The Isle of Mull is somewhere where I feel calm, content, inspired and motivated. I love the laid back nature of the place, how beautiful it is and the amazing food they have.
For the first time ever, we’ve come up to Mull for Hogmanay and to see the new decade in. It’s the first time we’ve come fully out of season and in the depths of winter and I’m excited to explore the Island in a completely different light.
To capture the week, I thought I’d do a daily travel diary. With little anecdotes, where we went and what it was like that day.
Sunday 29th December 2019
After arriving in what felt like the middle of a very wet and windy night (in reality it was 5pm), I ended up waking up quite late this morning.
It turns out that on the Sunday between Christmas and New Year, there isn’t much open in Tobermory itself. However, we saw that the cosy little bakery, which overlooks the seafront, was so we headed straight in and ordered some breakfast.
What followed was a huge plateful of avocado on sourdough with scrambled egg, spiced beetroot slaw and some salad (after the indulgence that is Christmas I couldn’t quite face a full Scottish breakfast) and it was b-e-a-utiful. Along with a decaf coffee with oat milk, it set us up for the day ahead.
Opting for a slow Sunday, we decided to take on the 4km lighthouse walk. About 2 minutes into the walk, I found my foot to become a bit soggy. Turns out my beloved 10 year old Hunter wellies had a huge crack on the sole! I AM GUTTED!! But, I didn’t let it dampen the walk at all.
There’s plenty of seats on the walk which is VERY helpful when you have a chronic illness and get tired quickly. Even though it was windy, it was beautiful.
Arthur loves this walk although some of the cliff edges do mean we’re slightly on edge as he creeps (or gallops) very near the edge!
After the walk, we made a quick pit stop at the Co-op for some supplies before a cosy afternoon watching films in our little cottage and watching the weather get very grey and wet.
Monday 30th December 2019
The last Monday of the year and the little town of Tobermory came ALIVE today. There was a hustle and bustle about the place as people came out of the Crimbo Limbo for the day.
What looked like it would be a wet day ended up being the most gorgeous day with hints of blue sky and sunshine.
After a pit stop at the Tobermory Chocolate shop for coffee and a toasted teacake, we headed to Aros park, about a 5 minute drive away.
Aros park is beautiful, whichever time of year you go, around a loch. It’s flat, circular and has brilliant views. At one point we saw a really big bird – too fat and small to be a heron but much bigger than your average bird. I wish I was more knowledgable as that’s all I have. Plus, my photo of it didn’t turn out that great as I didn’t have a zoom lens on me!
A short 2 minute drive further up from Aros Park will have you at the top of the Waterfall. The sound of gushing water is immense and it really is stunning. With a covered viewing platform, we got our big thermos flask of coffee out. It’s safe to say it’s the best view with a coffee I’ve had!
As today is probably one of the only days where everything would be open, me and mum had a little mooch about the town.
One place you have to visit in Tobermory is the Isle of Mull soap shop. It smells amazing and does candles, soap, bath salts and lots more. It’s local, ethical and has such a fab vibe about it.
Another coffee stop at the chocolate shop and a lot of photo’s taken later, we made it back to the cottage before the rain came back!
Tuesday 31st December 2019 aka Hogmanay
It’s safe to say Hogmanay in Tobermory is pretty darn magical. It was my first time in Scotland at this time of year and I’ll 100% be doing this again.
However, rewind from the evening to the actual day because it was a GLORIOUS day. It felt like a summers day (albeit a little cooler).
We headed up to do a different costal walk from Tobermory which starts at the Harbour and you can walk to Aros Park.
There was the most amazing waterfall which I took way to many photos off (mainly because I’ve finally worked out how to use the shutter speed on my camera).
The way the sunlight hit the water and peeked through the dense wood gave such a magnificent feel about the walk.
That evening we spend Hogmanay at the Mishnish pub and their restaurant the Mishdish.
The food, which was a three-course meal for about £27 each, was delicious. I wish I’d taken photos but I was so hungry and devoured it all before I even thought to. I had haggis to start (when in Scotland), a beetroot tar with veg and potatoes and then mum and I shared a cheese board and sticky toffee pudding. That sticky toffee was possibly the best one I’ve ever eaten – and I’ve had A LOT of STP.
We then went into the pub which was heaving and had a really fun atmosphere about it. Side note, the drinks were really cheap as well!
Then, at 11.45 pm the pub shut and everyone headed to the clock. The famous fish and chip van was turned into a disco and there was music and such a good vibe about the place.
When the clock struck midnight, fireworks started over the harbour and the party carried on.
Wednesday 1st January 2020
Happy New Year!
One of my favourite places on the Isle of Mull is Calgary Beach. It is picturesque, the dog loves running around on the beach and it was the perfect way to start the year.
It was such a cold day and I was very pleased to have my thermals on underneath everything. Even though it was windy, we had a picnic in the car (I sat in the boot and looked onto the beach with the dog).
This was my view and with the food we’d got from the Bakery the day before, we were set.
Thursday 2nd January 2020
There isn’t a lot to report today. The weather was awful and didn’t stop raining. This meant I spent most of the day cosied up with copious amounts of tea and a good book.
We did venture out that evening to Spice of Mull for a curry. There’s something about this time of year where I crave curry. Probably because I get so bored with Christmas food!
The food was delicious and I would really recommend it on your travels!
Friday 3rd January 2020
I can’t believe how quick our last day came around. It feels like we’ve only just got here!
We tried a new walk today, one we’ve never done before. It was at Fishnish (where there’s another Ferry port) and did the 45 minute coastal & woodland walk.
We were lucky with the weather as it’s been on and off pouring it down all day. The light was gorgeous and the walk was pretty flat as well.
And just like that, our week on the Isle of Mull was over.
It was a brilliant week and I really recommend visiting for Hogmanay as it’s magical and so much fun!
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