West Coast Tours
West Coast Tours
4.5
6:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
6:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
6:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
6:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
6:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
6:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
West Coast Tours offers a range of day and sightseeing tours. Our day tours to Mull, Iona and Staffa allow visitors to visit two or even three islands in one day as well as regular bus services to Tobermory and joint tickets with Duart Castle. Our City Sightseeing open-top bus tours operate in Glasgow, Oban and Bute and offer expert commentary and the ability to hop-on and off. We also operate a fast passenger ferry link between Campbeltown and Ballycastle in Northern Ireland called the Kintyre Express which offers visitors the chance to combine both the west coast of Scotland and the rugged Causeway Coast of Northern Ireland.
Oban, Scotland
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles647 reviews
Excellent
461
Very good
104
Average
36
Poor
19
Terrible
27

Tom W
Johnstone, UK72 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2021 • Couples
The booking process was simple over the Internet. The day trip cost £78 per adult. This includes the ferry trip from Oban to Mull on the CalMac ferry. At Craignure, we were met by a west coast bus which took us to the small ferry port near to iona - Fhionnphort. The coach was modern, clean and efficient. Even though driving on a single track road with passing places, the driver was excellent. On arrival at the port the change over to the small ferry was smooth and efficient. We travelled first to Staffa. Passing rocks we saw many large grey seals. The sail to Staffa was by a powerful small boat and accommodated some 40 passengers. The crew gave a commentary en route. The landing place was very narrow and the boat skipper was very accurate in guiding the boat between the rocks. After landing on Staffa we walked along the basalt rocks to Fingsl's cave. The pathway is marked and has a hand rail along most of it. I am 75 but managed the walk without too much difficulty. We left Staffa and headed for iona with its wonderful Abbey and Nunnery. En route we were escorted by dolphins and porpoises. We were treated to a diving display by fishing gannets. We spent 2 hours on iona, visiting the Abbey. A quick visit to the Argyll Hotel for coffee and a quick beer and back to the boat and back to Mull. We arrived back in oban around 8.30pm. Tired but had a great day out and worth the cost. Food and drink was available on iona, but best take a snack for Staffa. Weatherproof clothing and sensible shoes are a must.
Written September 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many thanks for your review, we are so glad you enjoyed your day with us! Great to hear the dolphins, porpoises and gannets made an appearance, they are just fascinating to watch!
Written October 19, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Ann C
Nashville, TN3,336 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
Overall, in the end, we had an excellent day.

We were signed up for the early bird 3 island tour that leaves at 07:00.

The first ferry broke and we had to wait for it to be repaired, they could not repair it so we ended up taking another much smaller one that was crammed with people.

There was very limited information given at the ferry terminal regarding the delay and everyone who was on the tours was left confused regarding what the extended delay meant regarding the rest of the schedule for the day i.e. would we make the bus in time etc.

Finally, another ferry arrived and we were allowed access to it. But, they had us wait for it outside in the rain, not sure why we could not wait inside and then board the ferry when it was ready for us.

The delay with the ferry caused us to arrive very late to the bus. The bus driver said that he was going to wait for the next ferry(next scheduled group) before he left...this meant that we had to wait an additional hour plus! We basically had to wait for the people who were scheduled on the 09:30 tour...this meant we were up early and delayed for 2.5hrs. We do not understand why the bus driver could not take us so that we would not have to be delayed another 1.5hrs...sitting in the rain, on the bus.

We were given the option of going back on the ferry and canceling the trip (after all of those hours were already invested) or waiting and starting the tour with the next group.

As we were already there we decided to wait. We are thankful that we did as the rest of the day turned out to be amazing! The weather cleared and we had a fantastic day!

The 3 islands were a pleasure to visit and we were able to see a lot of puffins!

I wish the tour allowed more time to be on both Staffa and Iona. With weather variables, and time restrictions to make the whole day come together I guess it has to be laid out as it is.
Written June 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many thanks for your review and I'm so glad that you eventually got the chance to enjoy your day. We do try and do our very best to squeeze as much in as possible into the Three Isles tour but it does make for a lot of miles to cover :). I'm so sorry that the ferry was cancelled, I can imagine how frustrating that was for you. I'm sure that watching those lovely little Puffins more than made up for it. Hope to see you again soon.
Written August 18, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

