Scotland


<p>If you’re partial to a good renovation show, chances are you’ve stumbled across designer Banjo Beale (and his exceedingly patient husband, Ro). The couple have called the Isle of Mull home for several years and recently took on their biggest project yet: transforming a crumbling former hotel on neighbouring Ulva into something rather special. The whole thing was captured on the BBC Scotland series <em><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002pmzl" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Grand Island Hotel</a></em>.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/546159.jpg" alt="Banjo and Ro" class="wp-image-3467" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/546159.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/546159-200x300.jpg 200w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/546159-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/546159-768x1152.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photograph: Photograph: Shelley Richmond/Hello Halo/BBC Scotland</figcaption></figure>



<p>So what’s the pull of Mull? According to Banjo, it’s all about the atmosphere. “The light. It’s different here: sharper, moodier, more theatrical. The weather moves like a stage set.”</p>



<p>After years of travelling the couple have set roots down in the community on the island. “Here the seasons matter, food is caught or grown nearby and it feels elemental,” he says. “Mull and Ulva have a raw honesty. You can’t fake it here.”</p>



<p>Naturally, we asked him to spill his insider tips for visitors. Consider this your Mull hit list:</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-swim-at-calgary-bay">Swim at <a href="https://www.isle-of-mull.net/locations/calgary/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Calgary Bay</a></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1001" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/Calgary-Bay-Mull.jpg" alt="Calgary Bay" class="wp-image-3460" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/Calgary-Bay-Mull.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/Calgary-Bay-Mull-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/Calgary-Bay-Mull-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/Calgary-Bay-Mull-768x513.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photograph: Visit Scotland</figcaption></figure>



<p>Even if it’s freezing.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wander-the-harbour-in-tobermory">Wander the harbour in Tobermory</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/Tobermory-on-The-Isle-of-Mull.jpg" alt="Tobermory" class="wp-image-3461" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/Tobermory-on-The-Isle-of-Mull.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/Tobermory-on-The-Isle-of-Mull-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/Tobermory-on-The-Isle-of-Mull-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/Tobermory-on-The-Isle-of-Mull-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photograph: Visit Scotland</figcaption></figure>



<p>Go early in the morning before anyone’s awake.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-take-a-boat-to-fingal-s-cave">Take a boat to Fingal’s Cave</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/Fingals-Cave-at-Staffa-National-Nature-Reserve.jpg" alt="Fingal's Cave" class="wp-image-3462" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/Fingals-Cave-at-Staffa-National-Nature-Reserve.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/Fingals-Cave-at-Staffa-National-Nature-Reserve-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/Fingals-Cave-at-Staffa-National-Nature-Reserve-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/Fingals-Cave-at-Staffa-National-Nature-Reserve-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photograph: Visit Scotland</figcaption></figure>



<p>Head to the Isle of Staffa with <a href="https://www.turusmara.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Turus Mara</a>. It feels mythical.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-have-a-picnic-with-the-puffins-on-lunga">Have a picnic with the puffins on <a href="https://www.visitscotland.com/info/tours/lunga-treshnish-isles-9a37aa0b" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lunga</a>&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1250" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/bryan-walker-bul_3zwYI6E-unsplash.jpg" alt="Bryan walker puffin
" class="wp-image-3465" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/bryan-walker-bul_3zwYI6E-unsplash.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/bryan-walker-bul_3zwYI6E-unsplash-240x300.jpg 240w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/bryan-walker-bul_3zwYI6E-unsplash-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/bryan-walker-bul_3zwYI6E-unsplash-768x960.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spend-a-quiet-afternoon-on-isle-of-iona">Spend a quiet afternoon on <a href="http://www.welcometoiona.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Isle of Iona</a>&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/The-Isle-of-Iona.jpg" alt="Isle of Iona" class="wp-image-3463" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/The-Isle-of-Iona.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/The-Isle-of-Iona-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/The-Isle-of-Iona-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/The-Isle-of-Iona-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photograph: Visit Scotland</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-drive-along-loch-na-keal-at-sunset">Drive along Loch Na Keal at sunset </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/Loch-Na-Keal-Red-Roofed-Cottage-and-Waterfall.jpg" alt="Loch na Keal" class="wp-image-3464" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/Loch-Na-Keal-Red-Roofed-Cottage-and-Waterfall.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/Loch-Na-Keal-Red-Roofed-Cottage-and-Waterfall-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/Loch-Na-Keal-Red-Roofed-Cottage-and-Waterfall-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/03/Loch-Na-Keal-Red-Roofed-Cottage-and-Waterfall-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photograph: Visit Scotland</figcaption></figure>



<p>Just stop the car when it gets ridiculous.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ask-a-local-where-they-swim">Ask a local where they swim</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="664" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/10/942CE802-6B47-4CDF-9F8C-AC5235BA56A9.jpeg" alt="Wild Swimming" class="wp-image-1709" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/10/942CE802-6B47-4CDF-9F8C-AC5235BA56A9.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/10/942CE802-6B47-4CDF-9F8C-AC5235BA56A9-300x199.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/10/942CE802-6B47-4CDF-9F8C-AC5235BA56A9-768x510.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>They won’t tell you straight away. Earn it.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />



<div style="height:100px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://scotland.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/walks/things-to-do-scottish-coastal-walks/">10 stunning Scottish coastal walks (binoculars and wild hair essential)</a></li>



<li><a href="https://scotland.muddystilettos.co.uk/life/people/muddy-meets-banjo-and-ro/">Muddy Meets: Banjo and Ro</a></li>



<li><a href="https://scotland.muddystilettos.co.uk/travel/uk/travel-guides/visit-islay-2026/">More than whisky: Eight reasons we’ll be visiting Islay in 2026</a></li>
</ul>


Headed to Mull for the holidays? Banjo Beale’s seven top tips

You may also like