Drive from Tobermory to Glencoe

I have not driven the route using the Fishnish ferry (I'm assuming that's what you mean instead of Finnish) but instead, used the route through Oban. Once you get off the island, heading to Glencoe from Oban is a pretty easy drive. Most of it is double track, and even the single track portions of it aren't bad. I don't know what the Fishnish route is like, but there's something to be said for having driven the same way twice, so you're more familiar with it.

Keep in mind that the road from Tobermory even to Fishnish is single track, and that's probably the slowest part of the drive. You're not going to avoid that at all.

What is your reason for thinking about the Fishnish route? Are you just looking for something different? If you don't have any time constraints, it might be fine. Again, I'm not familiar with that route. One thing you could do is go on Google Maps, and turn on Street View so that you can see the roads and what they look like. Click on various parts of it, and that will help you possibly decide.

Thank you for catching the misspelling. I corrected it.
I don’t really have a reason. Google maps just gave two routes. I thought there was some thread about the Morvern route, but I couldn’t find it.
Yes, I like to look at the Google map roads. I learned that trick a long time ago because I have a fear of heights, even as a passenger, so I have to be prepared for it.
The route with the Fishnish/Corran ferry is a little faster only because you don’t have to be 30 minutes in line for the Obama ferry and does give you a little bit more flexibility as they don’t take reservations.
The mileage is about the same (within7 miles) and the two ferry’s tolls equal the same price as the Oban ferry so all that’s a wash.

The Corran ferry has regular problems- just last week it was off again for 3 or 4 days, during which time a passenger only charter was operated.

When that happens you just keep on going along the Loch eventually reaching Fort William then back down the other side of the Loch past Corran.

The benefit of the Fishnish route is that it is the last ferry off Mull to be cancelled in heavy weather. It is rare for the weather to be so severe that that boat can't run.
It is a turn up and go service, no bookings.

Normally the Iona service is the first to be cancelled , then Craignure to Oban, then Tobermory to Kilchoan. If there is a backlog due to Oban being cancelled then sometimes the Tobermory vessel is moved down to Fishnish to run a shuttle service.

At least in Scotland they don't have the unique rental car fleet the Lake District has- cars which were apparently built without a reverse gear!!

Renee, if you have a fear of heights, as I do, I can tell you that when you drive to Fionnphort from Tobermory, make sure you take the route that goes through CraIgnure and NOT the route that uses the northerly road (Dervaig Rd). I went that way because I wanted to drive to Calgary Beach, and had to turn back, because there are a number of switchback turns on the mountains as you head there. They scared me so much that after creeping my way through the first one, I managed to turn myself around and go back.

To get to Fionnphort, I took the route that takes you from Tobermory down to Craignure and then headed through there to Fionnphort. It's the fastest route, although I guarantee you it will take longer than Google's estimate of one hour and 45 minutes, so make sure you add extra time in your planning. There are a few places where I was a little nervous, but nothing too bad and I made it there and back. But again, do not take the northerly route.

So I totally get what you are saying. I just got back from Norway, where my daughter and I drove through the mountains to go across the country, and I had AI chart routes for me after explaining to it that I have a fear of heights. It did a great job of doing that. You might want to think about that (or ask AI about the route).

Thank you Mardee.
Is there any way to get to Calgary Beach without being terrified? We did want to go there. I will check out the road. We will definitely take the route back through Craigmure when going to Fionnphort.

My husband is not afraid of heights and he is the driver, but even then it’s rough.

Renee, I honestly don’t know. I mean there’s probably other roads you can take to get there, but it might mean going really far out of your way. And I get that it doesn’t matter if you’re the driver or the passenger. That’s the same with me.

My daughter was driving when we were in Norway and there was one bridge that we had to go over that was so high up and it went over a fjord. I didn’t close my eyes because that makes it even scarier, in my opinion, but I did just look down at the floor of the car so I couldn’t see any of the outside and just tried to kind of think of other things in my head and that worked for me.

I did that last year also when I was in a car and found myself on the Transfăgărășan Highway in Romania, which also has lots of switchbacks and very steep drop-offs. I just kept looking down at the floor of the car until we got past the scary parts. Obviously, it wasn’t perfect, which would’ve been me not being there at all, but it worked well enough. 😊

Renee, I’m sending you another response by PM.

