Had an idea I'd like to bounce of the collective genius of the Scotland Forum, where we have learned so much.
On the 13 day Best of Scotland tour, we stay in Oban three nights. After the first night the tour takes a day trip to Mull and Iona, and then returns to Oban, with a free day/vacation from your vacation day.
We are interested in taking a day trip out of Fionnphort to see staff and Mull, and perhaps the Treshnish islands.
But I'm not sure I want to spend 2 days covering the same roads from Oban to Fionnphort. It seems like we spend more time getting to Mull than we spend actually in/around Mull before we head back to Oban. And staying overnight in Fionnphort sounds like a real vacation from our vacation, and to do a deeper dive into the local area rather than just do the tourist thing.
Yes, this would mean 'losing' a nights lodging in Oban, and having to pay additional for a night's food and lodging in Fionnphort, and probably the transport back to Oban to rejoin the tour group.
Does this make sense? Has anyone done the Best of Scotland tour gone back out to Mull to go to Staffa?
And how reliable is the ferry across to Iona...would it be wise to stay on Iona at the risk of stormy weather preventing the return to Mull and Oban? (We'll be there first week of August).