oldwheels
Legendary Member
We found Mull to be busy. Two adults one 3.5 year old on a bike seat touring and camping. Going from the main ferry straight up to Tobermory (Balamory) was a nightmare at times. When the ferry came in to the halfway point to T the roads became sketchy with very dodgy drivers behaving like maniacs. A lot of big, new pickups when we were there too. Not nice being overtaken the way they did it.
I think the islands often have one or two main, connecting roads and a few minor ones. You end up having to use the main roads but the traffic isn't that quiet. Certainly quieter on mainland where you can often choose alternative routes. Just our experience.
I can only confirm your experience is pretty accurate.
There is a knack in cycling on single track which I find really needs a rear view mirror to pull into passing places in plenty of time.
If you do not pull over to let traffic in both directions get past then you do get harassed. Not an ideal way to travel with constant stopping and restarting but you can mostly adjust speed of travel to meet motor vehicles at a passing place tho' this would not be so easy with a child seat and luggage.
Be aware that most of the traffic you met were probably not full time residents but my bete noir of touroid who often have no idea how to behave.
This is one reason why I I take a trike when I visit family near Oban where things are much easier and there is also the cyclepath northwards.