Fionnphort
Fionnphort is a small port at the far west of the Ross of Mull, where the ferry crosses to Iona. It lacks accommodation - this can be found in Bunessan five miles east, so facilities there are also described on this page.
Get in
A849 runs west from Craignure which has a ferry from Oban on the mainland; and Oban has buses and trains from Glasgow. The road follows the shore of Loch Scridain to Bunessan (30 miles) and Fionnphort (another 5 miles).
Bus 96 / 496 meets the ferries at Craignure and runs four times M-Sat and once on Sunday to 1 Fionnphort pier, taking 70 min. Here it connects with the ferry to Iona which sails roughly hourly 08:30-18:00, but on demand in summer, taking 10 min. Adult return ferry fare is £3.60, bikes are free, visitors' cars are not permitted (Dec 2019). Fionnphort ferry terminal has toilets and a small waiting room and snack bar.
Buses and ferries are held to make these connections but in bad weather, Fionnphort is exposed to the Atlantic and ferries may be cancelled for days on end. Ferry staff will advise non-residents against crossing to Iona if the forecast is bad.
There are two car parks in Fionnphort. There's a pay & display car park by the ferry pier. The Council have proposed £9 / day for summer parking. A quarter mile further back in the village, turn into the lane south for the Columba Centre car park, free, but it's small and fills up quickly in summer.
Get around
You'll want your own wheels between Bunessan and Fionnphort, since the bus is infrequent.
See
- Iona can easily be done as a day trip but deserves longer.
- 1 Kintra is a tiny village 2 miles north of Fionnphort. It has a nice sheltered beach when the tide drops, suitable for children's bathing, but at high tide the beach is completely covered.
- 2 Ardalanish Isle of Mull Weavers, Bunessan PA67 6DR, ☏ +44 1681 700265. Apr-mid Oct daily 10:00-17:00, mid Oct-mid Dec & mid Jan-March M-F 10:00-16:00. Farm, knitwear and gift shop, and you can tour the weaving mill.
- 3 Ross Of Mull Historical Centre (Ionad Echdraidh an Rois Mhuilich), Millbrae Cottage, Bunessan PA67 6DG, ☏ +44 1681 700659. Apr-Oct M-F 10:00-16:00. It's really a local history archive and research centre rather than a museum. Free.
- Boat trips to 4 Fingal's Cave on the island of Staffa, and the 5 Treshnish Isles, may pick up from Fionnphort and Iona.
Do
- The best beach is on the south coast at Ardalanish: follow lane from village.
- Become a Monk or Nun. There are two religious retreats here, not open for casual visits:
- - The Orthodox Monastery of All Celtic Saints north of Bunessan is mainly a centre for groups of Orthodox pilgrims going to & from Iona - they're already fully booked for 2019.
- - All Hallows Convent (Anglican) was in Norfolk but has dispersed; they run Roan Cottage south of Bunessan for retreats and pilgrims.
- - Another life contemplative is the Findhorn Community on the island of Erraid some 8 miles south of Fionnphort. It's a hell of a hike and best access is by boat, though perhaps not in the manner of David Balfour in RL Stevenson's novel Kidnapped - knocked senseless and carried away towards slavery in Carolina but shipwrecked here. Spoiler alert: David spends four days marooned before realising that Erraid is tidal. He can walk across to Mull whenever the tide goes out.
- Bird watching both on land and on the boat trips.
Buy
- 1 Spar (Convenience Store), Post Office Stores, Bunessan PA67 6DG, ☏ +44 1681 700395. M-Sa 08:00-18:00, Su 10:00-16:00. The only proper store in the Ross of Mull, and the last chance to stock up before crossing to Iona. Good selection of food and other essentials, with off-license. More expensive than the mainland but decent value for such a remote spot. Also incorporates the local Post Office.
Eat
- 1 Ninth Wave, Bruach Mhor (Half a mile east of Fionnphort, watch for sign, turn north into lane), ☏ +44 1681 700757. May-Jun & mid-July-Oct W-Su 19:00-23:00. Seafood dinners, licensed, booking essential.
- 2 The Keel Row, ☏ +44 1681 700458.
- Creel Seafood Bar, Fionnphort Pier, PA66 6BL, ☏ +44 1681700312. It's a seafood takeaway in a cabin by the pier.
Drink
Argyll Arms has the only public bar.
Sleep
- 1 Fidden Farm campsite is 2 miles south of Fionnphort. It's open May-Sept, with basic pitches by the shore and portacabin showers & toilets, tel +44 1681 700427.
- Seaview Bed and Breakfast, ☏ +44 1681 700235. Comfy friendly place close to the ferry pier. They also let The Bothy for self-catering by the week. B&B double from £100.
- Caol-Ithe does B&B and self-catering lets.
- Catchean Caravans are static for self-catering let by the week, Sat-Sat; they don't have tourer pitches.
- 2 Staffa House, ☏ +44 1681 700677. B&B with four bedrooms en suite. B&B double £90.
- 3 Ardachy House, Ardalanish, Bunessan PA67 6DS (1.5 miles south of Bunressan on Ardalanish Bay), ☏ +44 1681 700505, info@ardachy.co.uk. Check-in: 16:00, check-out: 10:00. New owners in 2019 but still in business, 3-star B&B in modern building. B&B double £90.
- There's also B&B at Newcrofts south of Fionnphort and Ardness House a couple of miles west.
- 4 Argyll Arms Hotel, Bunessan PA67 6DP, ☏ +44 1681 700240, argyllarmshotel@isleofmull.co.uk. Hotel open Apr-Sept, restaurant and bar open all year daily. B&B double from £80.
- 5 Beach House Self Catering, Lower Ardtun, Bunessan, ☏ +44 131 669-3082. Check-in: 16:00, check-out: 11:00. Beach House is a restored farmhouse looking over Loch Scridain, half way between Bunessan and Pennyghael. (The name is Gaelic be-ach, bees, not beach which would be traigh.) The holiday home sleeps 8, let Sunday to Sunday. No availability however during 2019. £1000 / week.
- Plus a couple of self-catering cottages in Bunessan.
Connect
Go next
- Take the short ferry crossing to Iona.
- Reaching the rest of Mull is usually via Craignure, but there's a lane along the coast via Dhiseig and Gruline to Salen.