About Turus Mara

Turus Mara was begun as “Croig Cruises” back in 1973 when Iain Morrison, a native of The Isle of Mull, took extended leave from his career as a deck officer in the Merchant Navy.

"Plastic soap dish" is the term we now use to describe small, light, noisy GRP craft like the 7 metre motor launch which chugged from Croig to Staffa and the Treshnish Isles with a handful of intrepid (and frequently seasick) holidaymakers for the first few summers.

Happily, by 1980, a new larger purpose built craft improved conditions for operators and passengers alike. In 1982 , Turus Mara, (Gaelic for a journey or excursion by sea) became the official company name. Like Daisy - it growed so that by ’89 there were two vessels with a total capacity of 130 operating from Ulva Ferry daily throughout the summer taking cruises to Staffa, The Treshnish Isles and Iona.

Iain still lives in the crofthouse where he was born at Penmore Mill, near Dervaig. After 10 years as deck officer in the Merchant Navy, he returned to his roots and family.  The mission statement at this point would have been considered as a bit vague, certainly the profits nonexistent but the good days perhaps indicated that there was potential for a quality of life which might avoid the motorways, dollar chasing, backstabbing business practices of the  20th Century.   Clearly crofting had reached an all-time economic low and would not sustain a family so, the tourist industry in its relative infancy on Mull, was the likely future.   

When these words were first uttered:- "what's it like to have the best job in the world?" and repeated a few times over the years - we have to consider - life's maybe not bad after all!  

 "As long as it's not blowing up a hooly and we have no horizontal stair rods, the vast majority have a great time and that is very satisfying for us"

Colin, Iain's son, was born on Mull and grew up at Penmore Mill, where his grandfather and great grandfather had been crofting tenants. Education includes Dervaig Primary, Tobermory & Oban High Schools, Scottish Studies at Strathclyde University, travelling in Europe, New Zealand & Thialand.He started as crew in the nineteen eighties, and after his soujourn in higher education returned to his roots and the family business and now skippers the "Island Lass". View Colin's Island Lass blog here.

Iain’s better half, Pat, to whom he has been married for over a third of a century, takes bookings and generally keeps the organisational wheels running smoothly. Born in Ayrshire, she grew up in Prestwick, headed to Mull as itinerant Teacher of Art, having completed 4 year course at Edinburgh College of Art and a year at Moray House Coll of Education. After a brief time teaching, married Iain and has been here ever since!

Iain & Pat's daughters Rae & Rhona have both

played their part over the years as crew and

general backup whenever necessary.

While Rae is currently attending to the next generation of Turus Mara personnel, Rhona is at present living in Australia but intending a return to the fold in 2009.

As “Muilich” (natives of Mull) and Gaelic speakers, Iain and Colin bring a cultural aspect to these trips by offering commentary in their native language and discounts for those who can understand or better still, hold conversation. Mull’s culture has always been steeped in music and the Tradition is maintained by Turus Mara. Most days we play some contemporary folk or Gaelic music on the PA system and of course, a few bars of Mendelssohn’s famous Overture.