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The white sand and blue water of the bay, rocks beyond.
Argyll and Bute

Bay at the Back of the Ocean

A wide west-facing bay on Iona, fringed with machair and many-coloured pebbles, with nothing but ocean between it and Canada.

Welcome

The Bay at the Back of the Ocean, Camas Cuil an t-Saimh in Gaelic, is a wide arc of sand on the west side of Iona, fringed with wildflower machair and facing straight out into the Atlantic; over the ocean, the next dry land is Canada.

Few visitors to Iona walk this far from the abbey, so it is a good way to leave the crowds behind.

From the ferry the shore road turns up the hill to the west, and beyond the end of the tarmac the way crosses the machair, which serves as grazing for sheep and cows and as one of the most informal golf courses anywhere. Parts of the bay are piled high with smooth, many-coloured pebbles, and away to the left, in a big swell, the Spouting Cave in the cliffs throws spray high into the air. Facing west, it is a fine place to watch the sun go down.

Round the cornerSt Columba LarderA little whitewashed café and larder on Iona's main road, for coffee, home baking and picnic supplies.1 min by roadSee itShelves of snacks, jars and treats inside the St Columba Larder.
Before you go

From the Iona ferry the shore road turns up the hill, and the way crosses the golf course to the bay.

From the ferry
West by the shore road and across the golf course.
When
Any time.
Where it is

The west coast of Iona.

Close byOn Iona.
  1. Isle of IonaIsle of IonaThe island where St Columba landed in 563, with its restored abbey, the burial place of kings and white beaches.Under a mile 1 min by road
  2. Isle of IonaIsle of IonaIona is a little island off the coast of MullUnder a mile 1 min by road
  3. Iona Nunnery Ruins, Isle of IonaIona Nunnery RuinsThe pink granite ruins of Iona's Augustinian nunnery, the most complete in Scotland, on the street up from the ferry.Under a mile 1 min by road
  4. The whitewashed front of the Iona Craft Shop with blue window frames, bicycles and chairs outside.Iona Craft ShopA craft shop on Iona since 1965, opposite the nunnery, known for its knitwear and its Iona Wool.Under a mile 1 min by road
  5. Inside Oran Creative Crafts: shelves of candles, glass and gifts on a wooden counter.Oran Creative CraftsA co-operative of Iona's own makers in an old steading on the way to the abbey, selling crafts made on the island.Under a mile 1 min by road
Directions
Shelves of snacks, jars and treats inside the St Columba Larder.RestaurantsSt Columba LarderA step away
AttractionsSt Oran’s Chapel & Reilig OdhráinA step away
The Iona Community's Welcome Centre and Shop, a low white building with its sign on the grass in front.ShoppingIona Community ShopA step away
AttractionsIona AbbeyA step away
The Keel Row in Fionnphort, low granite buildings with picnic benches behind a stone wall.BarsThe Keel Row0.2 miles
The pebble beach of St Columba's Bay on Iona between rocky outcrops, the sea beyond.AttractionsSt Columba's Bay0.7 miles
The rocky inlet of the marble quarry on Iona, green slopes above the blue sea.AttractionsIona Marble Quarry0.8 miles
A table laid with glasses and white napkins at Ninth Wave, a painting of pebbles on the wall behind.RestaurantsNinth Wave Restaurant0.9 miles
The white sand and turquoise water of Iona's north end beaches from above, green machair behind.AttractionsNorth End Beaches2.7 miles
The Daily for 17 October, from Scotland with love. A wide waterfall churns over rock ledges, autumn trees lining the gorge.

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