidence of other "local" food shops. Maybe try asking on TripAdvisor?

Ok thank you 😊

There's also a small Spar close to the ferry terminal at Craignure. A corner shop sized one.
There's no Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose, Asda, Morrisons or Iceland on the island.

I'd also recommend filling up with fuel in Oban or Fort William. It's really expensive on the island because of the cost to the garages of bringing it over from the mainland.
We always go to Calgary beach on the west side of the island when we visit. Its literally just a beach, nothing else. A trip over to Iona with a walk along the island and a look in the Abbey perhaps. .we're planning on taking a boat trip to Staffa/Fingals Cave when we go up next as its one thing we haven't done (we go regularly).
In Tobermory the Mishnish Hotel and McGoghans are quite lively pubs. There's a few independent eateries too (no pub or restaurant chains on the island).
You'll love it. We do (but then again we have family on the island).

I really can’t wait, we’ve booked the boat trip @MrsMoastyToasty I do plan on taking swim kit as swimming fingals cave has long been an ambition of mine 😊 it’s the no chain things I’m looking forward to, I would far rather spend money with independent local businesses. I think the filling up tip definitely makes sense thank you.

Definitely fill up. If you're coming from the south, there's a petrol station on the outskirts of Oban, just before you hit the town proper.

Is there plenty of choice on the island? Will we have problems with Sunday closing if we arrive late on Saturday

No, there is not a lot of choice. The island's three (I think) Spars are a bit crap, and rather overpriced. If you're near Tobermory, the Co-op is usually open until late on a Sunday. There is no butcher in Tobermory any more - it closed down. However, there is the excellent Tobermory Fish Company, which is just out of town, and as well as fish they also sell very, very good meat (their venison is excellent). Also near Tobermory is the farm where they make and sell Isle of Mull Cheddar and other local foods, but last time I went, in early pandemic times, it was almost closed and a bit odd - maybe they have sorted out an M.O. now. There is a little supermarket in Dervaig that's quite good, but it's very expensive ... your friends are right, OP: do a big shop before you go.

What to do there? Get an OS map, and just walk. Get into the hills. Do that, and you won't see another living soul all day.

Go to Ulva, if they are running the little ferry. It's lovely.

Go to the very pretty white sand beaches at Croig.

A bit of a daft one, but ... the charity shop at Craignure is one of the best charity shops ever. Full of great books, and I got a new cashmere hoodie in there for £8!

The Co op is small, but has everything you need...BUT be prepared to queue for up to half an hour to get in unless you time it right (and please don't take the whole family in with you as numbers are strictly limited). There is a fantastic producers' market in the harbour every Monday 11-2pm if you want local produce. Tobermory Stores (near car park) has a great range of local and other deli style products. If you want to eat out, I suggest booking. It is very busy at the moment. There's a great bakery too.

Swimming in Fingal's cave is probably not advisable; there's always a swell out at Staffa and funnels into the cave.

Any more questions, ask away (local here!)

We are off there soon too @Billybagpuss!
We also have a couple of nights on Iona.

Great tips - I just stumbled on this thread by pure chance!

I wouldn't think swimming at fingals cave is a good idea at all.
Unless you wanted to see the lifeboat crew in action or had ambitions to smash your legs and other bits of you on some top quality basalt.

There are quite a few farms to buy meat. We tried to keep out of the co op last year as much as we could as the islanders don't need to queue behind tourists to buy milk.

Glengorm is a nice place for walks with good cafe and sells a few foodie bits and meat etc.

I forgot to mention the distillery , the chocolate shop and whale watching tours.

We've been to Mull lots of times and found the local produce available much better than on other islands. Yes the supermarkets are smaller and more expensive than the mainland but we like to support local.

Try the Glass Barn at Isle of Mull Cheese (great cafe and farm shop), Whitetail Gin coffee shop (other end of the island), Glengorm Coffee Shop, Am Birlinn restaurant (near Calgary beach).

Check out the Mull and Iona food trail on Facebook and Instagram.

