Going for a week at the end of July with family. Might take a bike and a bit of bivi gear so if anyone has suggestions for good spots, nice bits of trail (not necessary to stay out) or just things to keep family entertained it'd be appreciated.

Ta

Been there, lovely place. Didn't take a bike though, was just a walking trip. The Scottish tourism board provide great trail / walking maps, you should be able to pick something up. Tobemory is a lovely little village, other than that, and a few boat trips I can imagine children getting a bit bored.
If it was me (on a family holiday) I think you'd better staying in Oban and visiting Mull as and when you wanted to, simply as the mainland has more to see and do for youngsters. I've been to Oban quite a few times (diving) and it really is one of my favourite holiday destinations, with or without the diving. I think next time we visit, it will be a "biking" holiday.
Also, if you head up to Fort William, there's a bloody big mountain with a MTB trail centre on it, can't remember the name at the minute, but I'll ask the Mrs later. It's next to Ben Nevis apparently. I remember walking half way up and seeing nutters on FS bikes caning it down the trails at break neck speeds. Looked fun!

It's Aonach Mor near Ben Nevis. There's a full on DH course and a red course served by the ski gondola. There are also some trails in Leanachan forest but they aren't particularly good.

As for Mull, I've been on the island a couple of times touring and don't remember seeing much in the way of off-tarmac trails that would link up. I wasn't looking out for them TBH. You can nip over to Ardnamurchan for the day - there's the lighthouse (most westerly point on the British Mainland); the great Eucharite plus a few of the usual tourist type things. There's Iona of course but after all that there's not much really.

whitestone wrote:It's Aonach Mor near Ben Nevis. There's a full on DH course and a red course served by the ski gondola. There are also some trails in Leanachan forest but they aren't particularly good.

That's the badger! All I could remember was that I couldn't pronounce it.

Mull is vaguely exciting.

Dunno about the biking scene but the geology is stunning. Some photos from earlier this "summer"
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipM ... yA1djr1R2D

We camped at Fidden Farm (near the Iona ferry). Great campsite.

Away from Tobermory, the whole island is very quiet/relaxed.

I lived there for a few years, though I wasn't doing much biking back then. What trails etc there are, are very short and often quite difficult to connect to make a ride of any significant length TBH. There is a nice ride to the Bothy at the top of Glen Forsa, Tomsleibhe, which would make a nice overnighter. There is also part of a Dakota from '44 that crashed on Ben Talaidh that you can walk to from the bothy, its basically up the burn line heading toward the saddle, around the 400m contour line. There is a bit of a ride out to a spit of land and small island group called Cuan Mor from Glengorm castle, there is an old Dun out that way too. At the headland at NM420572 there is some great rock pools that the kids would love(assuming they aren't too old for all that nonsense!), good views over the Ardnamurchan and Ben Hiant etc.
For beaches the best one is at Uisken, just south of Bunessan, most folk go to Calgary but it is often crowded 'cos of this, and Uisken is a nicer beach anyway. Great views all the way over to Colonsay and the Paps of jura beyond.


Looking over the rock pools, if the tide wasn't in that is!


Same headland looking toward Dun Ara and the mainland, Ben Hiant and Kilchoan.


Uisken beach, the wavey bumps in the background are the Paps of Jura


Allt Forsa, looking to Ben Talaidh. The plane wreck is almost at the very top of the burn that runs down from the saddle in the centre of the 2 peaks. Bothy is under the right hand ridgeline, as it were.

As you can see the island is pretty vaguely exciting, and we have barely touched upon Iona etc! If the kids like playing on beaches act they will love it, plus there are whale/dolphin watching trips etc and if your lucky the Mobile cinema may even be in town, Tobermory and\or Craignure. What's not to like?

What he said. Great official wild camping spot at Calgary bay. Oh and watch out for the sea eagles!

The road circumnavigation of Mull is stunning, so if you can sneak in a thin tired bike I would really recommend it

Thanks all (more info welcome if anyone has it), especially Gari who's pics have helped fire up the juices

I'm not going anywhere else as we're there to celebrate a mate's 10th wedding anniversary and a naming party for his twins. I went for the original wedding but it was a shorter trip and the weather was "average" (some might say "typical" ) and amongst other factors didn't get a chance to really explore. This time there's more scope.

The bothy sounds cracking, is it a MBA one? (being lazy and not looked for myself yet).

Yeah, it's on the website.
If you get a chance look for a book about the rescue of the aircrew of that Dakota, really interesting read. The bothy was a croft at the time and was where one of the survivors first raised the alarm. Can't remember the title, but the Spar in Craignure will probably have a copy.

There's the wee page for it http://www.mountainbothies.org.uk/bothy ... othy_id=72

Fairly easy to get too. :)

edit - sent a wee PM

Cheers chap. Been googling merrily instead of working as well. Have plans to Bothy with the boy and dog

Nice details here:

http://www.ukhillwalking.com/articles/page.php?id=6797