Hello - we are planning to visit Scotland in June - with 3 nights in Oban. We are looking forward to the Three Isles Tour (Mull, Iona, Staffa). We are wondering how long in advance should we book. In reading Rick's Scotland guide - they suggest booking ahead, but to also be careful for the weather.
We did a trip to the Netherlands last year - this forum was a great resource. Glad to be back talking Travel!
If you are there before 10 June (a date which may yet slide further) there are no landings on Staffa due to the boat dock being renovated, so you will merely sail round the island. Note West Coast Tours stating the end of May is economical with the truth- the June date is directly from the National Trust for Scotland who are undertaking the work.
Furthermore if you are there before 15 June I would very strongly suggest pre-booking ASAP due to restricted capacity (including for foot pax) on the ferries over to Mull due to much smaller than normal ferries being used.
While you don't book the ferries tour companies have to work within that constraint.
Three days in June are already booked out for the Three Isles Tour.
There are only so many buses on Mull (and the current ferry service makes it less easy to easily send relief buses across) and so much boat capacity for the trip to Staffa.
Even in 'normal' times if Iona and Staffa are important to you I would highly suggest booking as far ahead as you can- as the ultimate pinch point is always the small boats to Staffa. You take your chances with the weather.
The Staffa portion will be cancelled anyway if the sea conditions are too poor. I assume West Coast Tours then substitute a bus tour of the rest of the island of Mull instead.
Agreeing with Stuart, book as early as possible (or as allowed). We did the Wildlife Tour (Iona, Lunga, Staffa) and loved it, but we're suckers for puffins. Needing your physical ticket before the office opens on trip day means you have to be in Oban the previous night before the office closes. If you're trip is cancelled, you'll get a refund. I found that our trip sold out months in advance. The reduced ferry capacity adds additional urgency to having a booking. Unfortunately, a cancellation will not be fulfillable the next day since there will few openings. Have a good Plan B - there's a lot do do/see in the area, depending on your interests.
I agree with reserving early, but the process for getting the physical ticket has changed from what jjgurley describes and no longer requires being there the night before. 7:25 departures are to take their email confirmation to the ferry terminal to receive the ferry tickets whereas 9:55 tours take their email confirmation to the West Coast Motors tour shop. This is per their FAQs and an email we received for our upcoming tour in April.
Until 15 June West Coast Tours will be amending all bookings in due course as the ferries from Oban are departing 10 minutes earlier than booked- at 0715 and 0945 Tuesday to Saturday, 0630 and 0920 Monday and 0845 Sunday.
Note in particular the much earlier than booked Monday and Sunday times.
These changes are due to extended passage times and small cruise ships berthing overnight at Craignure (Mull).
Hopefully they give that information timeously, not just when you turn up to collect your ferry tickets.
You must be fully checked in 10 minutes before those sailing times.
Advertised times should re-commence from 16 June.
Thank you for the time updates isn31c!
