From Glasgow, it was very easy to visit the charming islands of Arran, known as “Scotland in miniature”, and Bute. Both islands being in the Firth of Clyde, sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean by the Kintyre Peninsula, they are ideal destinations for a day out, especially for people living in urban areas like Glasgow.

The 3-day tour to Mull was a real immersion, not only into the Inner Hebrides, but also into the Highlands. Indeed, if we visited beautiful places on the Isle of Mull and stayed two nights in Tobermory (its capital), if we explored a bit of Iona and Staffa, the one-day bus drives to reach our main destination and return were entirely part of the experience: the landscapes we saw when we passed by Loch Lomond and through Glen Coe, Morvern, Oban and Argyll, were as breathtaking and memorable as the natural beauties displayed by the islands. This tour triggered wonderful memories of my 2023 trip to the Highlands and Outer Hebrides (see My trip to the Highlands – The eternal student – anglophile version) and of my first trip to Scotland ten years before: My first trip to Scotland – The eternal student – anglophile version.

As the long period of sunny weather we had enjoyed since our arrival in Scotland ended when we landed on Mull, we had the opportunity—at last!—to experience a few days of a more “traditional” Scottish weather: the mist and the rain added to the magic and romance of the landscapes of Mull and the Highlands, and a rough sea to spot puffins and Fingal’s Cave on Staffa even turned this excursion into a bit of an adventure!

We had booked these three excursions, months in advance, with Rabbie’s Tours, and we were not disappointed: A Day on the Island: Isle of Arran 1 Day Tour – Rabbie’s Tours, A Day on the Island: Isle of Bute 1 Day Tour – Rabbie’s Tours, and Isle of Mull, Iona, Oban & Loch Lomond 3 Day Tour – Rabbie’s Tours.

Are you ready now for boarding a ferry and exploring the natural beauties of the Scottish islands? I invite you to follow us during this memorable journey, through this photo album:

You will also find here below a recap of our Scottish trip, from the 10th to the 27th of May:

Two books that I would recommend to Scotland’s lovers:

Photo on top of this post: Ettrick Bay, Isle of Bute (own photo)