Islay or Mull in May 2021

kimndon

kimndon

Joined
Aug 2, 2019
Posts
211
Likes collected
583
Location
Hapton, Burnley
Funster No
62,948
MH
Dethleffs Trend
Exp
Since 2007
Kim and I are currently travelling around Scotland. We are near Fort William at the moment. I fancied getting the ferry to either Mull or Islay but have been reading that you must pre book campsites. Have any had experience on these islands? We will want to spend a week but reluctant to book that all on a campsite.
Thanks, Don and Kim
 
Islay is lovely. The campsite is community owned and the warden used to be James. It’s pitches around the outside of the football pitch. Check when the whiskey festival is on as it’s packed then. They used to wild camp at portenhaven sports field but I think recently with fund raising it’s been been put back in to use. The shower block at the community campsite is the home and away teams changing rooms.
 
I booked our stay on Mull in March - the sites were getting booked up even then
 
kimndon said:
Kim and I are currently travelling around Scotland. We are near Fort William at the moment. I fancied getting the ferry to either Mull or Islay but have been reading that you must pre book campsites. Have any had experience on these islands? We will want to spend a week but reluctant to book that all on a campsite.
Thanks, Don and Kim
Click to expand...
You can’t blame the islanders for wanting to protect their islands from the damage of an influx of (sometimes inconsiderate) campervans, what issue do you have with using a campsite ? I am sure they will allow you out if you want to explore !
 
They are both very different , I prefer Mull for scenery and eagles, but it gets so busy , but has more camp site options

Islay was a disappointment for me, very friendly but only the one camp site as mentioned above, we parked overnight at the O reserve car park, but wouldn’t rush back now if we had to use the only campsite , it’s also a surprisingly long crossing

but I would consider Jura, you have to go via Islay and you need a high tide to board the ferry to Jura if long , only one sort of site there at the hotel, but not yet been myself as too long to board 🤔

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Islay is a friendly island but the 2 main interests are shooting Deer and Whisky making, the scenery is good but not spectacular, the wildlife varied, whereas Mull has more varied and accessible wildlife and the scenery is spectacular, and is much more geared up for tourists. Of the two I would go for Mull but it will be busier than Islay.

DavidG58 mentions Jura, be aware that the roads on Jura are single track and more like farm roads, and only really one road on the east side of the island with none on the West coast. You need to be a very keen walker. The whole island is geared to Deer and the distilleries, the last time I visited I was flying into Jura but could not land as some plonker had spent a few hours ripping the grass runway up doing donuts in a 4x4.
 
Last edited:
  • Informative
Reactions: f6c
Easier if you have good friends with a garden.

FF37BBB5-4657-49BA-A9DD-9534201A6304.jpeg
 
We go to Mull on Tuesday staying at Shieling Holiday site Craignure. We booked in January! Suspect it might be full now and the ferry we also booked early. Good luck finding a site though!

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
I would always go to Mull, but I’m biased!
 
We would like to do arran, it was on the cards before covid. We will just bide our time and get there sometime.
 
Booked Mull yesterday both camp sites and ferry seemed to be lots of choices in May, Fidden farm closed until June though.
 
We booked Harris ferry in June. No requisite for a campsite to be booked.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
delta juliet said:
But did you not see this message when you booked your ferry ?
View attachment 491700Nope didn’t see that. We don’t want to be stuck in one place anyway. We want to tour the island. They have recently spent a lot of time and money on an Aire type stop over so we’ll probably use that for a night or two. I wouldn’t like to see them having wasted the time and money spent on it.
Click to expand...
 
Also you need to do 2 instant tests one 3 days before travel and one the day of travel to get to the islands. 😷🥃👍
 
fat haggis said:
Also you need to do 2 instant tests one 3 days before travel and one the day of travel to get to the islands. 😷🥃👍
Click to expand...
Well I’ve just looked on every website I can think of and it would appear that you are making that rule up. Currently there is a restriction on travel to the outer Hebrides. Absolutely no mention of testing being required. The restriction on travel is soon to be lifted and tourists will be welcome once again.
I think I’ll take notice of these travel Scotland type sites.
 
There may not be a rule but that is what NS has asked people to do. Also, she does not want people from England taking advantage of any relaxation of rules that do not apply in England. Eg, pubs and cafes in England are not allowed to open inside but are in Scotland. So, English visitors should not go inside to eat.

There are no restrictions on travelling to the island. Not sure what sites you looked at but this is the official one

www.gov.scot

Moving to Level 3

Significant easing of restrictions across retail, hospitality and travel.
www.gov.scot www.gov.scot

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Potty said:
There may not be a rule but that is what NS has asked people to do. Also, she does not want people from England taking advantage of any relaxation of rules that do not apply in England. Eg, pubs and cafes in England are not allowed to open inside but are in Scotland. So, English visitors should not go inside to eat.
Click to expand...
Were not going until June. In case you haven’t heard restrictions are being relaxed between then and now. Pubs in England are open for inside seating from 17th May.
If when we get to Scotland we’re not welcome we can always spend our money elsewhere.
 
glenn2926 said:
Well I’ve just looked on every website I can think of and it would appear that you are making that rule up. Currently there is a restriction on travel to the outer Hebrides. Absolutely no mention of testing being required. The restriction on travel is soon to be lifted and tourists will be welcome once again.
I think I’ll take notice of these travel Scotland type sites.
Click to expand...
Current guidance from the Scottish Government. When this may change?

