Iona Day 2 – Part 2

September 20, 2024
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To the North

The Augustinian Nunnery established in 1203

So the afternoon came with heavy showers before settling down to a fine day with a good breeze. It’s about a mile and a half from where we were staying to the north of the island, passing the ruins of the Nunnery and the iconic and atmospheric Abbey, which I would visit at length on another day.

The Abbey, a pilgrimage to so many from all over the world

The ruins of the Abbey in the late 19th century before the restoration

There is a wonderful and unique sense of the spiritual on Iona. The Abbey itself, having been massively restored in the early and mid 20th century, is visited by more than 150,000 visitors a year and the island itself is known as ‘The Cradle of Christianity’

MacLean’s Cross dating from the 15th century, in one of the very heavy showers

St Martin’s Cross standing some 16′ 8″ high and dating from around 800AD

As you head north so the views of Mull begin to open up to the east. Rounding the Strait of Storm at the top of the island Ulva, the Treshish Isles and the bassalt columns of Staffa become visible, and as you reach the white sands of Traigh-na-Criche (Boundary Strand) so Tiree and Coll reveal themselves. All in all this is an impressive walk with some of the finest views of the islands of the west of Scotland and I had it on a clear and fine day.