Four/Five Days in the Highlands

We were staying on Mull in June 2022 and due to weather the ferry to Iona was cancelled. If Iona is a priority then I highly recommend an overnight stay; or 2 nights on Mull so you have two cracks at making it there. Mull is worthwhile anyway. Inverness is a nice base but not noteworthy in itself. We enjoyed the Culloden battle site, Clava Cairns and Cawdor Castle all in one day.

Based on how much driving you'll need to do and how slow it can be, 4 to 5 days isn't much. Add about 30% to the driving time that Google Maps gives you. And watch some videos about driving on single track roads before you get to Mull.

You can start by using the Rick Steves two week itinerary as a basis to build upon, then modify according to the time you have and your interests. Good info here on the website, and more in the RS guidebook.

https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/scotland/itinerary

Are you planning to fly out of Inverness? If not where are you wanting to end up?

Will you have a car or are you depending on publuc transport?

Assuming you have a car, you can make a very good ciruclar route to Mull and Iona ...

Day 1 and possibly Day 2. Leave Inverness on the A9 south to Pitlochry. Then pick up the A828 through Aberfeldy and Killin to pick up the A85 to Oban. This will take about 5 hours to drive PLUS any stops made on the way. You will need to decide if you do this in one day or take two days with an overnight in Pitlochry. There’s plenty to fill in two days - Cairngorm funicular railway, Strathspey heritage steam railway, the very good Highland Folk Museum at Newtonmore, Blair Castle, a drive up to the end of the road at Loch Rannoch through some of the most isolated scenery in Scotland. The station on the West Highland Railway is one of the most isolated but does have a good cafe...

Check the time of the last ferry between Oban and Craignure as it does vary depending on the day. Either stay the night in Oban or catch the last ferry to Mull and book somewhere there.

Next two days - Mull. Possibly think of basing yourself in Tobermory - depending on whether you spent the previous night in Oban, this will either be for 2 or 3 nights. This allows plenty of time to visit Iona. On the second day think about a boat trip to Staffa and Fingals cave, or catch a ferry to Ulva, or go on a wildlife tour, or Tobermory distillery, or Duart castle... There’s plenty to do

Next day Back to Inverness. The quick option is to take the ferry from Criagnure back to Oban and then pick up the A828 up the coast (with a detour to Glencoe) to Fort William and then pick up the A82 back to Inverness which will take you back along Loch Ness (possible stop Urquhart Castle). This is probably about 4 hours drive PLUS time for stops

There are two longer options which could still be done in the day...

The first is to catch the ferry from Fishnish to Lochaline From here take the A884 to Strontian and then pick up the A861 to Kinlocheil (and short detour to have a look at Glenfinnan viaduct) to pick up the A830 to Fort William and then as above... You probably need to allow 4-5 hours plus stops for this.

The second option is to take the ferry from Tobermory to Kilchoan on the Ardnamurchan peninsula. From here it is a lovely (and very isolated drive) along the B8007 along Loch Sunart to Salen where you pick up the A861 . You now have two choices - turn right for Strontian OR turn left which takes you north along the coast to Lochoilhart where you pick up the A830 back to Fort William. This follows the line of the West Highland Railway past Glenfinnan viaduct.
Scenically this probably gives most bung for you bucks although is going to be the slower route, but with less traffic for most of it. Allow 5 hours plus stops.