Walks on Iona
Though this island is Lilliputian in scale, it feels varied in landscape. For the avid botanist, birder, or walker, the island offers pebbly and sandy beaches, boggy fields, rising hillocks, heather-strewn plateaus, verdant fields, and sea cliffs. There are routes you may wish to ply. You may wander as you wish, as long as you respect the countryside and those living in it. In essence, leave no trace. As with anywhere in Scotland, it is essential that you bring sturdy footwear, waterproofs, and some food and water with you. A pack lunch of sandwiches from the hotel is ideal for such excursions. Please notify hotel staff of your departure, destination, and proposed time of return.
The North End. Leave your scones and cream behind at the hotel. Wander up the road, past the Spar shop, turn right through the Nunnery, follow the road all the way past the Abbey, about 1 mile, until the road ends. You will see a gate. Please respect the signs posted on croft land. When you wander down the path; it begins to veer to the left. Open and close the little metal gate and there you have it. The North End is a series of beautiful sandy beaches. People tend to amble to the West, as the beach stretches further this way, past the hostel. (Alternative beginning route: turn left as you leave the hotel, walk to the end of the village street, pass through the kissing the gate--kiss the person you’re with--cross the little burn, walk through yet another kissing gate--you and your partner should be getting pretty familiar at this point--keep to the path as it follows the coast behind the Abbey, listen and look out for the elusive corncrake, cross the bridge, and prance across the sheep field, follow the sheep path, back up to the road, pass through the gate, turn right and head up to the North End).
Dun I. Follow the same instructions for the North End walk, and you may wish to begin with the coastal walk (see North End). From the road, you will see a white house set back against Dun I, the highest point on Iona. The house is Bishops Walk; you will know it when you see the distinctive seven dormer windows. Just past the house you will see a kissing gate (all the more reason to go on these walks) on the left, walk through and follow the prominent path up to the top of Dun I. You should be a rather intrepid walker for this one, as the incline is a continuous rise to the top. Here you will see Iona in its entirety. You will also see the tidal island of Erraid on Mull, the Isles of Ulva and Gometra to the Northeast, the Treshnish isles (including Staffa), the isles of Coll and Tiree; you will even see distant Jura to the Southeast and the isle of Rhum to the North. If you are luckier still, if you have managed to dodge the deluge of rain, you can sometimes make out the far off Cullins of Skye.
The Pilgrimage. Every Tuesday the Iona Community hosts a pilgrimage across the island. This is an all day event, and you must dress for all weather, and bring sturdy boots. The pilgrimage begins from the Abbey grounds at 10:15 am. This is the perfect event for someone wishing to have a view across the land, sprinkled with lore, history, and contemplation. An ‘On Road’ pilgrimage occurs at 12pm and returns around 3:30pm.
St. Columba’s Bay. Follow the road to the West side of the island, the seaside meadow, the Machair. You can either end your journey here, jump the stile and head North to see the shallow, very swimmable waters of Port Bhain, or you can venture to the wilder side of Iona, towards St. Columba's Bay. If planning on doing the latter, you should certainly plan on this walk taking most of the day. Once at the Machair, follow the fence line south, you will see a vague path, and cross burns with bridges made of railroad sleepers. Once you start to head up the steep pebble-strewn hill, you know you are on the right path. If it is a hot day and the path is a bit muddy, this can be a bit off-putting. Follow the path to Loch Stonaig, the islands historic water source (it now comes across under the Sound, from Mull). Follow the path to the left of the Loch. Just past the Loch the path will branch, stay on the more prominent Southward path (the path to the left leads to the Marble Quarry). The path will rise until you see St. Columba's bay below, a wide expanse of pebble beach. You should linger here, as every stone is different, often strikingly different than those around it. Rumour has it that St. Columba's coracle is buried beneath the stones.
The Marble Quarry. See ‘St. Columba's Bay. After walking around the north and east side of Loch Stonaig, follow the prominent path branching off the main path, to the left (Southeast). This will lead you to the Marble Quarry.
