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      Wildlife Adventures

      Mull, Staffa & Iona

      20 reviews

      Next Trip: 10th - 16th Jun 2023 Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights

      From £2,375 View Prices & Dates

      Travel Planning & Advice

      Book With Confidence

      Trip created by Rachael Gavan
      View Rachael's Profile

      Region: Inner Hebrides including Skye
      Trip Type: Wildlife
      Accommodation: Deluxe
      Max Group Size: 8
      Confirmed: When 3 Travellers Book
      Deposit From: £593.75 £593.75

      Grading:

      Carbon Footprint: 175kg ? What does this mean?
      Click here to find out about our carbon labelling project and what we're doing to be more sustainable.

      All you need to know about your trip, this essential document is a must for all adventures.

      Download Itinerary

      Explore Scotland’s beautiful Inner Hebridean islands of Mull, Staffa and Iona, discovering their thriving and varied wildlife.

      On this holiday you will visit some of the remote islands of Scotland’s wild west coast, looking out for rare and beautiful species of wildlife while taking in the spectacular Atlantic scenery.

      Your guide will, of course, help you spot the wildlife, which may include white-tailed sea eagles, puffins, whales, dolphins and seals. We schedule trips throughout Spring and Summer; the time of year will determine the species we may encounter. In Spring we will see more birdlife such as puffins, with more of a focus on marine wildlife later in the Summer.

      Spending 2 nights in the picturesque town of Oban and four days based on the Isle of Mull, this trip provides an unforgettable journey around these unique islands and a fascinating insight into the creatures that inhabit them.

      Trip Highlights

      • Finding the UK's largest bird of prey, white-tailed eagle among others.
      • Explore famous Fingal's Cave on a boat trip to Staffa and the Treshnish Isles.
      • Spot marine wildlife including seals, dolphins and whales.
      • Visit the spiritual Isle of Iona.

      Did you know?


      This trip can be booked as a private departure


      Learn more

      Day by Day Itinerary

      Day 1 – The West Coast

      After meeting at Oban train station we’ll transfer a short distance north to take a private boat trip to Castle Stalker which dates back to around 1446. Here we will be given a private guided tour by one of the members of the Stewart Allward family who own the castle. It’s island location also gives us the perfect opportunity to look out for seals, dolphins and seabirds. Settling into your accommodation this evening you’ll enjoy dinner overlooking Oban Bay. (L, D)

      Day 2 – Bridge over the Atlantic and Argyll's Beavers

      This morning we’ll enjoy a coastal circuit on the Isle of Seil. We’ll cross the Clachan Bridge – the ‘Bridge over the Atlantic’ – and on to Seil. Here we’ll enjoy views to the mountains of Mull. The coast line here is a great place to watch statuesque herons fishing and the rockpools are fascinating to explore. Keep your eyes peeled for otters in the area as well. This afternoon we visit Knapdale – where beavers were reintroduced to Scotland in 2009 after a 400 year absence. We take a fascinating tour with the knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff and find evidence of their presence, from gnawed trees to footprints in the sand.  (B, L, D)

      Day 3 – Journey to Mull in search of Eagles

      This morning we’ll take the ferry to the Isle of Mull which is home to a large variety of birdlife including breeding raptors as well as rare and endangered birds. Once landed we’ll grab a bite of lunch before we go in search of arguably some of Mull’s best-known residents; white-tailed eagles. We’ll take a short hike to a hide on land owned by the local community and depending on the time of year you may see them in the nest or see the fledgelings explore the skies. (B, L, D)

      Day 4 – Wildlife and Whisky

      Today we’ll enjoy a wonderful circular walk that gives us beautiful cliff and coastline scenery, a chance to see wildlife including seabirds as well as merlin, buzzards and hen harriers with rarer species such as marsh harriers also sometimes spotted. We’ll make our way to the Whisky Cave where the foundations of the illicit stills are still visible. Leaving the cave we’ll pass through the ruins of the once thriving village of Crackaig which was abandoned in the early 1900’s. We will walk through the ruined crofts listening out for the singing of the song thrushes and skylarks as we go. (B, L, D)