Ok, I am no help and I hope no one takes this wrong, but I am chuckling about what autocorrect is doing to yall. First the Finnish route, then the Obama ferry, then the Transfiguration Highway. Sending me to bed smiling. :)

Texastravelmom— you’re right! Made me smile too! Between auto correct and my big thumb I’m doomed.

You can get to Calgary via Salen, but the Salen route is 32 miles each way, as opposed to 13 miles going direct. But going via Salen would also allow you to visit Ulva Island on the foot ferry.
You can't visit Ulva on a Sunday (at least in 2026), because the community has closed the island to visitors that day, due to the pressure of visitors on the island's basic infrastructure. The island featured in a UK television programme about the community buyout and restoration of various island buildings, including the walled garden- suddenly there was an influx of visitors. It is a balancing act because visitors bring in much needed money, especially to the island cafe.

On the way back from Fionnphort the B8035 gives an alternative and 10 mile shorter route to the Craignure route (as far as Salen), along Loch na Keal. They hope to reopen the road (after a long term closure due to a rockfall) in time for the Mull Rally in October 2026, so it should be open in time for the start of the 2027 season, even if October is missed.

The Fishnish/Corran route is two lane highway for half it's distance, between Strontian and Corran. After Corran if you have to go round it becomes single track again.

I didn't even notice that until just now, TTM. 😂 I did notice the Obama highway, and that made me smile, but I didn't realize my own mistake, so thank you for pointing that out. I'm usually careful with that one, too, because it often gets misspelled.

On the way back from Fionnphort the B8035 gives an alternative and 10 mile shorter route to the Craignure route (as far as Salen), along Loch na Keal. They hope to reopen the road (after a long term closure due to a rockfall) in time for the Mull Rally in October 2026, so it should be open in time for the start of the 2027 season, even if October is missed.

Renee, I would avoid this route as well. I checked and it's also a road that can be very risky to drive. A couple of Reddit posts have talked about it, and they said it can be dangerous because there is a lot of erosion, which causes repeated rockfalls (hence the closure at this time), also blind spots where you have to be careful, and some other dangerous issues. It's supposed to be a beautiful drive, but if it were me, I wouldn't take the risk.

Thank you Ins31c that is great information.

PS I would edit the “Obama” ferry to Oban but then others may wonder what we’re talking about.🤣

On our next trip we plan to exit Tobermory via the Kilchoan ferry on our way to Onich, which allows us to spend some time on the Ardnamurchan peninsula. It's a tad longer, but I understand it's quite scenic. Also, if the Corran ferry is having serious problems, it's only 42 mi to drive around Loch Eil.

So you condemn a road you have never been on through old Reddit posts from before it's closure. That is why £500,000 is being spent on the B8035, to totally stabilise the geology and generally update it.

There was a plan for a while to just abandon the road, but the money has been found nationally to rectify the issue, after extensive geotechnical surveys, and design studies. The money is from the Scottish Crown Estates fund- £300,000 of which has been re-allocated from another rockfall project at Gallanach, Oban.

Maybe look at the road AFTER the work, because essentially it will then be a new road.

Oh, and Kilchoan stores has very recently re-opened, now as a Community shop, complete with fuel pumps. It's closure had been something of a problem.

I've driven the B8035 from Salen down to Fionnphort.

I would not recommend it as a short cut if you are not familiar with single track roads. It is very narrow, very tight if you are not used to it.

Though hearing Argyll and Bute Council is improving it does meant this info is out of date.

So you condemn a road you have never been on through old Reddit posts from before it's closure. That is why £500,000 is being spent on the B8035, to totally stabilise the geology and generally update it.

Stuart, first, the Reddit posts were not old—in fact, one of them was just posted a couple of days ago. Second of all, Renee has talked about her fear of heights, and as someone who also has a fear of heights, most people with this phobia want to be on safer roads. Third, you have no idea how much they're going to improve it and what's going to happen because it hasn't happened yet. Maybe once it's done and it's a perfect dream of a road, then you can post here and say, "Hey, look, it's great, and it's very safe." But at this time, I'm certainly not going to recommend to anyone that they take it.

Obviously, the roads in Scotland are what they are. Renee knows that and I know that, but those of us with phobias can still make choices that give us a more comfortable ride rather than a ride where our hearts are in our throat.