We came to Tiree for the first time in 2018 for a family holiday with our three young daughters, the four-hour ferry journey from Oban was just so astonishing, we were awestruck by the beauty of the Hebrides before we even landed at Coll, Tiree’s sister island. Along the way from Oban to Tiree, the majestic MV Clansman travels 18 miles along the Sound of Mull, this magnificent stretch of water separating the Isle of Mull from mainland Scotland. The rising land on either side of the passage offers some shelter from the Atlantic breeze, and from the deck the sites of historic and architectural significance can be spotted. Among the sites to be seen are Lismore Lighthouse, built in 1833 by Robert Stevenson and automated in 1965, this tower lighthouse is situated at the SW end of Eilean Musdile, and guards and defines the ESE entrance into the Sound of Mull. Rubha nan Gall Lighthouse, near the north entry, is a familiar sight for the many fishing boats and ferries that use this route, as are the ancient castles that line the passage, and the ruins of Aros Castle, and the fairytale-like Duart Castle can both be seen from the Clansman, on the Isle of Mull’s eastern cliffs. Further out, you can see the Treshnish Isles, Iona, Staffa and lying to the south of Skye, the Small Isles Rum, Eigg, and Muck.
Tiree
Tiree is one of the sunniest places in the UK, and with the moderating influence of the Gulf Stream, temperatures are relatively warm, even in the evenings. In daytime, when the sun is shining you could be anywhere in the world, and the beautiful white sandy beaches provide miles of swimming, surfing and windsurfing opportunities. The flat and open moorland with its native machair, attracts an abundance of birds and other wildlife, as do the 36 miles of coastline which provide fascinating and exhilarating walks. Tiree's history and architecture also capture the imagination, revealing island life in bygone ages. The farming and crofting communities of Tiree are the staple part of life on the island, healthy, colourful and majestic cattle roam freely all over the island, and Tiree’s many farmers and crofters take great pride in their animals.
