Edinburgh to Oban + Mull Suggestions

Day 1 is very ambitious (especially if you are coming off a transatlantic flight....) Allowing for time to land and pick up the car, you are unlikely to reach Stirling much before 10am. You then have toi park up and reach the castle. Two hours is a very quick scamper round the castle as the advice is to allow 3-4 hours...

Drive to Loch Lomond and it is going to be a very late lunch... Are you planning on a picnic or proper meal? You may need to skip your 1-2 hour hike... You probably need to allow a couple of hours to get to Oban and your accommodation.

Day 2 Check the departure times for the boat trips to Staffa - They look to depart from Fionnphort around 10am or 2pm and last three hours. You arrive in Craigbure about 9.30 and it is going to take a good hour to drive to Fionnphort so you won't catrch the 10 am boat trip. The 2pm departure should get back in time for you to catch the 6.50 ferry from Craignure, but I'm not sure that I would want to risk that as you are asked to arrive arrive at least 30 minutes before departure.

Hi, Ebarb,

Just to add to Wasleys post, by the time you pick up your luggage, clear immigration (assuming you are coming in directly from overseas), and pick up and familiarise yourselves with your car, it's going to be close to 10:00 a.m. before you depart EDI. Stirling is about an hour's drive, but giving yourselves time to get lost on that huge roundabout outside of Stirling, it would be close to half past eleven by the time you get to the castle. Again, as Wasleys pointed out, you should give yourselves more than two hours for a good tour.

By the time you get to the castle, you are going to be hungry. Especially if all you've had is whatever they serve for breakfast on your flight. Just to ensure that your castle visit is enjoyable, I'd recommend having lunch in Stirling before you start your tour.

Stirling to Oban via the A811/A82/A85 is a good three hours, but that would give you the opportunity, if you don't stop, to see a good bit of Loch Lomond. If you want to get closer to the loch for a walk, you could stop at Luss or Tarbet. There are tour boats which ply the waters of the loch, if you have time.

Again, as Wasleys advised, the timing for the Staffa tour is going to be tight. You can count on close to an hour from Craignure to Fionnphort, which would negate the 10:00 a.m. sailing. If you take the 2:00 p.m. tour, you should be able to make it back to Craignure in time for the 30 minute check in for your 6:50 p.m. sailing to Oban. There is a later ferry if you get bumped. (Unless that one is fully booked!) One good thing about Mull - you can't get lost!

Oban to Pitlochry via Glencoe is a very scenic drive. A828/A82/A85/A827/A9 is your best route. The A827 will take you along the north shore of Loch Tay, and past the Falls of Dochart at Killin. You'll have ample opportunity for walks along the way, and once you get to Pitlochry, as well.

Have a wonderful time on your holiday!

Best wishes, and safe travels,

Mike (Auchterless)

p.s.: If, for weather or other reasons, the Staffa tours are not running, you have the options of visiting Iona, or Tobermory and Duart Castle.

It could be that fitting in a visit to Stirling Castle on your return to Edinburgh might be a better use if time and take some of the pressure off that longish day driving to Oban.That said, I personally think that 2 hours is enough time to enjoy the castle though everyone has their own pace of course.
Duck Bay Marina has a glorious outside terrace for lunch or the Coachhouse Cafe in pretty Luss does good soup and scones( and excellent Meringues) but no view as such.
The issue with a walk in the area is that everything is pretty much uphill though Firkin Point offers a stroll along the loch and there is a short loop round Luss itself but it IS short.
The boat trip, if time allows, takes you over to Inversnaid and on a nice day is a glorious way to enjoy the most scenic end of the loch.At the pretty jetty where you are dropped off (you can also just do a there and back on the boat) there are waterfalls and also a short uphill hike to a wonderful viewpoint over the loch and mountains.
It’s a shame you can’t do an overnight on Mull itself but it’s perfectly feasible to do the Staffa trip.Having a bit of time to play with before the boat trip might let you enjoy an outdoor lunch at The Creel seafood hut where we had excellent lobster and chips last summer.The casual outdoor seating only hut has won various awards.
Fingers crossed you get a sunny day for the Mull excursion!
Duart Castle makes for a great visit too and also offers decent food in the cafe.
It would be ashamed to miss Iona however….a 40 min or so (one way) hike out on the island’s quiet road to the gorgeous white sands of the North End beaches is always my priority albeit you might also wish to see the Abbey buildings too.

Thank you, auchterless, scotlandmac, and wasleys for your prompt replies. I appreciate your candid assessments. One of my biggest faults has always been too ambitious when travel planning. I am of the opinion that if the weather is crummy on Day 1, then we will do Stirling castle. if the weather is glorious, then spend the time outdoors.
The guidance for a day on Mull is valuable as well, and particularly the suggestions on where to eat!
Thank you all!