      Day 5 – Staffa and Treshnish Isles

      Today we’ll take an early morning covered boat to Staffa with its breath-taking basalt columns and famous Fingal’s Cave. We spend the morning ashore watching the sea birds exploring the cliffs and diving into the sea to fish. We’ll then sail through the archipelago of the remote Treshnish Isles, a haven for birdlife. Travelling back this afternoon we’ll keep our eyes peeled for dolphins, porpoises, minke whales and even basking sharks. (B, L, D)

      Day 6 – The Isle of Iona

      This morning we’ll travel from Mull to Iona where the monk Columba founded a monastery in 563 that played a crucial role in converting the Picts of Scotland to Christianity. Here we’ll visit Iona Abbey, the Nunnery and St.Oran’s Chapel which is thought to be the final resting place of 48 kings of Scotland. This evening we enjoy a celebratory end of trip dinner. (B, L, D)

      Day 7 – Depart for Oban

      After breakfast we’ll go on a short hike into the heart of the mountains of Mull without any climbing required. On the way we’ll keep our eyes peeled for Sea Eagles and Red Deer. After the hike, we’ll catch the ferry back to the mainland before saying farewell in Oban. (B, L)

      Download Itinerary

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      Wildlife Adventures
      Mull, Staffa & Iona

      To download a PDF copy of our Trip Itinerary, containing full details about this holiday, please complete the form below:

      Fields marked with * are mandatory

      The phone number field is not required but if you would like us to give you a call to help find the trip for you, then enter your telephone number including the country code.

      Trip Dates & Prices

      Trip Dates for 2023AvailabilityStatusPriceBook
      10th Jun - 16th Jun 20232 places leftCONFIRMED£2,375Book Now
      24th Jun - 30th Jun 20233 places leftCONFIRMED£2,375Book Now
      1st Jul - 7th Jul 20236 places leftCONFIRMED£2,375Book Now
      Trip Dates for 2024AvailabilityStatusPriceBook
      20th Apr - 26th Apr 20246 places leftUNCONFIRMED£2,375Book Now
      11th May - 17th May 20248 places leftUNCONFIRMED£2,375Book Now
      25th May - 31st May 20248 places leftUNCONFIRMED£2,375Book Now
      1st Jun - 7th Jun 20248 places leftUNCONFIRMED£2,375Book Now
      22nd Jun - 28th Jun 20248 places leftUNCONFIRMED£2,375Book Now
      29th Jun - 5th Jul 20248 places leftUNCONFIRMED£2,375Book Now

      Trip Details

      Expand All
      Accommodation Read More

      This itinerary is based in two different locations throughout the course of the week, with 2 nights in Oban and 4 nights on the island of Mull. Each of the accommodations offers double and twin rooms, most with en-suite facilities.

      Single rooms

      There is no supplement charged to solo travellers, however, you will be required to share a room with another person of the same sex. If you require a single room please request this at the time of booking and we will check availability for you. A single room supplement of £650 is charged if a single room is available. Single supplements are limited and are allocated on a first come first served basis.

      Meals Read More

      All meals from lunch on day 1 through to lunch on day 7 are included on this itinerary.

      Throughout the journey, varied island produce will be served up in hearty and imaginative meals. Seafood is a speciality with beef, lamb and venison also popular and of course, any special dietary requirements can be catered for. Included dinners are two courses as standard.

      On this trip, we generally eat dinner as a group however if you would like to make alternative arrangements you are free to do so. Your guide will have an evening off during this trip where they do not eat with the group. They will recommend options for dinner that evening and will help you make any necessary reservations.

      Inclusions Read More
      • 6 nights accommodation in carefully selected guest houses and hotels
      • All meals during the trip as stated in the itinerary (Meals included indicated as B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
      • The services of an experienced and knowledgeable guide/driver throughout
      • All transport throughout the trip starting and finishing in Oban
      • All boat trips and ferry transfers
      Trip Grading Read More

      Green Graded 1-3

      Green graded walking holidays are suitable for active travellers who are reasonably fit and enjoy moderate hikes. We walk at a comfortable pace and you can expect to be out for 5-6 hours a day. The terrain will be mostly good paths and hill trails but these can still be muddy and rough in places. Some hikes may involve an ascent up to a max of approx 1,500 feet / 450m. Distances will be typically 8-10km but there may be the odd slightly longer day. Daily hike details are available in the itinerary.