Whale watching and a boat trip to Staffa are a must. Calgary beach for swimming - it has a shack selling Mull ice cream and a cafe and art trail up the hill. There's a new place offering water sports near the ferry to Iona which sounds great but we didn't manage to fit it in, next time.

Look up the Visit Mull and Iona website and social media for ideas too. Have a great time, we've just been and it was wonderful.

Most of the roads on Mull are single track and busy. Remembered to pull in and let cars behind you past. The locals do tend to get a bit annoyed if you don't and some could be in a hurry for a reason (volunteer firemen, lifeboat crew, nurses etc).

Also recommend Ulva - we enjoyed going there and exploring.

We also did a boat trip to the Treshnish Isles - again highly recommend.

Food - we did stock up before getting the ferry and topped up with a few things. We had a toddler and 9 month old at the time though. It may depend on how close you are to some of hte other shops - most were quite a drive from us and it's not quick to get round the island. The last time we went, we didn't go to Iona - just because of the length of drive to the ferry!

...and the cinema arrives on the back of a lorry.

@MrsMoastyToasty

...and the cinema arrives on the back of a lorry.

The Screen Machine is awesome!

To be fair @Northernlurker I think it highly unlikely it will be calm enough to get in but I’m happy to get just a few minutes dip/paddle and have enough experience to know when to say nooooo, not today. Unfortunately I was too late to book with a specific swim tour company.

It’s interesting about the queues for coop hopefully that’s calmed down a bit now but thank you for the advice I’ll get a list and do a bit more planning before we go.

@Time40 thank you so much for posting, I love a good charity shop rummage, and we are planning on walking a lot. (Shh don’t tell our collie who is spending the time in her own doggy hotel) I have the OS app on our phones downloaded 1:25000 looking at all the contour lines and wishing my knees were as efficient as they were 30 years ago.

@muileach1 nooo Monday is the day we’ve booked the boat trip, I’m going to have to rely on kids to do the market shop, but they are pretty good at that sort of thing. Thank you for the info, I think we will try and book some meals out in advance. Is the fish and chip van in the harbour at the moment? We’re staying near Tobermory.

Try and book Cafe Fish in Tobermory, excellent fresh, just off the boat, seafood.
Plus the best hummus I've tasted.

Yes, the chip van is open again; new owners and very popular. Pier Cafe is a favourite for take out too (on the CalMac pier). Queues still lengthy at the Co op on a regular basis!

Oh I want to see a cinema like that.

I hadn’t even heard of ulva but it sounds perfect.

@ChickenSchnitzel thank you so many great ideas there.

We have been two minds about Iona, it is the complete opposite end of the island.

Ulva is definitely worth a visit. There’s a wee on demand ferry and The Boathouse is open for lunches. When I’ve had visitors we’ve done the drive to Ulva Ferry via Salen, gone over for lunch and a walk, then the spectacular long way back to Tobermory which takes you via Calgary. There’s a great little cafe halfway (The Henhouse) for afternoon cake and coffee to take away.

@muileach1 dd is vegetarian, can you recommend the best place to accommodate her that will also do good local meat/fish dishes,

And how do I cook venison?

To be honest, most places are pretty accommodating for vegetarians. Pier Cafe and Cafe Fish are particularly good. Depends on the cut of venison as to how to cook it! I’m a fan of haunch; cook like a steak in a hot pan.

Ooh thank you, the only time I ever tried before i over cooked it and it was rubbery and we all sat there trying to be polite saying how lovely it was, but buying local cuts I definitely want to get it right.

Just ask whoever you buy it from. They’ll be happy to advise.

Ulva was closed last year but hopefully we will get across this year.
You can make it to Iona but you need an early start from Tobermory, it's a good two hours drive but stunning.

Oh good - I'm glad you like a nice charity shop, OP.

The only time I've been in Fingal's cave ... I thought it looked swimmable on that particular day, to be honest. I'm sure the real locals know better than I do, though. Torloisk beach is good for swimming - quite sheltered, and it seems to be very safe.

Ooh sounds great