Tuesday 24th June

This morning we caught the ferry to Mull - another calm crossing for us!  The weather was wet, but soon dried out during the day.  We drove around north Mull first and to begin with I wasn't really that impressed with the landscape until about  half an hour later when it became really scenic.  Again, I had no idea that Mull was so mountainous, I thought it would me more like rolling hills but I was pleasently surprised yet again!

We stopped off at Tobermory which was a really nice little place, with a street of bright and colourful shops which sold anything and everything, often doubling up with trades.  For example, a chocolate shop which was also a cafe, and a laundrettes which also sold textiles.  The oddest one was the shop which sold ukuleles, binoculars, knives and whisky..!  We spent quite a bit of time here, and I ended up buying quite a few biscuits for work and for Mum, and the chocolate shop.....well.....I couldn't resist but buy some of my favourite rose and violet chocolates when I discovered they did them!  I thought about the coffee creams but I left it....wishing I'd gone for it now though..!  I bought a huge chunk of fudge for Dad here, and Mathew bought one for himself.

We continued along the northwestern side of Mull until we began to get hungry.  Whilst we have been travelling around the Hebrides, we have discovered that there seem to be anumber of tea rooms and cafes dotted around the place, so we just kept a look out for one.  We stopped off at a place called Calgary where we stumbled upon a tearoom which also had a gallery, mostly of carvings and sculpture.  I had a cheese, onion and pea tart and Mathew had a cheese and onion panini and we shared a small(ish) Tiffin afterwards. It was a really nice place and the food was delicious.  I love the fact there are a number of places here which have Rooibos Tea!

We then discovered and took a walk on a 'Sculpture Trail' which was really quite fun, with sculptures and art in the trees and on plinths in the meadow and woodland in which it was set - we were also rewarded with a nice view of the beach at Calgary Bay.  I think I would call this a 'hidden gem' of Mull - it was such a nice place.  Lunch walked off, we continued around the island which was really very picturesque, and we came around full circle to Fishnish which is where we had started.  This time we turned east towards Craignure where we checked in to Craignure Inn, another old fashioned Inn similar to the last place in Lochaline.  For dinner we ate at the same place as there was nowhere else to eat, I had pizza and Mathew had Venison casserole.