Aros Park – Swings, Disc Golf and a Waterfall Walk
A day.
The route
Aros Park is a big wooded estate on the edge of Tobermory with a play area, a free disc golf course and a burn, or stream, that tumbles over a pair of waterfalls.
It's a morning that keeps children busy outdoors, followed by lunch in a family-run bistro above the harbour and a wander along the painted houses of Main Street. It suits families with children who like to run about.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is Borradill House in Glenborrodale, 8 miles away. Sleeps 6; next free Sun 15 Nov to Tue 17 Nov.
Then Borradill Cottage, 8 miles away. Sleeps 4; next free Sun 29 Nov to Tue 1 Dec.
Book lunch at The Galleon by email to info@thegalleontobermory.co.uk: it serves lunch Tuesday to Saturday, 12 to 2pm, and is small, so it fills.
The day
Tobermory
A morning of swings, flying discs and woodland paths to a waterfall, then lunch up the hill and the coloured harbour front to finish.
About five hours
Aros Park Waterfalls
An attraction
Aros Park's entrance is on the north side of the A848, about three-quarters of a mile outside Tobermory (satnav PA75 6AD). The drive runs on through the woods to the car park, which is a paid one. Beside it are public toilets, picnic benches, a small play area and a free nine-hole disc golf course, with a few discs on site to borrow. When the children have had their fill, the Waterfalls Trail follows the Aros Burn to a pair of waterfalls, three-quarters of a mile and about half an hour. It has rough rocky sections, steep slopes and a road crossing, and it's muddy after rain. The Lochan Trail is gentler, a mile of wide gravel round the lochan, with a short steep slope, a bridge and some steps, so neither suits a pushchair all the way. Storm-damaged trees have closed sections of both trails, so check Forestry and Land Scotland's notices for the park before you go. Keep children close by the open water, and check everyone for ticks afterwards.
9 min by car
The Galleon
Lunch
It's 9 minutes' drive into Tobermory. Park in the council's free Ledaig car park at the south end of Main Street, then walk along the harbour and up Post Office Brae to the Galleon. It's a small family-run bistro whose menus change daily with Mull's fish, lamb, beef and cheese. Lunch is served Tuesday to Saturday, 12 to 2pm, and it's shut on Sundays and Mondays; check its winter days before going and book by email to info@thegalleontobermory.co.uk. Children and dogs are welcome. If it's full, the Mishnish on Main Street serves bar lunches every day from 12 to 3pm.
6 min on foot
Tobermory
An attraction
After lunch, it's a 6-minute walk back down the brae to Main Street and along the harbour front, where the painted houses run red, yellow, blue and pink above the boats. The street is level all the way, there are boats to watch at the pier, and there are public toilets in Taigh Solais, the harbour building by the Ledaig car park, for a 20p donation.
If it rains
The woods are sheltered but the trails turn muddy and the Waterfalls Trail's rocky sections slippery: on a wet day keep to the play area and the Lochan Trail's gravel, and make lunch the long part of the day.
Photographs by Dom Simpson and The Galleon Bistro Tobermory via Google