It’s a still autumnal morning and I’m drifting across the Sound of Mull. Common seals bob around off the Isle of Lismore as Duart Castle comes into view ahead. Jutting above its rocky outcrop, this is an impressive approach for many a Mull visitor – no matter how many times you’ve been. It impresses me each and every time.
Duart is tactically positioned to command the surrounding waters between Mull and the Scottish mainland. This famed Clan Maclean stronghold is arguably the island’s most iconic attraction – not least for its visibility – matched possibly only by Tobermory’s multicoloured Main Street. In fact, Duart is one of Scotland’s best-preserved castles and boasts a magnificent history to boot; its fine-tuned exhibitions show off a grandiose Grand Hall, a regal drawing room, and some incredibly dark dungeons.
While most visitors tend
