We spent a week exploring the coast of Mull and nearby lochs. The trip included a half day tour of Mull in a min-bus with an excellent knowledgeable guide who managed to find us some sea eagles.

The boat was small but comfortable. 6 en-suite cabins with 10 guests in all, catered for by 4 crew who could not have been more helpful or more fun. During the day we would be put ashore by tender to explore eg Iona, Fingal's Cave, Castle Duart, or for a walk, but could stay on board if preferred. At Tobermory we were alongside the pontoon so could come and go as we wished.

Food was excellent, the highlight for me being the mussels taken straight out of the sea in Loch Spelve and served half an hour later in a cream sauce for dinner (with the most delicious boat-made chips). The chef managed to satisfy everyone's food preferences. There was a good selection at breakfast. Mid-morning coffee came with home-made biscuits. Lunch was normally soup and home-made bread or pasta or cold meats with salad. Fruit was freely available. At 4pm we had tea/coffee and home-made cake. Dinner consisted of canapes followed by (on alternate days) starter and main course or main course and sweet, then a selection of Scottish cheeses (which were a revelation) and chocolates, accompanied by more wine than we could manage to drink. Read more