Pre-Parliament Tour to Mull and Iona (19-21 July 2023)

by Kevin John Tolmie (updated 5th February 2023) – Booking details below:

A Pre-Parliament Tour has been arranged to the islands of Mull and Iona. The tour will begin on Wednesday 19 July 2023 when you can register aboard the 12:15 Calmac ferry from Oban to Craignure, Mull. You will need to arrange your own return ferry passage with the CalMac ferry company. A coach will meet the ferry due to arrive at Craignure at 13:05. The tour ends on Friday 21 July when you are returned by coach to Craignure for the 17:05 ferry to Oban. Note that there are two other ferry routes off the island. Some details remain to be finalised but the outline itinerary is set out below. It will be of a smaller scale than the 2018 tour to Harris and Lewis. I will be leading the tour assisted by my wife, Wilma.

We have invited the Chief of the MacLeans of Duart to be our guest for a formal dinner on Wednesday 19th July. It is hoped that one of our MacLeod Chiefs will also be able to attend. An option for Clansfolk is to dine again in the Isle of Mull Hotel Bistro on Thursday 20th July. This could be together as a group but at your own expense.

We had limited options when pre-booking accommodation for the tour. Fifteen double/twin rooms were pre-booked for two nights at the four-star Isle of Mull hotel. However, this was based on couples (or family/friends sharing) occupying these double or twin rooms. Single travellers wishing to book onto the tour are therefore requested to book their accommodation directly with the hotel as this will be the most cost-effective arrangement for single participants of the tour and for ACMS. Single travellers wishing to join the tour will be sent separate links to book accommodation and their participation in the tour.

Everyone wishing to join the tour should send an expression of interest by email to the tour organiser. Independent travellers who have their own accommodation can also express interest in participating in the tour although this may be limited by the size of venues.

Cost (including booking fee) is £450 per person for couples or family/friends sharing a room and £130 per person ‘tour only’ fee for singles and independent travellers who book accommodation separately. Included in the basic tour cost for all is the formal dinner on 19^th July, all coach travel and your guide, two packed lunches, ferry from Mull to Iona and back, day trip to the Ardalanish weavers, and all admissions to Iona Abbey, Duart Castle, and other points of interest.

In summary, the booking process is as follows:

1. Send an email to Kevin at kevin.tolmie@yahoo.co.uk. Make sure you put ‘Mull and Iona’ in the subject line and state the names of the people you intend to register.
2. Kevin will respond to your email enquiry in order of receipt and advise the situation at that time. If there are places available, Kevin will send you the necessary link(s). Please note you can send an email with a general enquiry but places on the tour will be confirmed in the order that they are actually booked.
3. Therefore, once you receive the booking link you should book as soon as possible and purchase tickets to guarantee your places.

Once all the pre-booked places have been allocated, this will be notified here on the web site. Enquiries can still be made to Kevin if you have alternative accommodation.

We apologise that it has been necessary add a step to the process and alter the arrangements for singles in this way.

Nevertheless, we welcome your interest and hope that you can join us.