We know there are always lots of questions when booking accommodation. Below are some of the queries that we get asked most frequently. We’re always here to help though so if there’s anything you need to know please call or email us.
To allow us to prepare your lodge to the highest possible standards our check in time is 5pm. If you’re arriving early on the island and want to drop off luggage or stuff for the fridge freezer we’ll do our best to help out.
As a small business, it’s expensive to buy or rent card machines and the machine providers take a big cut of any transaction.
When booking with us direct we ask for a deposit of £100 through our online payment system, Stripe. The balance of your holiday is due a six weeks before your arrival. In order to keep costs down we take payment by either bank transfer, cheque or alternatively we can send you a link to pay online.
All linen and towels are included in the cost of your stay. We also provide tea towels for you. If you are staying for more than a week we will provide a linen change half way through your stay.
We’ve tried to provide everything you could possibly need! We have stayed in all our lodges and given ourselves ‘feedback’ to ensure you can prepare and cook anything you fancy. The electric fan oven and grill is full size and there is a four ring electric hob. There’s a microwave and a good size fridge freezer too. There’s also the following:
There is!
We also provide ‘non-bio’ washing pods. There’s indoor drying racks and outdoor washing lines.
At the moment none of our lodges have a dishwasher. We’re working hard to update all our lodges but at the moment there’s simply no room in the kitchens without refitting them all.
We always advise that you book your ferry if you are planning to travel on the Oban to Craignure route. During the summer season the afternoon sailings can book up weeks in advance. You can book your sailing online through the Calmac website.
If you can’t get your preferred sailing or you fancy an adventure then you could take the route from Lochaline to Fishnish. It is a longer distance but time wise from Glasgow it is almost the same, as you avoid the 30 minute check in time in Oban. The route involves two ferries, the Corran ferry just outside Fort William then the 15 minute sailing to Mull. Neither ferry is bookable in advance but run a frequent service.It’s a stunning drive up through Glencoe too!
To make the most of your stay a car is advisable. Mull has 300 miles of coastline to explore! Car hire is available on the island from Craignure and Tobermory. It is possible to get to the lodges by public transport although buses are infrequent and on a weekend are very limited. The bus service links Craignure with Iona in the south of the island and Tobermory and Dervaig in the north. There are no services to the west coast of the island. There is a community transport service which links the West coast of Mull and that can be booked here.
Bikes and electric bikes can be hired from Tobermory and Salen – it’s advisable to book in advance.
All our duvets and pillows are Hypoallergenic but are also super soft and comfortable. We have ‘Dusal Comforel’ 10.5 tog duvets and pillows throughout. Each bed has a combination of one soft and one firm pillow and if you need extra pillows we can provide them for you. We also provide blankets and hot water bottles if needed on chillier nights. All our linen is full cotton.
We try our very best to limit our environmental impact.
We use quality cleaning products which are all non-toxic, paraben free and refillable and fully recyclable on a closed loop system. Our lodge products are all supplied by ‘Smol’. We clean using ‘Mimiml’ and ‘Bower Collective products’.
All our linen is laundered by us and is line dried wherever possible.
We encourage recycling by all our guests and provide labelled bins for all categories of recycling and waste, including compost.
Loads!
If you’re looking for big shopping centres, amusements arcades and theme parks then you’ll be a bit disappointed.
We do have miles of beautiful coastline though with sandy white beaches. We’ll even let you borrow buckets and spades. Our wildlife is famous the world over, with Golden eagles, sea eagles, puffins, otters, seals and basking sharks.
We have beautiful walks, along coastline, through forestry trails, to abandoned old settlements, wartime plane crash sites. You can sit and rest awhile in wildlife hides or grab a cuppa and a cake at one of our amazing cafes. We provide Ordnance Survey maps covering the island along with walking books to allow you to plan your route
Visit Iona, the Cradle of Christianity, with it’s amazing abbey, kooky little shops and lovely restaurants. One of our favourite days out is a trip to Ulva on the tiny passenger boat with lunch at The Boathouse followed by a walk along the forest trails.
Take a boat trip out to Staffa and the Treshnish Isles to see puffins, or a trip out to see the eagles at close quarters. Go whale watching from Tobermory.
Or just sit and relax in your lovely cosy lodge and read or watch the world go by!
Most of the trips, such as those to Staffa and the Treshnish Isles tend to have capacity at a few days notice. If you want to see the eagles up close from the sea then we would recommend booking as the Sea Eagle adventure trips can book up weeks in advance here.
All trips are weather dependent and of course there’s no guarantee that you’ll encounter the wildlife – these wild animals don’t always play ball! Puffins are migratory and they start appearing in the sea around Staffa and the Treshnish isles during March/early April, and move ashore to lay their egg and hatch their pufflings in late May or early June. By the first week in August the adult puffins start to leave the island and their pufflings, now independent follow them out to sea to migrate.
There are lots of events on the island to keep you out of mischief.
Weekly Producer’s markets are held in Tobermory – every Monday from 12 – 2pm. More infrequent markets are held in Dervaig and in Craignure. There are lots of special days out arranged by the ranger service with walks and wildlife spotting and activities for children. Glengorm Wildlife trust also arranges fun family days out too. There is always a schedule of events on at Duart castle throughout the season and dates are published on their website.
We also provide you with a copy of the island’s ‘newspaper’ which has a full list of events on a month by month basis. They have a diary section on their website which is added to regularly.
There’s plenty for the children – if they tire of the beaches then they can visit An Camus and make their own creations in glassware. There are adventure playgrounds in Tobermory or they can learn to crab off one of the jetties scattered around the island (we can provide crabbing nets and give you directions to the best spots!)
Our restaurants are renowned for providing the freshest seafood and local meat. Vegetarians and vegans are also catered for at most establishments.
Our friends at the Mull and Iona food trail have created a food trail around the island – there’s a map of all the places included in your lodge and they have an online guide too.
A grown up Puffling
Beech Lodge
Willow Lodge
Rowan Lodge
Sycamore Lodge
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