Eleanor
1000+ Posts
Didn’t live up to the advertising blurb
I have been wanting to visit Mull and Iona for years, so when I discovered a local coach company was running a five day break there, it seemed too good an opportunity to miss and I signed up. It is one of their more popular tours and the coach was nearly full, with many repeat passengers. According to the itinerary, we had a day visiting Iona, a day in Tobermory and a day looking for eagles and otters.
Mull and Iona were wonderful and the hotel was good too. These were definitely the highlights. But I did feel we were being short changed by Houghs of Lincolnshire. We had just under four hours on Iona The day in Tobermory was actually just a morning. The eagle and otter day was two hours. That possibly explains why half of the coach made alternate arrangements for the day and had booked wild life trips with tour companies on Mull. I wish I had.
The driver can make or break a trip and I must admit I didn't warm to the one we had, who had an over inflated opinion of himself and his knowledge. Did you know the ruins of Aros Castle is the only castle in Scotland to be attacked by William the Conqueror? I didn’t and I don’t think William knew either... He was aslo adamant that Paul McCartney had a house on Mull. When challenged by the passangers he maintained this was a closely guarded secret that oonly a few people (himself included) knew about. He also carried out a continous scathing commentary about other road users. Most of the other passengers were regulars and on first name terms with the driver and thouyght he was wonderful. He cultivated his little fan club. The rest of us were ignored and little effort was made to welcome or involve newcomers.
I knew it would be a long journey there and back. It took nearly 12 hours and considerably longer for those picked up before me. I would have appreciated longer on both Iona and in Tobermory and I felt the morning chasing eagles and otters was a wasted opportunity.
Yes it was a good holiday and I enjoyed it.I couldn't have booked it myself for teh price the company was charging. The sun shone for us, always a bonus. However I decided I wouldn’t be booking with Houghs of Lincolnshire for future holidays
So, now for the details....I
DAY 1 - Scunthorpe to Mull
It was a 6.30 pick up from Scunthorpe Bus Station. I didn’t get off to a good start as my taxi was 15 minutes late, having gone to the wrong address. After two irate phone calls to the taxi company and one to Hough’s explaining I might be a few minutes late, I made it with a minute to spare and the coach was waiting for me at the bus station.
We had a short stop at Ferrybridge Service Area to swap drivers, use the toilets and buy some breakfast. It was then up the A1 to Scotch Corner and the A66 to pick up the M6 and A74(M) to Moffat where we had a 45 minute lunch stop stop at the Mill Shop.
Two people had got the time wrong for being back at the bus and were five minutes late. The driver was far from happy and told them so, threatening in future to leave late comers behind.
We had another toilet stop and short break at the Green Welly at Tyndrum. There are few suitable toilet stops on the way to Oban and this is probably the best with a cafe and large shop attached. It is family owned so so the selection is very different to the ubiquitous ‘mill shops’ belonging to the Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group. Prices are higher too.
it was then onto Oban and the ferry to the Isle of Mull. This is a lovely ferry ride (and sea conditions were calm for us) aking about an hour with a good view of Duart Castle.
The Isle of Mull Hotel is just a few minutes drive from the ferry termina, with views to the ferry terminal and across to Lismore with its lighthouse, and to the mainland. It is a long low building set among the trees with a swimming pool also used by the local community, spa and sauna attached
I had a very comfortable room and food was excellent. There was plenty of choice on our set course evening menu. It was modern cuisine with an emphasis on presentation. Portion sizes were a bit small and I would have appreciated more vegetables Breakfast was self service and ample - I didn’t need any lunch.
I have been wanting to visit Mull and Iona for years, so when I discovered a local coach company was running a five day break there, it seemed too good an opportunity to miss and I signed up. It is one of their more popular tours and the coach was nearly full, with many repeat passengers. According to the itinerary, we had a day visiting Iona, a day in Tobermory and a day looking for eagles and otters.
Mull and Iona were wonderful and the hotel was good too. These were definitely the highlights. But I did feel we were being short changed by Houghs of Lincolnshire. We had just under four hours on Iona The day in Tobermory was actually just a morning. The eagle and otter day was two hours. That possibly explains why half of the coach made alternate arrangements for the day and had booked wild life trips with tour companies on Mull. I wish I had.
The driver can make or break a trip and I must admit I didn't warm to the one we had, who had an over inflated opinion of himself and his knowledge. Did you know the ruins of Aros Castle is the only castle in Scotland to be attacked by William the Conqueror? I didn’t and I don’t think William knew either... He was aslo adamant that Paul McCartney had a house on Mull. When challenged by the passangers he maintained this was a closely guarded secret that oonly a few people (himself included) knew about. He also carried out a continous scathing commentary about other road users. Most of the other passengers were regulars and on first name terms with the driver and thouyght he was wonderful. He cultivated his little fan club. The rest of us were ignored and little effort was made to welcome or involve newcomers.
I knew it would be a long journey there and back. It took nearly 12 hours and considerably longer for those picked up before me. I would have appreciated longer on both Iona and in Tobermory and I felt the morning chasing eagles and otters was a wasted opportunity.
Yes it was a good holiday and I enjoyed it.I couldn't have booked it myself for teh price the company was charging. The sun shone for us, always a bonus. However I decided I wouldn’t be booking with Houghs of Lincolnshire for future holidays
So, now for the details....I
DAY 1 - Scunthorpe to Mull
It was a 6.30 pick up from Scunthorpe Bus Station. I didn’t get off to a good start as my taxi was 15 minutes late, having gone to the wrong address. After two irate phone calls to the taxi company and one to Hough’s explaining I might be a few minutes late, I made it with a minute to spare and the coach was waiting for me at the bus station.
We had a short stop at Ferrybridge Service Area to swap drivers, use the toilets and buy some breakfast. It was then up the A1 to Scotch Corner and the A66 to pick up the M6 and A74(M) to Moffat where we had a 45 minute lunch stop stop at the Mill Shop.
Two people had got the time wrong for being back at the bus and were five minutes late. The driver was far from happy and told them so, threatening in future to leave late comers behind.
We had another toilet stop and short break at the Green Welly at Tyndrum. There are few suitable toilet stops on the way to Oban and this is probably the best with a cafe and large shop attached. It is family owned so so the selection is very different to the ubiquitous ‘mill shops’ belonging to the Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group. Prices are higher too.
it was then onto Oban and the ferry to the Isle of Mull. This is a lovely ferry ride (and sea conditions were calm for us) aking about an hour with a good view of Duart Castle.
The Isle of Mull Hotel is just a few minutes drive from the ferry termina, with views to the ferry terminal and across to Lismore with its lighthouse, and to the mainland. It is a long low building set among the trees with a swimming pool also used by the local community, spa and sauna attached
I had a very comfortable room and food was excellent. There was plenty of choice on our set course evening menu. It was modern cuisine with an emphasis on presentation. Portion sizes were a bit small and I would have appreciated more vegetables Breakfast was self service and ample - I didn’t need any lunch.