Exactly How to Get the Ferry From Oban to Mull
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There is only one way to get to Mull and that is by ferry. The most convenient is the one from Oban to Mull. It departs from the port in Oban city centre and arrives in Craignure on the eastern coast of Mull.
Having taken most of the ferries to Mull, the ferry from Oban to Mull is the route I now choose from mainland Scotland. Oban is easily accessible making it the best starting point for your trip to Mull.
Based on my experience of taking ferries to Mull I have put together this post to answer all the questions you might have about the journey.
Oban – Mull Ferry Map
How Long Does the Ferry to Mull From Oban Take?
Ferries to Mull from Oban take 50 minutes to 1 hour depending on the time of day.
How Much Does the Ferry From Oban to Craignure on Isle of Mull Cost?
The price for the ferry from Oban to Mull is £49 return for two adults and one car.
What Does My Ticket Look Like?
You can either show the ticket on your phone or you can print the attachment you receive on the e-mail confirmation.
The confirmation is several pages long.
The first page shows the details of the ferry, but this is not the actual ticket. Make sure you print all the QR codes on the following pages. It is unusual, but each passenger, vehicle, bike, dog etc have their own QR code.
Should I Book in Advance?
Yes, you should book in advance. Despite there being 11 departures per day in the summer, ferries to Isle of Mull from Oban regularly sell out for cars, motorhomes and campervans.
As a foot passenger you can most likely just turn up, but I always prefer to book my ticket in advance.
Can I Change or Cancel My Ticket for the Ferry From Oban to Craignure?
Yes, you can change your ticket to another sailing free of charge. There is a small admin fee to cancel.
Before travelling changes can be made online through your Calmac account or by calling customer services. After your first journey you need to call them to change the ticket, but it is a quick and smooth process.
I regularly change my tickets. Last time I was in Mull the weather forecast was really good for the day I was leaving. It was easy to change my ticket to a later departure. That meant I could enjoy a day visiting Mull’s amazing beaches in the sunshine.
Can I Bring My Car on the Oban to Mull Ferries?
Yes, you can bring your car on the ferry. I highly recommend brining a car. Buses are not that frequent so you will see a lot more during your trip by having a car.
Book your car hire with Rental Cars
Do I Need to Register My Car Details When Buying a Ticket?
No, you don’t.
When buying your ticket there is a box at the bottom of the screen that you can tick which says that you don’t know your car details.
This is for people who will be renting a car.
Can I Bring My Dog on the Oban to Craignure Ferry?
Yes, dogs are allowed but require a free dog ticket which can be added during the booking process.
What Time Does Check-in Close?
The check-in for the Oban to Mull ferry closes 30 minutes before departure for vehicles and 10 minutes before for foot passengers.
Because Oban is such a busy port you will be turned away if you show up a long time ahead of your departure. Try to not arrive more than 1 hour before your departure time.
What Are the Onboard Facilities Like?
Two vessels operate between Oban and Mull – MV Isle of Mull and MV Loch Frisa. MV Isle of Mull is much larger and therefor has many more facilities than MV Loch Frisa.
At the time of booking the vessel name is displayed below the times of your sailing.
MV Isle of Mull
Being a large ferry it has all the services you would expect. It has an inside observatory, a TV lounge, a cafeteria and two cafes.
MV Loch Frisa
This ferry is a much smaller vessel and has fewer amenities.
It has no restaurant or café, only a coffee machine. There are two main seating areas inside, but it can get busy.
Ferry Times From Oban to Isle of Mull
Oban to Mull Ferry Times During the Summer
Below are a previous year’s ferry times from Oban to Mull. Ferry times rarely change, but please use this as a guide only.
Summer timetables are released in the middle of January and bookings normally open the 3rd Friday in January. Exact dates for release are displayed on the Calmac website.
Oban to Mull Ferry Times During the Winter
The Oban to Mull ferry timetable shown below is from a previous year and should be used as a guide only. However, the schedule rarely changes from one year to the next.
How Reliable Is the Oban to Mull Ferry?
During the summer months the ferry to Isle of Mull from Oban is reliable. People like to complain about how unreliable Calmac is, but this is one of the routes that is less likely to be cancelled.
Cancellations because of weather are unlikely during the summer. Ferries from Oban to Isle of Mull are rarely redeployed to other routes since it is a popular route which often sells out.
Of the 3 ferry routes to Mull from the mainland, this is the most reliable. The ferry route from Kilochan is the most likely to be interrupted.
Alternative Routes to the Ferry From Oban to Mull?
Given there are 3 ferry routes to Mull from the mainland there are alternative ways to get to the island unless the cancellations are due to bad weather. Then all ferries will likely be cancelled. In that case you have to wait it out. There is no bridge or airport.
All the alternative routes described below are complicated and time consuming to access by public transport.
1. Ferry From Fishnish to Lochaline
Should there be disruptions to the ferries from Mull to Oban, this is the quickest alternative.
Take the ferry to Lochaline and drive to Ardgour. From here get the Corran ferry which is located slightly south of Fort William. From Corran it is about an hour’s drive to Oban.
Although you should buy tickets online in advance you cannot reserve a specific sailing. It is first-come-first-served.
If there are disruptions on the Oban to Mull route then this route will get very busy, so arrive early.
2. Ferry From Tobermory to Kilochan
This is not a good alternative route to the Oban route. It is a long drive on single lane roads from Kilochan to Oban.
I would use this route when spending a couple of days in Kilochan or around Arisaig. If all you want is to get back to Oban or Glasgow for your flight then take the Lochaline ferry instead.