Travelling to the Scottish islands: pre-departure testing​

To reduce the risk of coronavirus being brought into island communities by people who are unaware they are infectious, we are encouraging anyone planning to travel to a Scottish island to test before they do so. You can order rapid lateral flow tests for delivery to your home anywhere in the UK and they should arrive within 24-48 hours. We recommend that you test three days before you plan to travel and then again on the day of departure. If you test positive, you should complete your period of self-isolation before you begin your journey.

Please note that if your test result is negative, this is not a guarantee that you do not have coronavirus. You must continue to follow national and local restrictions, including FACTS guidance. If you develop coronavirus symptoms you must self-isolate and book a PCR test.

This is a voluntary scheme and you will not need evidence of a negative test to travel to a Scottish island. However, we would encourage you to participate in order to reduce the risk that you inadvertently carry coronavirus into one of our island communities.
 
Gellyneck said:
Current guidance from the Scottish Government. When this may change?

Travelling to the Scottish islands: pre-departure testing​

To reduce the risk of coronavirus being brought into island communities by people who are unaware they are infectious, we are encouraging anyone planning to travel to a Scottish island to test before they do so. You can order rapid lateral flow tests for delivery to your home anywhere in the UK and they should arrive within 24-48 hours. We recommend that you test three days before you plan to travel and then again on the day of departure. If you test positive, you should complete your period of self-isolation before you begin your journey.

Please note that if your test result is negative, this is not a guarantee that you do not have coronavirus. You must continue to follow national and local restrictions, including FACTS guidance. If you develop coronavirus symptoms you must self-isolate and book a PCR test.

This is a voluntary scheme and you will not need evidence of a negative test to travel to a Scottish island. However, we would encourage you to participate in order to reduce the risk that you inadvertently carry coronavirus into one of our island communities.
Click to expand...
So pretty much as I said, no such rule. It’s purely voluntary. This forum never ceases to amaze me with the levels of negativity from some members.
 
glenn2926 said:
Were not going until June. In case you haven’t heard restrictions are being relaxed between then and now. Pubs in England are open for inside seating from 17th May.
If when we get to Scotland we’re not welcome we can always spend our money elsewhere.
Click to expand...
You will be fine in June as the rules in England will be the same then.
 
glenn2926 said:
So pretty much as I said, no such rule. It’s purely voluntary. This forum never ceases to amaze me with the levels of negativity from some members.
Click to expand...
Not negative at all. Why wouldn’t you follow any suggestion that is there to protect other people?

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
glenn2926 said:
So pretty much as I said, no such rule. It’s purely voluntary. This forum never ceases to amaze me with the levels of negativity from some members.
Click to expand...
So, I responded to your post with helpful information and I get a response that I'm being negative. Mmmmmh!
 
Potty said:
Not negative at all. Why wouldn’t you follow any suggestion that is there to protect other people?
Click to expand...
Perhaps because some folk just don't know \ care about what the potential risk to the islanders is and what the health infrastructure is if they do contract an illness?
 
glenn2926 said:
So pretty much as I said, no such rule. It’s purely voluntary. This forum never ceases to amaze me with the levels of negativity from some members.
Click to expand...
who is making what up. It’s people like you Who will not be welcome on the islands.


LINK from cal Mac ferry website.


Scottish Government Pre-Departure Rapid Lateral Flow Test FAQs​

Do I need to test for Covid-19 prior to travel?​

From 26 April 2021, customers who plan to travel to Scotland's islands are encouraged by the Scottish Government to take a lateral flow test three days before travel and on the day of departure.
This is a voluntary process and is part of a national approach on universal lateral flow testing - as outlined by the Scottish Government. It aims to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and to reduce the risk of coronavirus being brought into island communities by those who are unaware they are infectious.
You are not required to present proof of a negative Covid-19 test prior to travel with CalMac. However, in line with Scottish Government public health guidance, anyone who has tested positive, or has been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive, must not travel.
If your test result is negative, you must continue to follow our safer travel rules - including practicing physical distancing and wearing a face covering, which is mandatory, unless you are exempt.
This invitation is extended to all passengers from Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, travelling to the Scottish islands from 26 April 2021.
For more details on this national programme and information on how to access testing kits, please visit the gov.scot website

Who is making it up.
Yes it’s not law. Do you think the islanders will welcome you for refusing to test. 🤪
Order your tickets please. They can refuse travel on their ferry’s to anybody for any reason. Try it.


​

 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Join us

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Back
Top