- Overview
- Day-by-day itinerary
- Photos
- Best for
- Mull beaches and Iona on foot
- Driving
- Slow island roads and two vehicle crossings
- When to go
- Spring–autumn; confirm seasonal touring dates
- Ferries
- Vehicle sailing reservation needed
Why this trip: Two Salen nights and a Fidden night give Mull beaches and Iona a separate sightseeing day.
The trade-off: Slow island roads, two vehicle crossings and a foot ferry need more time than mainland mileage suggests.
Your trip at a glance
6 hire days · 5 nights · approximately 405–490 miles
| Day | Drive & overnight | Driving |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Renfrew → Oban North Ledaig Caravan Park, North Ledaig, near Oban Approx. 100–115 miles | 2.5–3 h |
| 2 | North Ledaig Caravan Park, North Ledaig, near Oban → Salen and Tobermory Salen Bay Campsite, Salen, Mull Approx. 40–55 miles · vehicle ferry | 1.5–2 h |
| 3 | Salen Bay Campsite, Salen, Mull → Calgary Bay Salen Bay Campsite, Salen, Mull Approx. 45–60 miles | 2–3 h |
| 4 | Salen Bay Campsite, Salen, Mull → Fionnphort and Iona Fidden Farm, Fidden, near Fionnphort Approx. 50–65 miles | 2–3 h |
| 5 | Fidden Farm, Fidden, near Fionnphort → Glencoe Invercoe Highland Holidays, Glencoe Approx. 85–100 miles · vehicle ferry | 2.5–3.5 h |
| 6 | Invercoe Highland Holidays, Glencoe → Return to Renfrew Renfrew Approx. 85–95 miles | 2–2.5 h |
Rounded planning allowances, not live navigation. Driving excludes walks, food stops, traffic and ferry sailing/check-in. Use each day’s directions for current routing. First-day travel starts after the 14:00 Renfrew handover; the final day is reserved for the noon return.
Map & stops
Pink: overnight · Green: sights · Orange: food · Blue: useful stops
Choose a day to see its road journey. Tap a shared overnight pin for all its nights. Ferry crossings are gaps between the road sections.
Daily directions
- Day 1 · Oban Directions ↗
- Day 2 · Salen and Tobermory To the ferry From the ferry
- Day 3 · Calgary Bay Directions ↗
- Day 4 · Fionnphort and Iona Directions ↗
- Day 5 · Glencoe To the ferry From the ferry
- Day 6 · Return to Renfrew Directions ↗
Get to know the places on this route
Open a day for its drive, food stop and overnight pitch. Mileage and times are estimates; ferry time is additional.
Your day-by-day plan
Day 1
Oban
Day 1 · Oban100–115 miles · 2.5–3 h driving
Renfrew → North Ledaig Caravan Park, North Ledaig, near Oban
Approx. 100–115 miles · allow 2.5–3 h driving
Things to do
Leave the van in an appropriate town car park and explore the harbour on foot. A waterfront lunch and one viewpoint are a better combination than squeezing in a distant island crossing.
Eat & drink
Food from Argyll at the Pier — especially useful around ferry travel.
An Oban pier-side lunch during the waterfront walk. On ferry days, eat before vehicle check-in and keep the boarding time separate.
Sleep
North Ledaig Caravan Park — North Ledaig, near Oban.
A coastal pitch north of Oban for the harbour or a following ferry. The site is outside town: arrange the evening journey back before dinner.
Facilities: Toilet facilities, laundry and an on-site shop; a bus stop outside connects with Oban.
Pitch booking: Non-members are welcome in designated areas: choose the correct guest/pitch category when reserving.
Alternative: Oban Holiday Park. On the south side of Oban; allow for crossing town to the ferry terminal.
Day 2
Salen and Tobermory
Day 2 · Salen and Tobermory40–55 miles · 1.5–2 h driving
North Ledaig Caravan Park, North Ledaig, near Oban → Salen Bay Campsite, Salen, Mull
Approx. 40–55 miles · allow 1.5–2 h driving
Vehicle ferry: Oban → Craignure. Sailing, check-in and waiting time are additional.
Things to do
Explore Tobermory’s waterfront, then make Sgriob-ruadh Farm your food stop. The Glass Barn gives this day a more distinctive focus than another harbour photograph.
Eat & drink
The Glass Barn Café — at the cheese farm outside Tobermory.
Coffee or lunch at the cheese farm outside Tobermory; the café and farm shop have different opening patterns.
Sleep
Salen Bay Campsite — Salen, Mull.
A central Mull base for Tobermory and Calgary on separate days. The operator lists April–October touring; move south for the Iona night.
Facilities: Hardstanding pitches with water and optional electric hook-up, showers, toilets, laundry, chemical disposal and grey-water drain.
Pitch booking: Book online; follow the campsite’s signs when entering Salen village.
Alternative: Fidden Farm. At the south-west end of Mull: useful for Iona, but a substantial move from Salen.
Day 3
Calgary Bay
Day 3 · Calgary Bay45–60 miles · 2–3 h driving
Salen Bay Campsite, Salen, Mull → Salen Bay Campsite, Salen, Mull
Approx. 45–60 miles · allow 2–3 h driving
Day 4
Fionnphort and Iona
Day 4 · Fionnphort and Iona50–65 miles · 2–3 h driving
Salen Bay Campsite, Salen, Mull → Fidden Farm, Fidden, near Fionnphort
Approx. 50–65 miles · allow 2–3 h driving
Day 5
Glencoe
Day 5 · Glencoe85–100 miles · 2.5–3.5 h driving
Fidden Farm, Fidden, near Fionnphort → Invercoe Highland Holidays, Glencoe
Approx. 85–100 miles · allow 2.5–3.5 h driving
Vehicle ferry: Craignure → Oban. Sailing, check-in and waiting time are additional.
Things to do
Drive from Fidden to Craignure for the booked Oban ferry. After landing, take the A828 north towards Ballachulish and Glencoe. This is a transfer day; a short village stop fits better than adding Rannoch Moor or a mountain walk.
Eat & drink
Carry lunch for the ferry transfer. Coffee in Glencoe is an option when arrival fits the service.
Crafts & ThingsGlencoe village coffee, home baking and a craft shop to browse after the Lochan walk. Useful for a short indoor stop when the rain arrives.
Sleep
Invercoe Highland Holidays — Glencoe.
A lochside Glencoe base, with touring available all year.
Facilities: Electric hook-up, some hardstanding pitches and laundry.
Pitch booking: Reserve a campervan pitch directly. Published arrival window: 13:30–18:00; departure by 11:00.
Alternative: Glencoe Club Site. By the visitor centre; its touring season differs from Invercoe.
Day 6
Return to Renfrew
Day 6 · Return to Renfrew85–95 miles · 2–2.5 h driving
Invercoe Highland Holidays, Glencoe → Renfrew
Approx. 85–95 miles · allow 2–2.5 h driving
More Wee Coo routes
Loch Lomond first weekend
One lochside night, a gentle walk and time to learn the van. Luss gives this first weekend a clear base close enough for an easy return to Renfrew.
3-day Scottish Borders history loop
Trade the busiest Highland roads for Melrose’s abbey, the Eildon Hills and Border towns. Pick one proper walk and leave time for a bakery stop and a riverside pitch.
4-day Argyll & Oban coast
Follow the A83 from Inveraray into Kilmartin’s ancient landscape, then finish with Oban’s harbour food. This mainland trip puts archaeology and small-town stops ahead of ferry logistics.