littlelarki
Bellevue, WA44 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022 • Family
My husband and teenage son did the three island tour (Mull, Iona and Staffa) with West Coast tours. We picked up our ticket the day before and started our day at 9:30am. We started on the regular ferry to Mull (about an hour) and immediately got on a coach bus and rode for another hour. The bus driver talked the entire way and told anecdotes about the island. We half listened and fell asleep. You really don’t spend any time at all on Mull and instead half the group went on a boat to Staffa and the other half to Iona. The tour should be called a two island tour because Mull is just a transport hub. Our group went to Staffa first via Staffa Tours boats and this trip alone made the entire day worthwhile. Fingal’s Cave and the puffins makes Staffa a must visit spot. (I would recommend researching Staffa Tours to see if you can can get to Staffa from Oban a quicker way.). We went to Iona next and enjoyed the walk through the abbey (you have to buy tkts for this separately). We enjoyed a coffee facing the beach at the cafe down by the ferry. Not enough time here to do much else. To return to Mull, you take the coach and then the ferry back, just like the start of the day. All in all, a very long day. The ferries offer gorgeous views and I could have done without the bus ride. If that’s the only way to get to Staffa I would do it again! West coast tours arrange all the tickets and transportation but there’s not a guide per se on the trip.
Written July 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many thanks for your 5 star review!
Written August 18, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Alice L
Saint-Leu-la-Foret, France23 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021 • Couples
We had booked the 3 isles tour: Mull Iona Staffa, but unfortunately it was canceled at the last minute due to the weather (severe rain and wind on Staffa). We received a phone call the day before to let us know it was canceled, and we could choose between full refund or move our reservation to the following day. Although we completely understand that there is nothing to do about the weather and it's nobody's fault, we went to the office to ask for any possible alternative tour but the person who was there was quite unfriendly and harsh to answer our questions. We decided to go by our own means to the Isle of Iona so we booked the ferry from Oban to Craignure and then took the bus to Fionnphort (we don't have a car) and finally took a ferry to Iona. It worked very well and we paid only 65 GBP in total for two people. So overall, I would say that if you don't go to Staffa (because you do need a tour company to go there) you can absolutely go to Iona by your own means and it will be much cheaper and you will have a greater flexibility in terms of time spent on the Isle. There is absolutely no need to book a tour for Mull + Iona.
Written May 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there, we're sorry to hear your experience in booking with us is not ideal. We will take your comments into consideration.
Written July 20, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

PETER F
United Kingdom10 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
We booked online for a tour to Mull, Iona and Staffa. The online instructions were to go to the West Coast Office in Oban with your booking confirmation letter on the day before you travelled - which I did. I arrived at 9.15 on a Tuesday in August to an empty shop. I politely handed my letter over the counter to a lady and asked for my tickets - she requested I came back at 10.00, as she had to give priority to customers who were going on that day( even though none of them were in the shop at the time). It turned out all she had to do was stamp the letter and pass over an instruction leaflet I had to go to the ferry office and collect the tickets. When I said I could not come back as we had other plans she said "oh happy holidays". I stayed in the shop to collect some maps and a local person was then happily sold bus tickets for 5 days ahead by the same lady who continued in my presence to complain that I had unreasonably wanted the tickets I had paid for. The Isle of Mull and Iona were wonderful places to visit, the tour is unguided they are basically selling you the transport you will be using and you are guaranteed a place on the bus in Mull and trip to Staffa. Others just took a chance on the day and filled up the bus which was beside the ferry which was a much cheaper option but subject to availability on the day. The whole idea of booking on line is to make things easier and being able to down load the tickets when you pay on line would have saved me this situation.
Written September 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I am so sorry to hear you had a disappointing experience, as we always aim to deliver 5* customer service. We take feedback like this very seriously and will be investigating the issues you've raised.
Written October 19, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

ryoung
8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
This was an awesome tour. There were many pieces that made it seem complicated, including 6 trips on ferries, so we had a little concern about making all the timing work with ground transportation and getting stuck somewhere. The tour is so well coordinated however, that there was no need for concern. Everything was neatly meshed together so that there was no danger of missing a connection. The tricky part is the weather for the ride to Staffa, which is an AMAZING little island and the highlight of the tour for us. Not much you can do about that - it just worked for us as the wind kicked up towards the afternoon. Thank goodness they got us on the island. The other Isles are worth seeing as well, and the bus driver on Mull was an entertaining and very knowledgable guide with interesting insights. Very worthwhile and enjoyable tour!

We were also a bit concerned about getting our tickets the day before our early ferry ride, as the website had the ticket office closing at noon, and our train arrived just a bit earlier. No issue there either as it was actually open till 4 p.m. Finally, the ferry, train, and bus station and the tour ticket office are all located close together and central to the town, making it easy to make your arrangements.
Written April 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for your 5 star review, we are so glad you enjoyed the tour!
Written June 9, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

