Mull and Iona

Wednesday 23rd September

We arrived on Mull at Craignure on Monday teatime leaving Oban slightly earlier than planned. The Shielings Campsite is within sight of the ferry pier so was very easy to find. 

We were very disappointed to be given one of the worst pitches on the site looking at the loo block one way and the gas bottle cage and their very large waste bins the other way. What a contrast from all our previous sites! After a little think I walked round to the reception and politely asked if they could put us in a nicer spot the next day, we were booked in for 4 nights, however the options she offered were not much better.

We sat down with a drink and, using the hotspot on Michael’s phone, began to search to find other places we could go even though we had paid in full for four nights! Then there was a knock on the door! 

The girl from reception explained that a van which had been given a shore front pitch had put up an awning which is prohibited on those pitches so..... would we like to move? Yes please!! We now have a lovely view over the shore looking across to the Morvern Peninsula. 

Yesterday, Tuesday was wet, very wet with no views. We drove up to Tobermory had a walk along the picturesque street in a mainly dry spell and back again. We looked in the hotel and pub windows where food was being served but they looked far too crowded so we went back to the van. It was chilly and wet by that time so we broke out the packet soup!!

On the way home we listened to Nicola Sturgeon’s statement to the Scottish Parliament in which she put the kibosh on visiting our friends next week.  We are all very disappointed!  After some thought today we are going home on Saturday, taking the van back at 12md instead of 10.0am on Sunday. 

This morning dawned bright and sunny and cold. 10.4 in the van at 8.0am. However we had been snug and warm in bed. I put all my merino layers on and the van soon warmed up as we cooked breakfast. I indulged too today! 

Then we drove over the hills and along the lochs to Iona passing through Glen More with a great view of Ben More which Michael has climbed on at least one occasion 

We met a very Scottish traffic jam a few miles further on!

Beautiful highland cattle 

We stopped to make coffee at Bunessan enjoying more lovely views

Finally we arrived at Fionport for the ferry to Iona. The ferry had just left so we made our lunch and went over on the next one. We only had just under two hours on the island due to our car park however that was long enough to walk to the Abbey. There are more houses and shops than I remember. 

Of course the Abbey and the Heritage Centre were closed 

The day had turned warm and sunny so I got some good photos

We were amazed to see a 10 wheeler truck reverse onto the ferry on the way back. It was a tight fit!

On the way back we stopped to make a brew at Pennyghael. This is the advantage of a campervan, everything on tap when we need it!

We then followed a very large truck carrying a timber extraction vehicle and which had an escort van in front of it! There were one or two interesting situations at passing places on the road! 

Back to Craignure and more beautiful views looking across to the Glen Coe mountains however no otters so far...,

71 mile round trip today. 

This is a large campsite, larger than we usually like to stay in. The facilities are open but we are using them sparingly preferring to wash shower etc in the van. There are a lot of people about and we are using masks more and more. 

There is no WiFi!!!! ..... and scarcely a signal for EE! 

However  Michael has got a signal with Giffgaff so we bought more data for him and I am using his hotspot! The signal for giffgaff  was almost non existent on the Outer Hebrides. 

Until the next time.....