Iona is a tiny island off the southwest coast of Mull in the Inner Hebrides, known for its peacefulness and tranquillity and being the “cradle of Christianity” in Scotland. It is a ‘must-see’ for anyone touring the Scottish islands by car or driving the NC500. You’ll be stunned by the Iona beaches you see, with their crystal clear water and white sands.
If you would like to find out more about holidays in the Scottish islands and the best road trip in Scotland, see The Ultimate Road Trip in Scotland with Kids.
How to Get to Iona
To get to Iona, you need to get to the Isle of Mull first. Mull is the second largest island in the Inner Hebrides and is well-served by ferries from the mainland operated by Caledonian MacBrayne. The most direct route to Mull is by ferry from Oban which takes about 45 minutes and drops you at Craignure. We took this route as we were staying near Oban, but you can also get ferries from Lochaline and Kilchoan. Details on these ferry routes, including ticket prices, can be found at: www.calmac.co.uk.
Ferries from the mainland will take you to the East Coast of Mull. Ferries to Iona depart from Fionnphort at the southwestern tip of Mull (about 35 miles away). You can take your car onto Mull and drive to Fionnphort, take a bus (route numbers 96 and 496) or book a taxi. We used the local bus service which we slightly regretted – the timetable is limited (details can be found here). Ticket prices are fairly expensive (a 24-hour bus ticket for an adult costs £18) and the bus is not particularly quick! In hindsight, and notwithstanding the extremely informative bus driver, we wished we had taken our car, but it is important to note the following:
- You cannot take your car onto Iona – you will need to leave your car at Fionnphort.
- Book your ferry tickets in advance – especially in the Summer when it is busy.
Iona ferries depart from Fionnphort. The journey is short; it takes about 10 minutes. Note that the timetable will vary, depending on the day of the week and the time of year you go. Details, including ticket prices for the Iona ferry, can be found here.
Where to grab food before getting on the Iona Ferry
If you have time to kill in Oban and are hungry, go to the Oban Seafood Hut (also known by locals as the “Green Shack”), which is famous for its seafood platters, oysters, scallops and crab sandwiches, or grab a “Tattie Scone” (a fried potato cake in a white roll, which our son was slightly obsessed by) from the café next to the Ferry Terminal.
If you are hungry after your journey to Fionnphort (or want some refreshments before your journey to Craignure), you can get a snack at the harbour café or fresh fish at The Creel Seafood Bar.
Where to Stay on Iona
Iona is a very small island – about 1.5 miles by 3 miles – so you can visit Iona on a day trip from Oban. If you do want to stay a little longer, there is a range of accommodation on Iona for all tastes and budgets.
There are two hotels on Iona (St. Columba Hotel (www.stcolumba-hotel.co.uk) and Argyll Hotel (www.argyllhoteliona.co.uk), a number of B&Bs (the most popular at the time of writing being Ardoran House (www.ardoranhouse.co.uk) and Skerryvore B&B (www.skerryvore-iona.co.uk), hostels, campsites, and self-catering pods (www.ionapods.com). You can also find accommodation on Iona via Airbnb.
Things to Do on Iona
If you are on a day trip to Iona, as we were, these are the best things to do on Iona:
Go to Iona Abbey
Iona’s religious heritage dates to the arrival of St Columba in AD563 when he arrived on the island and founded a monastery. The Abbey became very influential as Christianity spread across Scotland, which is why Iona is known as the “cradle of Christianity”.
Visit Oran’s Chapel
Close to the Abbey, this is the oldest building on Iona and is surrounded by a graveyard. The graveyard was the traditional burial ground for the kings of Scotland and is also where John Smith, the former Labour Party leader considered to be one of the best Prime Ministers the UK never had, is buried.
Head to Iona Nunnery
Near Iona Abbey and Oran’s Chapel lies the remains of an Augustinian Nunnery, originally constructed in the 13th Century. Look out for the very weathered “Sheela na gig”. There are many theories on what the image depicted represents (is she fat, pregnant, holding something; is she wearing a headdress; is she an exhibitionist)? Form your own views!
Do some souvenir shopping
Visit the St. Columba Larder (www.stcolumbalarderiona.co.uk), St Columba Steadings, the Iona Craft Shop and the Aosdana Gallery (www.aosdanaiona.com). There is a range of Scottish crafts, jewellery and knitwear on offer, together with authentic Scottish whiskey.
Have afternoon tea at St. Columba Hotel
You never need an excuse to have afternoon tea! It is certainly worth booking in advance (some restaurants on the islands close between lunch and dinner).
All of the above are within a 20-minute walk from the ferry terminal.
If you are visiting Iona for more than a day, in addition to Iona’s beaches (more on that below):
Go to St. Columba’s Bay
Found at the far South of the island, this is where historians believe that St Columba and his monks landed at Iona. The hike is strenuous in places and takes about 1.5 hours, so it is advisable to get directions and advice before setting off (even in the Summer, the wind and rain can set in quickly turning a pleasant walk into something quite miserable). Remember to take lots of water and a picnic!
Go to Staffa
Staffa is a small, uninhabited island off the coast of Mull. You can reach it either directly from Iona or Fionnphort, although there are only two ferries a day between April and October. Details, and prices, can be found at www.staffatrips.co.uk. The round trip takes between 2.5 and 3 hours, including one hour ashore. Explore Fingal’s Cave and the basalt rock columns reminiscent of the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. During Spring and Summer, ornithologists can look out for the guillemots, razorbills and puffins.
The Best Iona Beaches
Iona is well-known for its sandy beaches and, surprisingly, crystal-clear waters more reminiscent of the Caribbean than rugged western Scotland. Beware, this is the Atlantic coast so the sea framing the Iona beaches is chilly and can be quite rough at times. Given the size of Iona, all the beaches are within walking distance and are excellent picnic spots. Make sure to check the weather and get directions beforehand.
Here are our top Iona beaches:
Martyr’s Bay
A small bay located to the south of the ferry slipway. The perfect place to wait for the ferry back to Mull. The name of the beach refers to the killing of 68 monks in 806 AD by Viking marauders.
St Columba’s Bay
See above.
Port Ban Beach
Possibly the most beautiful of Iona’s beaches, lying on the west coast of the island. It takes about 30 minutes to walk there from the ferry terminal.
White Beach (the North End Beaches)
As the name suggests, these beaches are at the north of Iona, around 30 minutes from Iona Abbey.
Traigh an t-Suidhe (Beach of the Seat)
An unspoilt beach to the west of White Beach.
Iona is truly beautiful, and we wish we had spent longer there than we did. Hopefully, this will inspire you to visit. Have fun!
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