245isobelm
Solihull, UK18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2021 • Couples
We had a great day on the three isles tour to Mull, Staffa and Iona. We went to collect out tickets from the ferry terminal the day before we left (which I advise for anyone doing the tour). Off to a rocky start as we realised that we had only booked for one instead of two people, very grateful to the people at the terminal who realised and helped us book an extra ticket for our trip. The trip was amazing, the coach journey through Mull was lovely to stare out the window at the amazing views, highly recommend sitting upstairs on the coach to get the best views. The trip to Staffa was lots of fun, and it was incredibly to see fingals cave, both at a distance from the boat and by walking into it once we were on shore, and to see lots of puffins flying back to their nests. Iona was a pretty place, were able to see highland cows up close and had a nice walk but the abbey was closed which was disappointing and left lots of free time we didn’t need, would have been better to have more time on Staffa than Iona. Overall a great trip and would highly recommend!
Written May 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your 5* review! We're so glad you enjoyed your day with us and will pass your kind comments onto our staff.
Written July 20, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Sanjay Singh
Widnes, UK99 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Couples
f you have limited mobility disability, do not do this tour. Staff involved on the tour are very friendly and helpful but this isn't an actual tour operator, this is West Coast Motors (bus service), Caledonian MacBryne ferry service and Staffa tours boat operators collaborating together. There is no actual tour guide on this. The Isle of Mull tour is a bus that takes you down from one ferry port to the other and has voiced playback on the bus speakers, no actual person. Also, as it's a bus service, you could be on a double decker bus so no views on lower deck and also, picks up and drops off passengers along the routes.
The boats for Iona and Staffa ore run well but when dropped off at each isle, you are left on your own to explore for yourself until pick up, so if you walk to Iona abbey, you need to pay £10 each for the voiced tour guide of the abbey. Staffa has steep steps up and down from the jetty where you're dropped off and pathways are single lane at times and quite long. Also, there are ladders to step up and down to get to the top due to the steepness. If anything happens, you're on your own, no rep and no comms available for emergency services. I fell down the steep steps of Staffa and almost fell off the edge had it not been for the metal rope wire and my girlfriend grabbing me.
I have a walking stick as I have progressive MS. Nobody advised of the challenges I would face, just the disclaimer in the terms of booking. Had I known what was involved in this tour, we never would have booked this poor service. I was even required to step down to one small boat and then across onto another for the Staffa tour.
Written June 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We are sorry to hear that your tour did not meet your expectations, especially given the challenges you faced due to limited mobility. We understand that accessibility is a crucial aspect of any tour and will make some amendments to our website to highlight that this may be an issue on Staffa. I would like to highlight that it would only be the tours that include Staffa that may pose an issue. Our Mull and Iona tour would be the perfect choice for a tour if you were concerned about mobility challenges. We are pleased to hear that you found our staff to be friendly and helpful. This tour isn''t a guided tour and at no point do we advertise it as one but it's a great way of offering a package to visit the Islands easily and with little organisation on behalf of the customer. We also offer commentary on the Mull part of our tour and endeavour to have the commentary delivered by our driver, however that isn't always possible. At all points, our teams will direct you to the next part of the tour and explain timings. For many, the beauty of the tour lies in the fact that you get to do your own thing on Iona and Staffa, allowing you to pursue your own interests. The tour is very joined up and packs a lot of sightseeing and experiences into one day. Once again, please accept our apologies for any distress this experience may have caused you and we assure you that your feedback is invaluable in helping us improve our services.
Written July 2, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Betty C
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023
Customer service and attention to handicapped people. Mull and Iona trip. After traveling thousands of miles and at great expense to visit Iona, this was a disaster. Ferry from Oban as first part of trip. Next section was via Coach. I am 7 years old, arthritic, and use trekking sticks. I walk slowly but was not the last off the ferry. The Iona coaches left before I got there. The man in charge said that he had 171 reservations, counted 171 getting on board, and sent them off. Yes, I had a reservation. All he said was that I could get a refund. Nothing can help my grief and disappointment of this trip of a life time which left me at the ferry terminal. I went for a refund and spent time holding my anger while two women roundly insulted me with comments suggesting that my physical slowness was a reflection of my mental state!! I have travelled the world and never before endured such treatment.
Written July 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, I'm so sorry to hear this, please can you contact us at communications@westcoastmotors.co.uk and we can look into this for you.
Written August 14, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

SO T
Brooklyn, NY704 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Couples
The negative reviews are true about this tour provider. We have several misleading communications up to the day of our departure with conflicting information. On the day of our tour we arrived on time and waited for the ferry we were told to board. The ferry wound up running 10 minutes and when we landed on Mull the bus left while the ferry was still disembarking standing a dozen passengers at the pier. We all had no option but to board the ferry back to Oban. Missed out on the islands and lost a day of our trip. Read the previous reviews regarding the reliability of this tour provider before booking! The issue was not "weather related"
Written May 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, many thanks for taking the time to leave us a review. For the last month we have unfortunately been subject to issues that CalMac are having with their ferry operations. With the introduction of temporary ferry timetable, often at last minute we are having to manage the situation on a daily basis to ensure that our bus operation can meet the ferry's arrival. I am so sorry that there appears to have been an issue on the day of your tour. If you could possibly drop us an email to communications@westcoastmotors.co.uk we will investigate what happened on that particular day.
Written May 31, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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