Standby Options on Ferry from Craignure (Isle of Mull) to Oban

I think you'd be fine just getting in the standby line. That is actually pretty common and many people do it. Of course it's not guaranteed, but I know when I was getting on the ferry at Oban heading to Tobermory, there were several people on standby, and the Calmac people just waved them through.

All sailings back that day are full, because it is the last day of the 3 day Mull car rally. Most sailings next day are also full for the same reason.

So the island will be very, very busy.

On that basis the chance of getting a stand by sailing is probably very small, as there will be very high demand for stand by.

Fisnhish is not a guaranteed passage either. That is a first come first served non bookable route. With Oban sailings full that route will be under very heavy pressure. They can not guarantee to clear everyone, and crew hours of rest mean that extending hours isn't an option.

And if the weather blows up Fishnish could end up as the only route sailing anyway.

All in all, not a good idea IMO to go over that day.

On the big boat, the Isle of Mull, they are supposed to hold a few spaces open for urgent islander use. That is what your hotelier will have used, when not needed for urgent use. But you don't know if those spaces will be needed for their intended use or how long the wait list is.

If the weather does blow up. and they have all that traffic to clear, even the Monday could be interesting. And all accommodation on Mull will be booked that night by those leaving on Monday.

The Mull Rally is a great event I'd love to attend some day (as well as some rounds of the Irish Tarmac Championship).

Now Stuart has provided that information, it makes your visit to Mull a complete bust really. Many of the roads on the island will be closed for competition. Every hotel room will be booked. It's a big deal. Unless you're a fan of rallying, avoid.

It's a great event. The last UK stage rally event on public roads outside of Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man. Wicked fast. A real test. People come from all over, but the locals still do well.

Sorry to say that it puts a tin lid on your visit to Mull, in my opinion.

Here's a video of some action from 2023 -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuUDcM6gbR0

and 2021 -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyagZcBRTiY&t=690s

Wow! Am I so glad that I found this forum and asked my question. Thank you so much for your advice. We can either decide to spend the day outside of Oban or try to add a day to our Islay stay.

Thanks to Stuart for the info. I've now gone down a Youtube rabbit hole of rally videos :)

I think Mardee has been down the road to Calgary, as I have many years ago, but not quite at this speed :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zcns3ycvv7Y

If you have a hotel booked in Oban you might as well go there now. There are a number of options for a day trip by car from Oban.

Kilmartin Glen with it's prehistoric remains is the obvious.

If the weather was nice you could drive down to the Kerrera ferry, cross on foot then do the island circular walk.

Or the vehicle ferry over to the Isle of Lismore. Even better drive up to Port Appin for the Lismore foot ferry, maybe have lunch or dinner at the Pierhouse (sister to the Three Chimneys on Skye), and have a good afternoon walk on the often overlooked Isle of Lismore.

Or the Slate Islands- Drive down to Ellenabeich on the Isle of Seil (using the 'Bridge over the Atlantic') then the wee passenger boat to Easedale, come back over and drive down for the little vehicle ferry to the Isle of Luing. The two isles have differing histories of the slate quarrying.

Or via the Bonawe Historic Iron Furnace to the underground Cruachan Hydro Electric Power Station [aka The Hollow Mountain]

Or Dunstaffnage Castle

Just a few ideas, there are others.

Thanks to all for their input and suggestions. We decided to visit some castles in the area and just enjoy some downtime. Hopefully we'll be back in the area to visit Iona another time.