Having just returned from Iona, our sixth trip in the past 30 years, it is difficult to narrow it down to only five reasons to visit. I can think of about 500 reasons!
Here are my top five:
1: COLOURBlue skies, white sands, green seas and pink rocks – a colour palette that no artist can resist. Cadell and JoLoMo are just two of the many who have tried to capture the essence of Iona. In truth
, they do not do it justice. It has to be seen to be believed.
2: WILDLIFEMy husband and I are enthusiastic novices in the art of bird watching, but even we were able to identify more than 20 different birds on our latest trip. Dolphins and seals were also on view during a boat trip, but the otters remained elusive: maybe on our next trip.
3: BOAT TRIPSA number of trips are available, but my favourite is on the Iolair to Staffa. Davie, the skipper, is very knowledgeable on the local area and keeps you entertained on the hour trip to the island. He even provides tarpaulins to keep off the spray if necessary. Staffa is magnificent, and the hour ashore gives you time to visit Fingal's cave and, at the right time of the year, see the puffins. Altogether a memorable trip.
4: WALKSIona is a small island, only three miles by one mile. However, there is much to see and everyone should take their hiking boots. Visitors are not allowed to take cars on the ferry, but this is no hardship. There are many beaches to visit and even a small hill called Dùn Ì. It was so clear on our last trip that we were able to see as far as Skye, about 80 miles north of Iona.
5: ABBEYMany people will know that Saint Columba arrived in Iona in AD563 from Ireland. He and his companions set up base on the island and travelled to various places in Scotland and northern England, taking with them the Christian message. The present abbey's restoration started in 1902 and was completed in 1965, the Rev George Macleod having founded the Iona community in 1938. The abbey is a beautiful, tranquil building and well worth a visit. Services are open to all.
• For more information on Iona and the surrounding area visit:
www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk or
www.holidaymull.co.uk The full article contains 408 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
