Acknowledged, Pete. Had to work out how long 7.5m is! (Sorry, I'm a bit long in the tooth!!).
A few questions:
Is it just two of you and three dogs, or are children with you and if so what ages?
Do you need EHU? Wi-fi? TV reception? Mobile reception?
Do you want a site for the duration or to move about?
The more info about your likes and dislikes, the more it helps!!
Something you (and anyone else who's holidaying with dogs here at that time of year) needs to be aware of is that there'll be late lambs and, in certain parts of the island, ground-nesting birds. Please don't think I'm saying people are irresponsible dog owners; it's actually more a case of spooking birds and lambs and occasionally having an irate blackface mum have a go at you and the dog! Happened to me walking along the road with my dog on a tight lead (he was a wuss when it came to sheep despite being a collie/NZ Huntaway cross)!!
My honest opinion is that Fidden (near Fionnphort) is the most glorious setting with mod cons on the island, followed by the Sheilings at Craignure for its' beautiful views. The latter is also more central if you want to stay in one place; you can pick up wildlife tours from there - most operators pick up from the ferry terminal -and you can get buses from there to Fionnphort and Tobermory if you don't fancy driving any day. You're about 15 minutes walk to the island's swimming pool (well warmed water!!) and spa. The downside is it can be noisy being only five minutes walk from the main ferry terminal and the ferry announcements every hour for much of the day!
Fidden is just wonderful - you're right on a beach and not far from the Iona ferry and you can also get trips to Staffa from Fionnphort. But if you want to go to Iona and really enjoy it, go early before the coach trip roll in!
Killiechronan on Loch na Keal is also in a fantastic spot but this is a very basic site. You can have camp fires but it did get slightly noisy on occasion last year. On the other hand, there's pony trekking just over the road; you can get great meals (their venision burgers are gorgeous) from Loch na Keal meals - a wee van that operates through most of the season just at the end of the camping field - and if you fail to see Gold and White-tailed eagles from your van, you're really unlucky.
As a tenter, don't know very much about Crannich, other than the folks who run it are a lovely couple.
Tobermory Campsite is about 1.5 miles outside Tob on the Dervaig road. Angus and his wife have put a huge amount into improvements on this site, nestled in a hollow so definitely sheltered from the worst of the weather. Can be midgey in summer but midgies don't usually get rampant till a bit later in the year. If you want to walk into Tob and don't fancy the uphill climb, local taxis cost about £3.00/£3.50 to get you back to the site and we have three, so someone's usually available.
Not been a caravanner for many a year, I had to think about van length! You should be fine length-wise en route to any of the sites from Craignure ferry, though take care if heading for Killiechronan on the Gruline Free. This is the stretch of road between Salen and what we call the Gruline triangle. At that point it's turn left for Knock and the scenic route to the Kinloch on the way to Fionnphort or right for Ulva Ferry and round to Calgary. This road is floating on a peat bog on the straight stretch and there's a couple of surprising yumps - take it gently:-)! If you want to give me some more info, may be able to help further, but ultimately it's got to be your choice. With more info, can do what I've done previously to try and help others but that's just gut feeling.
------------- " When I die I don`t want my life to flash before me in an instant, I want it to be a 3 hour epic !"
Hi fj .... many thanks for the lengthy and informative reply.
We are just the 2 of us, no children .... our 3 dogs are Spaniels and at not in the least bit bothered by sheep, but, of course, we do respect farmers and always have them on leads if near sheep. Not at all bothered by mobile phone signal, tv reception radio would be nice, but we are on holiday and are away from day to day life. EHU is nice but again not essential and we are planning to get Solar panels this year ....
We were looking at Fidden and would welcome your view of the road, I'm looking at Goggle maps and it looks ok .... fairly straight and open with good sides .... ok with a biggish van ....??? Maybe 4 or 5 night there and 3 or 4 crannich to top the battery up ....
We like the smaller, quite sites .... and Sheiling seems expensive ....!!??
Pete
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Hi, Pete, I try not to be biased - I stay here!! - but Fidden is glorious. The road's not too bad - one or two twiddly bits after you reach the Kinloch junction but coaches manage, although Pennyghael bridge is tight! Passing place signs have been replaced in the Glen More section so it's a bit easier to judge distances to allow overtaking/passing. Most passing places (though not all) on the route would accommodate your unit. A word of warning - once past the Kinloch junction heading to Fionnphort, don't think of going on the verges, if there's been a lot of rain, you'll bog down and won't be popular!! Another tip on that road, coaches tend to come over on the 1000 ferry and return for the 1700 - try to avoid towing between 1100 and 1200 and 1500 to 1600!
It takes about an hour (without stops for views) from Craignure to Fionnphort. If you're going to Crannich, come back to Craignure and up the Tobermory road; the first little bit after the Aros junction is a bit thin but once past the cattle grid, it's all open. Hope this helps!
------------- " When I die I don`t want my life to flash before me in an instant, I want it to be a 3 hour epic !"
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 16/1/2017
No, I'm not Ficklejade but I can recommend searching for her long posts on Mull, which are more informative than anything that VisitScotland produces.
Thank you, Fiona!
------------- " When I die I don`t want my life to flash before me in an instant, I want it to be a 3 hour epic !"
Quote: you can get great meals (their venision burgers are gorgeous) from Loch na Keal meals - a wee van that operates through most of the season just at the end of the camping field
Another vote for Loch na Keal meals here! I don't know if it's usual but they'd shifted to the field opposite the church near the triangle when I was there.
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Speaker12, If this was last October, they shifted there because of Mull Rally as the section by the campsite is part of one of the rally stages (start/stop line at campsite entrance). The triangle and the road to Knock are never closed for the Rally. I'd intended to pick up a burger (as evening meal) on way to my location at Derryguaig for the Saturday night runs but didn't make it as I was too late getting away from the Dervaig hairpins after Sat pm stages. Very fed up!
------------- " When I die I don`t want my life to flash before me in an instant, I want it to be a 3 hour epic !"
Again, fj .... thanks for that .... I've looked at Google Maps to Fionnphort .... and it looks fine for towing .... if they get 52 seat coaches down it .... fine, much worse roads around here ....
Thanks for the info on the coaches, so if we get the 11h10 ferry we should avoid most of the traffic heading east.
See you in May ..... now, can you sort the weather ...
I've said it before, will say it again..... I got badly sunburnt on Skye one year, on Arran another year. Both in May. I'm sure Mull will be glorious !
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Question for ficklejade
