I'm doing a driving vacation of Scotland in July 2018. I've been told there is no reason to take my car to Mull (agreed??), that it would be better to go by ferry from Oban to Mull w/o the car, then take the bus to the Mull/Iona ferry. I plan to stay two nights in Iona, so this would mean leaving my car in Oban for 2 nights, presumably in the parking lot of the ferry company. Has anyone done this, AND is it safe??
We did a month driving vacation in Scotland in 2016. We drove to Mull and left our car at the ferry dock to Iona. It is a very safe area. Driving on Mull to the ferry dock was a hair raising experience as the roads are VERY narrow especially when meeting an oncoming bus. As long as you look ahead and pull over when you see an oncoming car you will be fine. Iona is wonderful to walk around first thing in the morning before the many tourists arrive.
Accomodation on Iona itself will be limited. Taking the bus over or driving to Fionnphort makes more sense.
Leaving the car in Oban should be ok, this is Oban, not central Glasgow which is somewhere I have frequently left my car for it to be untouched.
There is paid parking in Oban. I would do the ferry/bus/ferry option