7 Things to Do at Calgary Bay on Mull

Undoubtedly Mull’s most famous beach, Calgary Bay glistens with turquoise waters lapping gently ashore against a horseshoe of white shell-sand. Backed by machair, which puts on a stunning floral show in season, and cocooned between towering headlands to either side, it’s easy to see how Calgary Bay earned its popularity.

So, if you’re keen to visit and soak in the sights first-hand, here are seven things to do at Calgary Bay.

1 Explore Calgary Art in Nature Trail

If you start up the hill at Calgary gallery and café, there’s a fantastic trail that meanders all the way down to the beach. En route, you’ll discover all manner of unique art installations and sculptural creations lining the path down to the beach.

2 Enjoy an ice cream from the Boat Shed

A must for any beach trip, with a dash of Mull charm thrown in as you won’t be served from just any ice cream van, but from the boat shed – a quirky building beside the carpark, with drinks on offer too.

3 Beach-comb for tide-tossed treasures

The waves at Calgary Bay are generally fairly gentle, as the bay is nicely sheltered, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find some gems! Shells decorate the white sand, along with interesting seaweeds, driftwood and more. What will you find?

4 Brave a wild swim

Brace yourselves for a dip in the cool, clear waters and enjoy a wild swim at Calgary Bay – often with teeny tiny fish darting around with you!

5 Go rock pooling

Nets at the ready! At the ends of the beach, there are some great rocky areas that flood with the tide to form pools. Well worth a peek to see what critters you might find, or simply to enjoy a splash about!

6 Hike to Caliach Point

To the north side of the bay, a path leads along the top of the beach and out to an old granite pier, before steeply ascending to the headland above. From here, you can hike out along the tops, soaking up sensational coastal views, all the way to Cailach Point, passing abandoned villages, rugged cliffs and spotting the islands of Coll and Tiree in the distance.

7 Enjoy coffee at the café

After a day of fun at Calgary Bay, warm up with a cup of coffee, piece of cake or light lunch at the lovely Calgary Café, just up the hill. Sit inside or out and with plenty of parking, this is the perfect spot to refuel!

Calgary Bay isn’t Mull’s only island beach though. Along our 300 miles of coastline, there are many more to discover. We bring you a local’s guide to some of the most spectacular in our guide to Isle of Mull beaches.