The Beautiful Island of Iona
Iona is a truly magical place with an enchanting atmosphere and a long and interesting history. It is a small island in the Inner Hebrides close to Mull off the West coast of Scotland. Well over 100,000 visitors make their way to Iona to every year and this tiny island has been a place of pilgrimage for centuries.
The island measures just 3.5 miles by 1.5 miles and in order to get there you have to make your way to Oban on the West coast. From Oban you take the ferry to Mull which is a larger island. Then you drive along the single track road to the far side of Mull where you can catch a ferry across to Iona from a place called Fionnphort. It can be a lengthy trip and progress on the single track roads of Mull is often slow and, in bad weather, hazardous. You can opt to book a day trip to Iona from Oban and go by coach instead.
However you get there just make sure that you do because there are few places in Scotland that provide such a tranquil and beautiful setting for exploration. Iona has a fascinating history which began in the 6th century when St. Columba settled there having reached Scotland from Ireland. He founded a monastery and attempted to bring Christianity to the natives of Scotland who were known as the Picts.
As you depart the ferry on foot (only residents are allowed to take vehicles to the island) you will find a small settlement called Baile Mor. You should head up the hill to discover the red stone ruins of the Iona Nunnery. This building was constructed in the 13th century and the ruins are beautifully preserved. As you explore you will no doubt catch sight of the famous Abbey in the distance.
A short walk will lead you past the Heritage Centre, which used to be the manse and the local Parish Church which is open to visitors. As you approach Iona Abbey on your right hand side you will come across the oldest surviving building on the island, St. Oran’s Chapel. The graveyard next to the chapel is truly ancient, known as Relig Odhrain it was the burial place of the Kings of Dalriada. It also formed the final resting place of several Scottish Kings, some Irish Kings and even some Norwegian Kings. More recently it was the burial place of the beloved Labour leader John Smith who sadly died in 1994. If he had lived long enough to lead the country then the past few years may have been very different indeed.
The Abbey itself has been added to many times over the centuries but the restoration which began in the early 1900’s was only finished in 1965. It is beautifully crafted and now serves as a working place of worship and you should make sure you visit the Michael Chapel and the Infirmary Museum.
There are a couple of hotels on the island and various shops where you can pick up a memento of your visit. There are also some stunning bays but be warned the water is always cold!
