Hebridean Farm Hike Isle of Mull: Ponies & Sheep Encounter

Meet wild Highland ponies and friendly Shetland sheep while trekking rugged Hebridean hills

This is a guided walk across a working Hebridean hill farm on the Isle of Mull, starting from just outside Tobermory. You'll hike rough moorland with a farmer who lives and works the land, encounter a herd of Highland ponies and a flock of Shetland sheep, and climb to Meadow Ridge (carpeted in wild flowers in spring and summer), where you can see across the sea to the Scottish mainland and, on clear days, the Isle of Rum. The walk takes 90 minutes and includes a local biscuit or treat. You'll need strong walking boots and a moderate level of fitness. The terrain is rough and the weather can shift from sunny to wet and misty.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guided hill farm hike near Tobermory

• Start walk at The Fauld Farm entrance
• Hike up to Meadow Ridge
• View wildflowers and sea vistas
• Pass Highland ponies and Shetland sheep
• Spot wildlife like hares and wild birds
• Optional hike to second ridge over Bloody Bay
• See Rubha Nan Gall Lighthouse if clear

The experience

If you're on the Isle of Mull for an afternoon and want to step off the main tourist loop, this walk puts you on a working farm where a local farmer leads the way. You start at the entrance to The Fauld Farm just outside Tobermory and head up onto Meadow Ridge, the farm's first high point. The walk is built around what the farmer does here (tending Highland ponies and Shetland sheep across open moorland), so you're not walking past a landscape. You're walking through it the way someone who lives there does.

What you see shifts with the season. Spring and summer bring wild flowers across the ridge; autumn turns the bracken golden and opens up the walking; winter shows you why farming here is hard. On clear days, the ridge opens out to views across the sea toward the mainland and the Isle of Rum. If everyone's pace allows and the weather holds, you may also reach the second ridge, which overlooks Bloody Bay (the site of a 15th-century sea battle), and on a clear day, Rubha Nan Gall Lighthouse in the distance. You'll likely spot wild birds: ravens, rock doves, hoodies and curlews. The occasional hare appears depending on the time of year. A local biscuit or other treat breaks the walk partway through.

The terrain is rough (wet and muddy after rain, which is common in the Hebrides), so strong walking boots are essential. Bring a small rucksack with water and waterproofs. The walk takes 90 minutes total, and the pace depends on the group. Everyone moves at their own speed. The guide speaks English, French or German, and children are welcome from age 12 onward.

What’s included

• Guided walk with a local hill farmer.
• encounter with Highland ponies and Shetland sheep.
• a local biscuit or treat during the walk.
• guide available in English, French or German.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except SaturdayLast departure this season: 1 Nov

AgesAdult (18 to 59 years) · Senior (60 to 65 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Under 12: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French and German

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomeNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Hebridean Farm Hikes

Is this one for you?The walk covers rough moorland for 90 minutes at a pace the group sets, so you need strong boots and a moderate level of fitness. The terrain is too uneven for young children and the physical demand rules out travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy. If you're fit enough for uneven ground and want to see how a Hebridean hill farm actually works, this walk puts you inside it instead of looking from the outside.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, French and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years). Under 12: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Meadow Ridge and why is it called that?

Meadow Ridge is the first high point of the farm walk, named for the carpet of wild flowers that covers it in spring and summer. On clear days, it opens out to views across the sea to the Scottish mainland and the Isle of Rum.

Will I see the Highland ponies and Shetland sheep on the walk?

Yes, you'll encounter both the herd of Highland ponies and the flock of Shetland sheep as part of the walk across the working farm. The sheep are very friendly. The ponies are described as slightly wild.

What should I bring and wear for this walk?

Strong walking boots are required because the terrain is rough moorland. Bring a small rucksack with a bottle of water, waterproofs, and anything else you might need. The weather can turn wet and misty at any time of year.

How does the walk change depending on the season?

Spring and summer bring wild flowers across Meadow Ridge; autumn turns the bracken golden and makes the terrain easier to walk; winter shows the full challenge of farming in the Hebrides. The views and wildlife also shift with the seasons.

Can I see Bloody Bay and the lighthouse on this walk?

Bloody Bay and Rubha Nan Gall Lighthouse are visible from the second ridge of the farm, provided the weather is clear and not too misty, and time and pace allow the group to reach it. The bay was the site of a 15th-century sea battle.