The Isle of Mull and our neighbouring island of Iona have a rich heritage when it comes to welcoming Scottish hospitality and wonderful dishes made from locally sourced ingredients. Here is a small selection of some of our foodie favourites on Mull.
Seafood
The beautiful clear waters that surround the Isle of Mull produce wonderful seafood – fresh as can be and on your plate within a very short time. Mull offers some of the finest fish and shellfish off the West Coast of Scotland.
In the south, Iona Seafood lands Langoustine, Brown and Velvet Crab, Lobster, Mackerel, Pollock, and Saithe fresh from the sea – enabling visitors to Iona and the Ross of Mull to purchase fresh seafood that they can prepare and cook for themselves.
If you love smoked fish, then the Tobermory Fish Company is a real treat. Using traditional cold smoking techniques with their own secret recipe of spices and herbs they are renowned for their award-winning Tobermory Smoked Trout and Classic Smoked Salmon.
Voted ‘Best Mussel Producer’ in Scotland on numerous occasions, Inverlussa Mussel Farm sits in a remote location, in the south-east corner of the Isle of Mull. With virtually no human habitation around its shores, Loch Spelve provides the perfect conditions suitable for the cultivation of rope-grown mussels. Loch Spelve mussels are known for their sweet, fresh and salty taste.
And let’s not forget oysters. From the wild and isolated waters of the Inner Hebrides, comes the beautiful gigas Rock oyster – not a native species of oyster but one that was introduced many years ago and naturalised. Rock oysters now grow successfully in the waters around Mull and are wonderfully flavoursome with a distinct combination of brine and ozone. To find out more visit the Isle of Mull Oysters.
Farm and Croft Produce
The Isle of Mull is lucky to have a wide range of local, home-bred and wild meat available all year round through local farm shops and producers markets, including Highland and Aberdeen Angus beef, pork, Cheviot and Blackface lamb, mutton and wild venison.
Sheltered gardens and crofts grow a wide range of salads, fruits and vegetables, many of which sell their produce through road-side stands or honesty boxes by their gates – Mull also produces its own cheese and other dairy products and free range eggs laid by flocks of happy hens are a delicious choice for any breakfast.
Producers Markets
There are three main Producers’ Markets on the Isle of Mull – Craignure, Dervaig and Tobermory, all give visitors and locals the opportunity to sample and buy a wide range of island produce including Mull cheese, meat (pork, beef, venison and lamb), fish, eggs, fruits and vegetables. A variety of homemade bread, cakes, preserves and artisan crafts are also available. For market dates and locations keep an eye on the Mull Producers’ Market FaceBook page.
Farm Shops
The Crofters’ Kitchen and Gardens, close to Fionnphort (in the south), offers home-grown seasonal vegetables, fruits, salads, eggs, preserves, and local meats including mutton, venison, beef and pork. Great if you want to buy some produce to take home with you, or for a picnic lunch on Mull.
Also in the south, Ardalanish is a working farm that sells its own Highland beef and Hebridean lamb. The meat is slow grown and grass-fed, which not only gives a delicious flavour to the beef and lamb, but also the natural foraging of the cattle and sheep help to sustain the delicate ecosystems of the hill ground and improve the habitat for wildlife.
Closer to Craignure and situated at the end of the Lochbuie road, you’ll find a small family-run farm selling their own beef, mutton and wild venison. The Old Post Office (no longer providing postal services) and Lochbuie Larder also stock Island Pork from Sgriob Ruadh and delicious Antuim Pork from Dervaig. Along with home baking, cheese and ice cream, this is a little gem and well worth a visit.
North from Craignure, Ardnacross Farm produces home bred Aberdeen Angus beef, hill reared Cheviot lamb and their own wild venison from the hill. This is available from their shop and comes in a variety of cuts including steaks, mince, roasting joints, casserole and burgers. They also have free range Black Rock hens which produce the most delicious eggs.
Artisanal Food Producers
Sgriob-ruadh Farm is a family run farm just 15-minute walk from Tobermory town. The farm is run by total renewable energy and keeps milking cows, pigs and beef animals. Home to the traditional artisan farmhouse Isle of Mull Cheese and the Glass Barn Cafe, they also stock Hebridean Blue Cheese and meat produce. Homemade preserves, bread and baking are also sometimes available.
Located in the picturesque village of Dervaig in the north-west of Mull, you’ll find a small craft bakery. Dervaig Artisan Bakery specialises in making naturally leavened, long fermented bread and delicious pastries and cakes using the best local and organic ingredients. Take a look at the mouth-watering images on their Facebook page – we’re sure you’ll be tempted to stop by.
Organic biscuits made in a sustainable and organic way! Joe and Dawn Reade run the Tobermory based Island Bakery, which is powered solely by renewable energy from a hydroelectric turbine and single wind turbine on a hill above the bakery. Their ovens are heated using local wood chip. This is not only environmentally sustainable but the gentle heat gives the biscuits a slow, perfect bake.
On the main street in Tobermory is the Isle of Mull Ice Cream Parlour. They use only the finest ingredients, starting with milk from Sgriob-ruadh Farm, the only dairy farm on the island, and producers of Isle of Mull Cheese. Carefully selected quality local produce is then added to help create unique, seasonal flavours. In addition to delicious ice-cream, they also sell a range of frozen yoghurts and sorbets.
Handmade on Mull, using the best ingredients, Tobermory Chocolates are elegant and sophisticated in both flavour and design. A great gift to take home for your friends and family after your trip to Mull!
Cafés and Restaurants
Cafe’ Fish is wonderfully appointed on the upper floor of the Calmac Pier with spectacular views over Tobermory Bay to Calve Island and the Sound of Mull. From the alfresco terrace, you can catch an amazing sunset and watch a selection of fresh seafood en route from the rugged coastal waters around Mull straight to your plate two hours later.
The Glass Barn is a truly unique café and farm shop, and home to Isle of Mull Cheese and Island Pork. The Glass Barn serves farm-grown, foraged and home-made café fare and produces a unique range of bread, chutneys and biscuits. Stop in for lunch and remember to pick up some traditional Isle of Mull Cheese to go with your favourite tipple.
The Café@Calgary Arts serves teas, coffees, light lunches and delicious home baking. Their produce is fair trade, organic, and locally produced, including homegrown herbs, salads and vegetables when available. The Café also has local produce for sale: Mull Cheeses, Tobermory pork bacon, sausages & black pudding, Tobermory smoked trout, Calgary free range eggs, Island bakery organic biscuits and fresh milk.
Ninth Wave Restaurant owners John & Carla Lamont invite you to explore the daily changing menu that is sourced from fisherman’s sustainable catches and crofter’s bounty. Lobster, crab, hand-dived scallops and fish are often caught only hours before appearing on your dinner plate. With a focus on seasonal fruits and vegetables, fresh-caught seafood and organic meats from the Island of Mull, Ninth Wave Restaurant is well worth a visit.
Mull & Iona Food Trail
For more information about the delicious island produce available, visit The Mull & Iona Food Trail website and enjoy food that is grown, caught and produced here.