Scottish islands are just for summer, right? Seriously wrong! We’ve been back to the Hebridean Isle of Mull for an off season break and it worked out . . . brilliantly. At the heart of the fun was securing a whole hostel to ourselves, through Hostelling Scotland’s innovative ‘Rentahostel’ programme. And not just any hostel. Tobermory Youth Hostel is a bolthole right on the waterfront in the island capital of Tobermory with great views out over a bay alive with porpoises and seabirds. Here are seven reasons you should book a Rentahostel break.
1. A brilliant base
Tobermory Youth Hostel just couldn’t be better located. It sits in pastel pink right on the shortbread tin pretty main street of arguably the most picturesque village anywhere in the Scottish isles. It peers out over the water, with all of Tobermory’s cafes, restaurants, pubs and shops right next door. You could easily spend all your time just pootling around here, with a large chunk of that sitting with a book peering out the living room, kitchen or bedroom windows spotting diving birds and passing porpoises.
2. Affordable flexibility
It’s not easy to get affordable accommodation for large groups. Hostelling Scotland – an organisation with over 90 years of experience – come to the rescue here. Our party of 15 easily fitted inside an accommodation that can sleep up to 27 people across eight bedrooms. Forget crammed dormitories as here there is real variety. We’re talking cosy rooms with just one double bed for couples, through to a room we used for the kids that had two bunkbeds and a single bed. With four showers and a quintet of toilets it all worked well for our group.
3. Making the most of the local food scene
Mull is one of the best Scottish islands for snaring local produce. There are great places to eat in Tobermory – how about sustainable local seafood caught with their own boat at Café Fish Or maybe a king scallop supper from the wee chippie van on the quay, more seafood at the Mishdish or a hearty pub meal at Macgochans. The well-equipped kitchen is great for cooking up a sound provenance storm. We grabbed Inverlussa Mussels (£6 for 5kg!) and cooked them with Scottish cider. We also tucked into the famous Isle of Mull Cheddar and their newer Hebridean Blue. More seafood followed from Tobermory Fish Company – who smoke their own fish on site – and chocolates from the shop on the waterfront.
4. A toast with a view
Scotland and whisky are synonymous and handily you’ve got a whisky distillery just around the bay. Take a tour of the Tobermory Distillery and snare a bottle to come back and enjoy. Their mellow standard expressions are spiced up by their peaty Ledaig malts. They also do a mean gin. For beer lovers there are the beers from newcomer ToBEERmory, who play on the TV series Balamory with their beers and microbrewery shopfront alive with those famous bright colours.
5. Life-affirming hikes on your doorstep
You could take on Mull’s hills and mountains if you’ve got all the gear and experience, but there are such great walks around the village you really don’t need to. We love the trail out to Tobermory Lighthouse – you eke towards the whitewashed Stevenson gem looking out for porpoises, dolphins, whales, seals and seabirds. At the other end of the village Aros Park awaits with walking trails, a loch and a surging waterfall.
6. The wildlife comes out to play out of season
Autumn and winter is a brilliant time to spot wildlife on Mull. As well as the local stars you get migratory birds sweeping in from Iceland and Greenland, both en route to other points further south, or even wintering here. The indigenous birds now include sea eagles. In 1918 the last sea eagle in the UK was shot, but now there are whopping 22 pairs of sea eagles (also known as white tailed eagles) nesting on Mull. We spotted a lot of golden eagles high in the crags, as well as hen harriers and whooper swans. Deer too – both mighty red deer rutting in the glens and cute white-spotted fallow deer. The deer are much more visible at this time of year as they come down off the high hills. Look out too for stoats and pine martens – Mull really is a wildlife paradise. If you want a helping hand head out with Nature Scotland who offer minibus wildlife trips around Mull.
7. The famous Tobermory Cat!
Yes, Tobermory has a famous ginger moggie. Ledaig troops around the village, finding the warmest and most comfortable spots as he goes. Ledaig (his brother Tobermory is no longer with us) loves coming in to the hostel and chilling out in a window in the living room. He’s even got his own road cone by reception. This famous feline also has a book dedicated to him, as well as artwork. He loves a good selfie and is a social media star.
This post comes in conjunction with Hostelling Scotland. All views and opinions expressed are our own and are independent.
