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The Island
of Iona lies 1 mile off the south west of Mull. There is a ferry
which travels between Iona village and Fionnfort on the Ross of
Mull. Iona is perhaps the most famous of the Hebridean Islands
and is certainly the most important place in Scottish
Christianity. The most iconic building in the history of
Christianity in Scotland is of course the famous Iona Abbey. It
is however greatly unfortunate that the present building cannot
be viewed freely. Iona Abbey is now run by Scottish Heritage who charge visitors to enter the Abbey grounds or the Abbey
itself.
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Saint
Columba came to Iona from Ireland after having stopped off
at the Mull of Kintyre peninsula in 563ad and founded the
Abbey, it was built in wood and remained so until around
1200ad where it was rebuilt in stone, various changes have
taken place since and it was eventually restored in the last
century. The Abbey today is not just a religious centre but
also an important place of pilgrimage. The graveyard in
Iona Abbey grounds is the resting place of many of
Scotland's Kings. |
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There is
also a very interesting ruin of a nunnery which is in the centre
of the village, just 2 minutes walk from the ferry. Although it
is in ruin it is a fine example of a medieval nunnery with its
excellent pink granite walls. The gardens are often used for
photo opportunities or just to rest and read.
The island
although only a mile wide and about four miles long is full of
interesting places to visit. In the far south there is St
Columba's bay where St Columba first landed on the island.
Nearby is the now disused but fascinating marble quarry. On the
south west there is Spouting cave where water is forced up as
much as a hundred feet in certain weather conditions at around
half tide. The golf
course is also in the south, an interesting 9 hole course where
the biggest hazard is avoiding the sheep who graze the course. The north of the island is
peppered with glorious white sand beaches with fantastic views
to nearby islands. Also in the north is the hill of Dun I which
has a fairly easy path up which gives unencumbered views of the
island and also the surrounding islands such as
Coll and Tiree to
the west, Staffa and the Treshnish isles to the north,
Mull fills most of the east and on clear
days you can see Jura,
Islay and
Colonsay to the South East. There is also a small
pool where you can make a wish and of course on an island like
this you might expect that wish to come true.
There is a
lot of growing concern about the seemingly unending building
changes to the Abbey. Some of which is viewed by many as
vandalism. The worst would be the sudden appearance of a pitched
roofed small building on the great iconic square tower. Alas the
photo above can no longer be taken as the tower will for the
foreseeable future have "that damned spot".
Isle of Iona, and
Abbey, Argyll Scotland |
