The capital of the Isle of Mull, Tobermory is probably better know as Balamory from the popular Children’s television programme. And yes, the houses really are as brightly coloured as that.
It is a lovely setting around a sheltered bay with views across to the Ardnamurchan peninsula. The harbour area is now a marina, although Calmac ferries still leave from the pier and it has a lifeboat station. Brightly coloured houses and shops line the bay with wooded slopes above them.
Apart from a small Co-op food store, all the shops are family run and most of them are aimed at the visitors. There is plenty of choice of tea rooms from the Tobermory chocolate shop to the Gallery in a converted church. The fish and chip van on the old pier is reputedly Prince Charles’s favourite and has a Les Routier award. There’s no where to sit apart from around the clock tower. If you want somewhere to sit down, head to the “Pier Cafe”:http://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/review/restaurant/168274 at the end of the road with Cafe Fish above it.
There is a small “museum”:http://www.mullmuseum.org.uk/ with exhibits on history, geography and culture. “An Tobar”:http://www.comar.co.uk/about/venues/tobar on Argyll Street above the town is the arts centre and gallery with a shop and cafe.
“Tobermory Distillery”:http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/presocialhistory/socialhistory/industrial/tobermory/index.html established in 1789 is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland and after a very chequered history is still producing whisky. It runs guided tours with the chance to taste its two very different malt whiskies.
“The Mull Aquarium”:http://www.mullaquarium.co.uk/ in the old harbour building is described as Europe’s first catch and release aquarium and animals spend a maximum of four weeks before being returned to the sea. It also runs touch pool sessions during the day.
For those wanting to stretch their legs, it is possible to walk from the Calmac pier north to the “lighthouse.”:http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/mull/tobermory-lighthouse.shtml
Alternatively there is a lovely coastal walk south through the trees to “Aros Pier”:http://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/review/attraction/168272-review-aros-park-walk and Lochan A Ghurrabain.
There’s lots to see in Tobermory….