Push the boat out for a happy Mother's Day
Mother's Day is almost here. If you're perusing the Internet, looking for thoughtful Mother's Day gifts, or if you're about to order another bunch of flowers, then how about we help you push the boat out a little further this Mother's Day? Organising a wee trip west for Mum might just fit the bill perfectly.
Take tea in a mansion
Taking tea in a mansion! Doesn't that sound like the most impressive Mother's Day gift? Book a springtime trip to beautiful Bute - just 33 miles from Glasgow. It's the most accessible island on Scotland's west coast, and it's home to Mount Stuart House - a remarkable and sprawling neo-gothic mansion, built in the 19th Century. Take your Mum to Mount Stuart and enjoy everything from a scone and jam in the mansion's kitchen to a rarely seen masterpiece from the Bute Collection and 300 acres of some of the best gardens in Europe.
Getting to Bute is easy - simply Turn up and Go from Wemyss Bay for the short 35min sailing to Rothesay on Bute. Check in times apply so don't forget to have a look before you set off on your trip. For sailing and check-in times, and prices check out the Timetable.
Sail away to the spa
Perfect Portavadie
When it comes to Mother's Day gifts, gifting a busy mum some 'me-time' is a thoughtful gesture, and time out at a spa is perfect. The award-winning Portavadie Resort & Spa features an outdoor infinity pool which gives the feeling of being away from it all - the perfect place to unwind. We're teamed up with Portavadie Resort to create unbeatable package spa deals, with and without ferry travel. Take a look at our Day Adventures to book your spa break now.
ASPA on Arran
Another perfect luxury spa location that is sure to win you brownie points with Mum, is ASAP at Auchrannie on Arran.
A trip to the ASPA at Auchrannie resort on Arran is extra special since it's the ultimate in island relaxation, and it has Mother's Day written all over it. Their treatments are renowned for their use of wild plants, celebrated for their purity. Their post-treatment sorbets are just as legendary. Not taking the car? If you are booking one of the spa packages, you can even ask the Auchrannie team for a lift from the ferry terminal.
Getting to Arran is easy. If you're travelling as a foot passenger or with a bicycle you can simply Turn up and Goon the day of travel. Bicycle spaces are limited on some busy sailings so you are best to call our friendly Customer Contact Centre ahead of time. If you plan to travel with a vehicle you can easily book your tickets in advance online using the Buy Tickets link below.
A trip to magical Mull
Organising a day trip to magical Mull - home to an elegant castle and noble birds of prey - could be one of mum's most memorable Mother's Day gifts. Setting sail from Oban, you can be in Mull in around 46 minutes, yet it feels like a world away. As you approach the island, one of the first sights you'll see is Duart Castle - standing proudly on the headland. Book Mum some tickets so she can explore this ancient ancestral home, and even enjoy a cuppa inside the castle walls - before heading off to explore the rest of the island's gems. She might enjoy popping into Tobermory - a picturesque fishing village with its line of brightly painted houses on the shore. Maybe she will have time to hop across to the ancient island of Iona - just ten minutes off the coast of Mull - a haven of tranquillity and the burial place of ancient kings. Mull is sure to make Mum feel special.
Package Day Trip Options
We also offer a number of package day trips from Oban which are easily booked online, and include island transport (e.g. Bus), and additional boat trips to see awe-inspiring wildlife and natural landscapes.
Visit our Day Adventures page for more details and to buy.
Over the sea to Skye
If Mum is a foodie, then a trip over to Skye, just 45-minutes from Mallaig, could be one of the ultimate in Mother's Day ideas. The Hebridean island has an incredible selection of good restaurants that are passionate about making proper use of the island's natural produce. From intimate fine dining to enjoying the catch of the day in a bustling refurbished byre - the choice is yours. Taking the boat means she'll have more of a chance to enjoy the epic, otherworldly landscapes of Skye. When you're on the island - other sights like the Cuillin range and the Quiraing are as stunning as they sound. It is little wonder Skye is one of the most popular destinations in the country.
Sample the history and heritage of the Outer Hebrides
For the ultimate in Mother's Day gift ideas, how about some CalMac vouchers to create her own Hebridean voyage to further flung locations? She can build her own island hopping adventure, at her own pace, to the Outer Hebrides - soaking up its heritage and beauty as she travels. From the peace and tranquillity of the wild Atlantic beaches to the windows into a lost world - like the preserved traditional Blackhouse on Lewis. A voucher for a trip like this is permission to slow down and relax - the mother of all Mother's Day gift ideas.
Push the boat out for Mum this year. With Mother's Day gift ideas like these, you'll be giving her the gift of time. Whether that's time to relax, time with family, or time to explore - the west coast is the perfect place to spoil her. Keep the flowers for another time, and head over to our destinations page to plan her most memorable Mother's day gift yet.