Isle of Iona
The island where St Columba landed in 563, with its restored abbey, the burial place of kings and white beaches.
Iona is a small island off the south-west tip of Mull, three and a half miles long and a mile and a half wide at its widest, and for fourteen centuries it has been a place of pilgrimage.
Visited and photographed by Jack Cairney
St Columba landed here from Ireland in AD 563 and founded the monastery from which Christianity spread through Scotland. The abbey that stands now lay in ruins from the late 1500s until its restoration began in 1874, and the Iona Community finished the work in 1965.
Beside it is Relig Odhráin, with St Oran's Chapel, the burial place of generations of Scottish kings, and down the road the Nunnery, built in the early 1200s, is one of the best preserved medieval nunneries in Britain. MacLean's Cross is a rare survivor of the hundreds of stone crosses that once stood on the island. Beyond the village are white beaches, among them the Bay at the Back of the Ocean. The ferry from Fionnphort takes ten minutes, and only residents bring cars.
The ferry from Fionnphort on Mull takes ten minutes.
Visitors leave their cars behind: only residents and essential services take vehicles across.
- Ferry
- Fionnphort to Iona, ten minutes.
- Cars
- Residents and essential services only.
- Size
- 3½ miles by 1½.
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Add your reviewOff the south-west tip of Mull.
Bay at the Back of the OceanA wide west-facing bay on Iona, fringed with machair and many-coloured pebbles, with nothing but ocean between it and Canada.Under a mile 1 min by road
Isle of IonaIona is a little island off the coast of MullUnder a mile 1 min by road
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
St Columba LarderA little whitewashed café and larder on Iona's main road, for coffee, home baking and picnic supplies.Under a mile 1 min by road
Iona Community ShopThe Iona Community's shop and welcome centre opposite the abbey, with books, local crafts and Iona Abbey bread.Under a mile 1 min by road
St Oran’s Chapel & Reilig OdhráinThe small chapel and ancient graveyard beside Iona Abbey, where Scotland's early kings are said to lie.Under a mile 1 min by road
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