Discover Fionnphort: Your Gateway to Camping on the Isle of Mull

Discover Fionnphort: Your Gateway to Camping on the Isle of Mull

Posted by Admin on

Interested in exploring the Isle of Mull? Good choice! Mull is a top island destination. We are a family of four and the kids were aged 6 and 8 when we visited, but I would recommend camping on Mull to anyone who is looking for a low-tech escape.

Being an island, you get the complete 'getting away from it' experience, the pace of life is slower, and there are some unique experiences to be had. Get the full lowdown on the Explore Isle of Mull website.

Amazing view from tent over Fidden beach
The view over Fidden Beach, from our tent on Mull

Camping at Fidden Farm, Fionnphort, Mull

We stayed at Fidden Farm in Fionnphort which, for location, is definitely one of the best campsites in Scotland. Facilities are reasonably basic (good showers, no electric hook-up), but the beach and views are just stunning, plus campfires are allowed on the beach, which is a big plus.

Campfire on the beach, Fidden
Campfire on Fidden Beach, Mull

We pitched our 5-man family tent right next to the beach. The kids enjoyed helping to inflate the AirBeams and setting up their bedroom with pillows, SIMs (self-inflating mats) and cosy sleeping bags, but it wasn't long before they were on the beach looking for rock pools. They had great freedom at the campsite and loved to go beachcombing and paddling.

It was amazing to step out of the tent and be right on the beach. The sea's shallow pitch makes it an ideal cove for paddling and playing about on kayaks, whilst the rocks around the bay are perfect for kids to climb and scramble over. Views to the west give way to beautiful sunsets, but on the second night, the wind picked up. There is no natural shelter from the elements, so we were very grateful that we had a good-quality tent that could withstand the windy conditions.

Cooking on the Campsite

We used a 2-burner gas hob and we also took a portable BBQ. Our dinner menu for camping normally goes something like this:

  • BBQ - Burgers, salmon, sausages
  • Chilli con carne and rice
  • Chicken and prawn fajitas
  • Pasta with a homemade sauce

For ease, I make the chilli and the pasta sauce at home before we leave. We've got a good quality cool box and if we exchange the freezer packs regularly, it keeps everything fresh enough for a 4/5 day trip. A top tip is to get the cool box and items to go in it as cold as possible before you fill it up. I leave mine open in the garage overnight. If you've got any prepared meals, consider freezing them so that they keep cooler for longer.

the beach at fidden
The beach at Fidden, low tide

Tents, Campervans, and Motorhomes Welcome

The campsite is very popular with families, international travellers, solo explorers, and couples. At peak times book early to avoid disappointment. You can find out more about Fidden Farm campsite on the Cool Camping website.

Local Attractions

The highlight of our trip was the Boat trip to Staffa with StaffaTours. Sometimes referred to as the other end of the Giant's Causeway, the hexagonal rock columns are unusual and striking. The tour boat does a wee turn at the entrance to Fingal's Cave, allowing you to get close up to the deep, natural cavern. When you are dropped off on Staffa, you can follow a walkway to the cave (uneven ground) and explore the island and see the puffins.

fingal's cave, staffa island, hexagonal colums
Staffa Tours Boat Trip to Staffa

Staffa is a National Trust Nature Reserve and you can find out more about this amazing island on the National Trust website

Fionnphort is also where the ferries depart for Iona. So if you are an island bagger, it's a great opportunity to get to a few islands in one trip. Iona has a rich history and there are many places of historic interest to visit, including the Abbey. You can find out all about Iona on their website.

Hillwalking and Munro Bagging

If you like hillwalking, Ben More is the only island Munro outside of Skye with great views over most of Mull and to Ulva, and it is well worth doing. Find the OS Map here for Ben More. At 966m, Ben More is a decent-sized undertaking and is recommended for experienced hill walkers with good navigation skills. Here's the route information for Ben More on Walk Highlands.

Birdwatching on Mull

If you are a keen twitcher, Mull is also known as 'Eagle Island' and is home to golden eagles and white-tailed eagles, as well as hen harriers, short-eared owls, kestrels, merlins, and peregrines! The chance of seeing rare birds of prey is high on Mull, so it is well worth packing the binoculars.

Highland cow at Fidden Farm, Mull
Resident Highland Cow on the Campsite Road

Cycle Touring

As a keen cyclist, I couldn't help but think how nice it would be to cycle around the whole island (I think the main road around Mull is about a 140km loop excluding the road to Fionnphort). The terrain is undulating but the island is beautiful, every turn on the road reveals new terrain or stunning views and it would be amazing (exhausting) to cycle it. We went on a May bank holiday and the roads were generally okay, but some large motorhomes had occasional difficulties passing vehicles on the smaller roads.

A Very Special Scottish Island

Mull is beautiful in its simplicity and wealth of nature. Both locals and tourists alike showed great respect for the environment, which was really good to see.

Our Tips for Camping on Mull

  • Take cash - If the card machines go down, there are not many ATMs on the island.
  • Take firewood - Firewood is a valuable commodity on the beach. Marshmallows and skewers too!
  • Check the forecast - Is your tent going to handle the conditions? Have you got enough warm clothes for the evening?
  • Thwart midgies - We didn't experience any issues, but it is Scotland. Pack head nets and Smidge throughout spring and summer.
  • Pack up early - The roads are narrow and some vehicles are slow, and that's OK. It's our responsibility to make sure we leave plenty of time to get back to the ferry. Respect the island and be courteous to other drivers.

Further Reading

Wanting to read more about family camping? Take a look at our related articles;

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