Tobermory (Scotland)

Tobermory is the capital of Mull, in Argyll and Bute. It is one of the larger Inner Hebrides.

Understand

If you have a small child with you, then you will probably not be able to avoid Tobermory, or Balamory as they will call it after the TV series. The town is picturesque, with painted buildings along the waterfront, and an interesting assortment of small shops, cafes and pubs.

Get in

By car

21 mi (34 km) north west from Craignure.

By bus

• There are buses from Craignure which connect with some ferry services from Oban. There are 6 buses per day on weekdays and 4 on Saturday.
• There are buses from Calgary. There are 3 buses per day on weekdays and 2 on Saturday.

By ferry

• Calmac run a small car ferry from Kilchoan on Ardnamurchan. In summer, there are 7 ferries per day Mon - Sat and 5 on Sun. In winter there are 3 ferries per day Mon - Sat.

Get around

The village can readily be explored on foot, but note that there is a steep hill between the main street and the majority of houses and the Western Isles Hotel.

See

• 🌍 Mull Museum, Columba Buildings, Main St,, ☎ [phone]. (updated Dec 2016)

Do

• 🌍 Tobermory Distillery.  
• 🌍 Mull Theatre, Druimfin, Tobermory, PA75 6QB (1 mile outside the town on Salen Rd.), ☎ [phone]. Parking beside theatre. (updated Apr 2017)
• Take a boat trip to the seal colony.
• Isle of Mull Highland Games are held in Tobermory in late July. The next event is Thurs 18 July 2019.

Buy

• 🌍 The Island Bakery, Tobermory, Isle of Mull, PA75 6PY, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Food from the delicatessen. Its products are excellent and deserve the description 'yummy'. Its Island baked bread is widely available on the island. (updated Apr 2017)
• 🌍 Co-op (Supermarket), 33 Main Street, Tobermory, PA75 6NT, ☎ [phone]. The only sizeable supermarket on the whole island is in Tobermory. This shop does not impose any island premium on top of its prices and maintains a good supply of fresh fruit and vegetables. Well worth supporting. ATMs. (updated Apr 2017)

Eat

• fish and chips van (underneath the clock tower on the harbour.), ☎ [phone]. 
• 🌍 Cafe Fish, The Pier (above the old Cal-Mac offices now the Tourist Information, on the pier), ☎ [phone]. Typically fish from their own boat and other island specialities, good wine list, advisable to book for evenings in season. who claim 'the only thing frozen is our fishermen.' 
• 🌍 Mull Cheddar, Sgriob-ruadh Farm, Tobermory, PA75 6QD, ☎ [phone]. Is an artisan cheese made near Tobermory, with a great strong distinctive flavour. (updated Apr 2017)

Drink

• 🌍 Tobermory Whisky, Ledaig, ☎ [phone]. Drink, or go on a tour of the distillery. The whisky is sold under the Tobermory and Ledaig brands. Ledaig is peated like an Islay whisky and Tobermory is smoother. 
• 🌍 The Mishnish, Main Street, ☎ [phone]. Good Beer, Nice ambience Pub Grub Live Music ... an essential part of a Tobermory experience (updated Feb 2017)

Sleep

• 🌍 Tobermory Youth Hostel, Main Street, Tobermory, PA75 6NU, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Check-in: 17.00 - 22.00, check-out: 10.00. SYHA Hostel on the seafront, with great facilities, awarded 4 stars by the Tourist Board. from £17 for a bed. (updated Mar 2017)
• Back Brae Lodge, Main Street, Tobermory (Back Brae), ☎ [phone]. Check-in: 1100, check-out: 1500. Quality self-catering weekly let holiday house accommodation. 
• 🌍 The Mishnish Hotel, Main St, Tobermory (Hotel on the seafront, near the pier.), ☎ [phone]. Bar is popular with locals and visiting yachtsmen. B&B from £50. (updated Feb 2017)
• 🌍 The Tobermory Hotel, Main Street (On the waterfront near the distillery), ☎ [phone]. Comfortable family run hotel with spectacular views and superb food produced from best local produce. £40 - £128 B&B. 
• 🌍 Western Isles Hotel, ☎ [phone]. Classic highland hotel (built in 1883) on the hill above Tobermory. Rooms from £49 to £169. 

Go next

• Bunessan
• Calgary
• Craignure
• Fionnphort
• Iona