Next week the Prince and Princess of Wales will be heading to the Isle of Mull, off Scotland’s west coast for a two-day visit.
The trip happens to coincide with the couple’s 14th wedding anniversary, which seems serendipitous as the couple first met in Scotland, while attending the University of St Andrews.
During the visit, William and Kate (who are known in Scotland as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay), will be meeting with residents, farmers and craftspeople, meeting a herd of Hebridean sheep and spend time in ancient woodland.
If this weren’t fun enough, it might tickle some people to know that the first stop on their visit is Tobermory, which served as the setting for the iconic 00s children’s show, Balamory.
The seaside spot is the main town on the Isle of Mull, with a port, picture-perfect harbour and charming mix of independent shops and eateries.
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Online, those who have visited have hailed the area ‘magical’, ‘striking’, ‘picturesque’, ‘vibrant’ and ‘one of the most beautiful’ places in Scotland.
One reviewer on the travel site Minube, said: ‘The Isle of Mull is a magical Scottish Island. It’s probably the least-visited island that can only be reached if you take a ferry, but if you venture to go you can meet the wonderful people of Tobermory. Typical fishing village but with that magic as if time had stopped.’
And Tripadvisor users agree, with a commenter known as SolihullRichard posted: ‘The view across the coloured houses on the bay is one of the [most] iconic sights of Scotland and contains varied retail and eating outlets.’
While Malgorzata hailed it ‘one of the most beautiful places on the planet’. They added: ‘The harbor with its colorful buildings is beautifully situated on the Tobermory Bay. […] Main street is a mix of shops, eateries, hotels and guest houses and has an excellent selection of locally produced arts and crafts. What a beautiful place. Simply magical.’
On TikTok, the town has been branded a ‘bucketlist’ destination, especially for those who spent a lot of time watching Balamory. But for those who do decide to visit, you might be devastated to discover that the pink castle from the show, where Archie lived, isn’t actually in town.
The castle is actually in East Lothian, and we’re sorry to say it’s not pink either.
If you can somehow manage to get over that heartbreak though, Tobermory is well worth a visit. Here’s everything you need to know about the town…
How to get to Tobermory
While it’s well worth a visit, getting to Tobermory is no mean feat — especially if you’re travelling from London.
You’ll want to start by getting the train from London to Glasgow, either from London Euston to Glasgow Central, a journey that takes just under six hours, or from King’s Cross to Glasgow Queen Street (seven hours and 35 minutes).
Your goal is to end up at Glasgow Queen Street, where you’ll need to hop on another train to Oban, a three-hour journey that goes passes some stunning scenery through the Scottish highlands and Loch Awe.
At Oban, you’ll be saying goodbye to trains and getting on a ferry for 45 minutes to Craignure on the Isle of Mull. To reach Tobermory, you’ll need to get on a bus, which will take another half an hour. Alternatively, you could hire a car, or try and book a taxi, but taxi services are ‘few and far between on the island’, according to tobermory.co.uk.
As you can see, it’s a long trip, so you might want to do it in stages, perhaps spend a night or two in Glasgow before heading on to Oban, or you could stay in Oban which is known as the ‘seafood capital of Scotland’.
Things to do in Tobermory
As well as admiring the colourful houses dotted along the harbour in Tobermory, there are plenty of other things to do during your visit.
The town is a little haven for foodies, home to a popular bakery, known as the Tobermory Bakery & Tearoom, as well as the Tobermory Chocolate Shop, Tobermory Distillery and a tiny biscuit shop known as Island Bakery, where you’ll find shortbread and other nibbles.
For those who love an aestethic place to eat, The Glass Barn is a must-visit. The cafe is located at Sgriob-ruadh Dairy Farm and Distillery, where Isle of Mull Cheese is made. It’s open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm, with last orders for lunch at 2:30pm. While here you can also do farm and distillery tours, and visit the farm shop.
Those interested in the history of the Isle of Mull will want to swing by the Mull Museum, which is small but crammed full of information about the island’s life and the town also has its own aquarium.
There are plenty of walks you can go on to take in the picturesque scenery, including a coastal cliff walk to Rubha nan Gall Lighthouse. Alternatively, head to Aros Park, which is about half a mile from the centre of town and features woodland, a loch and plenty of wildlife.
Nearby Dun Ara Castle and Crater Loch are also great spots to explore, and if you’re feeling adventurous you might be able to see Golden and White-tailed Eagles on the Ardmore coastal walk.
If you’d prefer to be off your feet, there are various boat trips you can book around the west coast of Scotland.
Where to stay in Tobermory
There are several hotels and B&Bs in the town, including the Mishnish Hotel which is 450 yards from the centre. A booking for two people, staying two nights in early May starts from £198.
There’s also the Tobermory Hotel, Western Isles Hotel, Harbour Guest House and a youth hostel for those who want a cheap place to sleep.
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