      Travel – Arrival and Departure Read More

      You will be met by your Wilderness Scotland Guide at Oban Railway Station at 11:30am on Day 1 of your trip. You will be returned to Oban station by 2:30pm on the final day.

      For advice on getting to and from Scotland please our travel advice page on our website: www.wildernessscotland.com/faq/travel-to-scotland/

      If you would like to use your own vehicle on the trip please get in touch with our team to discuss.

      Photo Gallery

      Make This Trip Private

      Fancy this trip just for your group? Get together with family and friends spend quality time exploring wild places. A private trip allows you to benefit from all the features of the group departure, including hand-picked accommodation and expert local guides but with the advantage of the flexibility to tailor the days to your group. Make the trip more or less challenging depending on your experience or choose to add in some optional extras like castle or distillery visits depending on your interests. The price of a private trip will depend on the number of travellers in your group. Let us know your prefered departure date and we'll take care of the rest.

      Speak to an Expert

      View Profile
      Chris Page

      Our friendly office team hail from across the world but share a passion for the outdoor and wild spaces of Scotland. We are committed to providing you with the best customer service and are more than happy to chat through options and provide help and advice. Get in touch to find your perfect adventure.

      Ask Chris a Question

      Meet Your Guide

      Keith Miller
      10th Jun - 16th Jun 2023

      Cory Jones
      24th Jun - 30th Jun 2023

      Dave Picken
      1st Jul - 7th Jul 2023

      View guides for all departures

      Difficulty Grades Explained

      Green Graded Wildlife Holidays 1-3
      All of our wildlife trips are graded Green and involve straightforward hiking with no major ascents, as well as other activities which are pitched at novice level. You can expect to be active for around 5 hours each day so you will need a reasonable level of fitness. Please note that there may be some early starts and late nights as we seek to maximise our chances of finding wildlife, although you can always opt out of activities if you prefer an early night or long lie in the morning!

      So to help you decide if you are fit enough for this kind of trip, ask yourself:

      1. Are you generally active and, for example, happy to hike for 6 miles (10km), including some ascent, with rough ground in places?
      2. Are you up for a challenge and trying new activities such as sea kayaking or boat trips?
      3. Are you looking for a wildlife trip which involves more than simply sitting in a hide?

      Compare wildlife trip grades

      Trip Reviews

      Rated 4.95 out of 5 based on 20 reviews of Wildlife Adventures – Mull, Staffa & Iona

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      Every client receives a feedback survey when they return from their guided, self guided or tailor made holiday with us. Once completed the review is published on our website just as soon as our database updates. The little touches and details are important to us and where issues are raised we make positive changes to our trips to improve your experience.

      That’s why we read each of our client’s reviews and although we don’t respond to all of them, if it’s glowing feedback then we get the satisfaction of helping to make your holidays truly memorable.

      MS

      Maggie Spenceley

      Reviewed on 03/05/2023

      Age: 70 - 80
      Country: Australia
      Trip Date: 22/04/2023
      Trips Taken: 2

      The Bottom Line

      The Bottom Line

      I’m now on my fourth trip - all have been good.

      Show More
      SC

      Susan Chambers

      Reviewed on 11/07/2022

      Age: 60 - 70
      Trip Date: 25/06/2022
      Trips Taken: 1

      The Bottom Line

      The Bottom Line

      I was rather disappointed in the lack of wildlife that we saw especially as the trip was advertised as a wildlife experience. I felt the emphasis was more on the walking rather than looking for wildlife. However the holiday was very enjoyable the group seemed to mix well the locations were stunning, accommodation excellent and food excellent also. TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE: We always hope to see as much wildlife as possible, but of course, the nature of the beast is that we don't always know what we're going to get – however I do apologise that you didn't feel there was as much emphasis on the wildlife as you would have liked. I'm delighted to hear you had a lovely time and thought the landscape was beautiful – it is a beautiful part of Scotland for sure.

      Show More
      JG

      Jana Goodman

      Reviewed on 04/07/2022

      Age: 50 - 60
      Country: United States
      Trip Date: 25/06/2022
      Trips Taken: 2

      The Bottom Line

      The Bottom Line

      Fantastic! I can't wait to sign up for the Orkney trip.

      Show More
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