What Are My Entitlements if the Ferry Is Cancelled?
Your entitlements depend on the reason for the cancellation. Weather related cancellations give you fewer rights than if the cancellation is due to technical faults or Calmac redeploying the vessel.
For all cancellations you can:
- Rebook on an alternative ferry at no extra cost or buy a new ticket online and claim back the cost.
- Changes to departure or arrival point allow you to claim mileage of up to 63 miles. Claims for longer distances will be considered if the cancellation is unrelated to weather and are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
- Claim for food or drink costs within limits set by Calmac.
For cancellations NOT due to weather you are also entitled to:
- Accommodation costs of up to £70 per person per night for a maximum of 3 nights.
- Site fees for motorhome or caravans.
- 50% refund of the original ticket price.
Claims must be submitted within 2 months of the cancelled sailing. Calmac’s passenger rights page details limits and exclusions.
One thing that annoys me about how Calmac handles cancellations is that they wait until the last minute before informing passengers.
Every time my ferry has been cancelled I have found out by seeing it on the Calmac website or in the news. Not by receiving a notification from Calmac.
To stay up to date, follow Calmac on Twitter or sign up for “service status” text updates. You can select the route for which you want to receive updates.
Oban Ferry Terminal (Mainland)
How to Get There?
Oban ferry terminal is located right in the town centre. On the plus side it means it is easy to get to using public transport. The downside is that there can be heavy traffic close to the terminal. This is especially true if arriving from Fort William since you will driving through the town centre.
Services
There is a large terminal building with seating areas and toilet facilities.
However, the holding area for cars is relatively small. Given the number of ferries departing from Oban there is not enough space for people to wait for a long time.
Try to be there no more than an hour before your ferry. Otherwise, you will likely be turned away and told to come back later.
Things to Do Whilst Waiting for the Ferry
Given the port is right in the town centre there are plenty of things to do close by. If you arrive early park close to the ferry terminal and explore Oban before entering the holding area.
The best things to do in Oban are:
- Walk along the seafront. The seafront promenade starts by the ferry port and runs all the way out to Dunollie lighthouse.
- Drive or walk out to Dunollie museum and castle. There is a fee to enter the castle and the grounds. Next to the ticket office is my favourite café in Oban. They have homemade cakes and in the right season you will be looking out over bluebells.
- Climb Jacob’s Ladder to get to McCraig’s Tower and Battery Hill
Where to Stay
During the summer most hotels in Oban have a two-night minimum stay.
- Budget: Ardmhor Guest House
- Midrange: Barriemore Guest House
- Top End: No 26 by the Sea
Craignure Ferry Terminal (Isle of Mull)
How to Get There
Craignure is on the eastern side of Mull. It is well connected with direct buses to Tobermory and Fionnophort. The roads right around Craignure are dual lane but they soon become single lane.
Services
There is a small ferry terminal building with a waiting room and toilets which is open during the day.
Things to Do Whilst Waiting for the Ferry
There is not much to do in Craignure and it is definitely not the most charming part of Mull.
The only point of interest close by is Duarte castle.
Where to Stay
There is no reason to stay in Craignure.
Stay in Tobermory at Burnbank B&B or one of the more remote locations on the island.
FAQ on the Ferry Oban – Craignure
Is There an Oban to Tobermory Ferry?
There is no ferry from Oban to Tobermory. The ferry from Oban arrives in Craignure, a 45-minute drive from Tobermory.
How Long Does It Take to Get From Oban to Iona?
There is no ferry from Oban to Iona so there are several steps to the journey:
- Oban- Craignure ferry – 1 hour
- Drive or get the bus (West Coast Motor Services #96 or #496) to Fionnophort – 1 hour 20 minutes
- Ferry to Iona – 10 minutes
Since Iona is a popular day trip from Oban there are frequent buses between the two ferry ports on Mull.
You can’t bring a car to Iona which is why I would travel by public transport unless you are staying on Mull for more than a day.
It will likely be quicker and it avoids having to try to find parking at Fionnphort which can be challenging during the peak summer period.
Is There a Train From Oban to Mull?
No, there are no trains from Oban to Mull. Mull is only accessible by ferry.
Can You Do a Day Trip to Mull From Oban?
Yes, you can do a day trip from Oban to Mull. The ferry takes about one hour and there are 11 departures a day during the summer.
Mull is a large island and it is difficult to see a lot without your own car. Even with a car, pick one main area. My favourite area is out towards Fionnphort which I think has the best beaches on Mull.
Is Craignure Worth Visiting?
In my view Craignure is not worth a visit. Mull is fantastic but there is nothing to do in Craignure itself.
Can I Bring a Campervan or Motorhome on the Ferry?
Yes, you can bring a campervan or motorhome.
For the Oban to Mull ferry you must pre book. Campervans and motorhomes can’t use the standby lanes.
Can You Bring Bikes, Surfboards or Kayaks on the Oban- Mull Ferry?
Yes, you can. All need their own ticket. Tickets are free of charge but must be added during the checkout process.
How Much Luggage Can I Bring on the Ferry?
You can bring 40kg of luggage with you. Foot passengers must be able to carry their own luggage.
Is the Ferry Crossing to From Oban to Mull Often Rough?
You are unlikely to experience rough seas on ferry from Oban to Craignure on Mull. The islands around protect from large swells coming in from the open sea.
Final Thoughts on Ferries Oban- Mull
The ferry from Oban is the most convenient way to get to the Isle of Mull since Oban is well connected.
The ferry takes less than an hour and there are frequent departures. However, it is a popular ferry so make sure you book months in advance if travelling during the summer months.
