Iona Abbey

Iona is a tiny island off the southwest coast of Mull in the Inner Hebrides. It is only 1.5 miles wide by 3 miles long, with a population of around 120 permanent residents. Despite this, Iona has a special place in the heart of many people the world over. It is the burial place of many of the ancient kings of Scotland including both Duncan and Macbeth on the 'Street of the Dead'. Former Labour Party leader John Smith was also buried here in 1994.

Iona has a long and illustrious history and is well known as being ‘The cradle of Christianity’ in Scotland. While that is without doubt one of the main reasons that a reported 130,000 visitors come to Iona each year, there is much more to the island than that. It is striking to remark that despite the numbers of visitors to the island, the pervading feeling that people leave with is one of peace and restoration.

Iona Abbey was founded by St Columba in 563, although little remains of the monastic buildings of this period. The Columban community survived several Viking attacks but around 1200 a community of Benedictine monks was founded on the site by Reginald, son of Somerled, the self-styled ‘king of the Isles’. The Abbey retains many fine medieval features.

The abbey remained an important place of worship and pilgrimage until the Reformation in 1560, after which monastic life came to an end and it largely fell into disuse. The abbey experienced a short-lived resurgence when Charles I reintroduced bishops to the Scottish Church and made Iona the seat of the Bishop of the Isles.

However, by the end of the 17th century bishops had once again been abolished and the abbey continued to decline once more. New life was give to the abbey buildings when the process of restoration was begun in the early 20th century under the Iona Cathedral Trust. This was continued from 1938 by the Iona Community, an ecumenical order who continue the tradition of Iona Abbey as a place worship. The abbey is now cared for by Historic Scotland and can be visited all year.

The Nunnery

The Augustinian nunnery was founded at the same time as the Benedictine Abbey and is one of the best-preserved medieval nunneries in Britain. The first prioress was Beathag (in English Beatrice), sister of Reginald who founded both the abbey and nunnery. Much of the ruins date from the 14th century and you can still see some of the fine carved details on the stonework.

Like the abbey, it continued in use until the Reformation, after which it fell into decline. However, it continued to be used as a place of burial for women long after this. The garden in what was once the cloister is a particularly tranquil place and it is worth lingering here to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.

The High Crosses

These four 8th/9th-century crosses provide tangible links to the strength of belief that led to the founding of Iona as the Beacon of Christianity 1,500 years ago.

St Columba's Bay

St Columba's Bay, at the south end of Iona, is believed to be the place where St.Columba and his fellow monks landed on Iona in 563. It is also know as the Bay of the Coracles.

The walk is strenuous in places, so it is advisable to get directions and advice before setting off. If walking with friends, try some times of silence, using your senses of touch, sight, hearing, and smell to enhance the experience. Enjoy the birds and the wild flowers and pause at the places of interest along the way.

At St. Columba`s Bay rest and enjoy the peace, the sense of history and spirituality. The conical piles of stones at the west side are ancient, and remain a mystery, despite various theories put forward by historians. Marvel at the variety of richly coloured pebbles, including white and green Iona marble.

Especially prized are “St. Columba's Tears” (some call them “Mermaid's Tears”) small, teardrop shaped pebbles of pure translucent green. It is said that to carry one in your pocket is a protection against drowning. Some people like to choose 2 pebbles here, one to represent something negative which you want to leave behind. This one is thrown into the sea. The other is to take home as a reminder of a new beginning or commitment, perhaps made during your stay on Iona.