Our guests this week have enjoyed the most amazing weather! The world wide perception of Scotland is that it rains all the time - but no. For the past eight days it has been sunny with blue skies and this made the tour over to Iona all the more special. The ferries all ran on time and the sailing was smooth and stunning. No one could ask for more on this once in a lifetime visit to one of Scotland's most special corners.
We often travel to Iona with our tours of the west coast of Argyll. A trip to the Island of Mull is special, and adding on the extra ferry to arrive on the tiny island of Iona can be a life changing experience for many. The drive along the rugged Ross of Mull to arrive at the small village of Fionnphort is part of the discovery of this remote corner of Scotland.
This is one of the most sacred sites in all of Scotland. It is known as the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland as St. Columba came here from Ireland in AD 563. The bay named after him is well worth the short hike to the beach, to enjoy the peace and tranquility. The green, translucent sea takes your breath away and it is so hard to drag yourself away.
Iona Abbey
The highlight for many of the visit will be Iona Abbey. Visitors stroll up from the ferry past a few amazing, intricately carved crosses which date from the 8th and 9th centuries. Three of these crosses are now in the Abbey Museum and their scale and detail astound many visitors and pilgrims alike.
While Somerled was "King of the Isles" he built St. Oran's Chapel as a family burial place. An Augustinian nunnery, which is very rare to see, was set up nearby and today the outline walls and fantastic vaulted ceiling are a testament to the builders 900 years ago.
Somerled's son, Ranald, converted the old monastery as a Benedictine abbey which turned it away from the Irish Church and towards Europe. Today it is a wonderful place to pause, reflect and discover. People of all faiths and none take strength from its history and wonderful setting on the shore.
