Biking -- Its combinations of heather-clad, rock-strewn moors and sylvan forests make Mull especially appropriate for cycling. To rent a bike, try On Yer Bike, The Pierhead, in Craignure (tel. 01680/300-501), 35km (22 miles) from Tobermory. In Tobermory itself, consider Brown's, High Street (tel. 01688/302-020). Both charge £15 to £18 ($29-$34) per day and are open daily from 8:45am to around 5:30pm.
Close Encounters with Nature -- Several operators will take you out to see whales, dolphins, and seals. Two of the best are Sea Life Surveys, Beadoun, Breidwood, Tobermory (tel. 01688/400-223), and a hardworking entrepreneur named Mr. Liverty, High Street (tel. 01688/302-048), who maintains midsize boats for 6 to 12 passengers each. An all-day whale watch costs £70 ($133) for adults and children. A half-day whale watch is £40 ($76) for adults, £35 ($67) for children. A 2-hour seal watch cruise is £12 ($23) for adults; £6 ($11) for children.
Visitors can also experience the wildlife-rich natural habitat with Island Encounters (tel. 01680/300-441). Guided by a local expert, you can spend the day on a safari, exploring the most remote and scenic areas of the island in a comfortable eight-seat vehicle. The cost for the day is £34 ($65). Binoculars and lunch are included in the price, and pick-up can be arranged at all ferry terminals on Mull.
Golf -- Just over 35km (22 miles) west of Tobermory is the isolated 9-hole Craignure Golf Course, with an honesty box into which you deposit the greens fees of £15 ($29) per day. For information about this course, contact its secretary, D. Howitt, at tel. 01680/300-402.
Hiking -- Mull is wonderful for hiking. You'll probably drive off to a trail head, park your car beside the road (most residents boast that they haven't locked their car in decades), and then set off on foot in total isolation. The tourist office sells two books, each costing £3.95 ($7.50): Walks in North Mull and Walks in South Mull. They provide detailed options for specific routes with historic, ethnographical, scenic, or geological interest. Dress in layers, and wear something waterproof.
