Iona

Iona had been settled for hundreds of years before the arrival of its most famous inhabitant. An Iron Age fort remains on Dùn Ì, the islands highest point. It is thought to date from around 100AD.

The history of Iona really starts with the arrival of St Columba in 563AD though. Exiled from his homeland for his participation in the Battle of Cul Dreimhne, St Columba (Colm Cille), along with twelve of his followers, founded a monastery from which to spread the word of God.

After the monastery's preachers had converted most of Pagan Scotland and the English borderlands, the monastery became famous throughout Europe for its Christian teachings and became a major pilgrimage site. The Island was named a 'Holy Island' and is now the burial place for many Irish, Scottish and Norwegian kings.

The isolation of Iona, kept it out of the sphere of interest of Rome and allowed it to develop a Celtic brand of Christianity. This, mixed with the Cult personality of St Columba led to the island attracting many converts and pilgrims.

Many of the 'pagan' population who converted to Christianity were no doubt impressed by the stories of St Columba. The Saint was said to have banished all frogs and snakes from Iona and to have even rid Loch Ness of its monster by just uttering a few words.

The monks of Iona were renowned for their intricate Celtic carvings and illuminated writings. The book of Kells was supposedly written by the Monks, though it is now housed in trinity College, Dublin.

The downfall of the Monastry came with its fame. The Viking raids were soon upon the island, no doubt attracted by the wealth of the monastery. A series of raids starting in 794AD, influenced the monks into abandoning the island and taking the remaining relics and treasure to safer places. Splitting the haul between Scotland and Ireland the Monks left Iona, many believe this is how the Book of Kells ended up in Dublin.

In 1203, after the Celtic Church was suppressed by King David I, a Benedictine convent was built along with the present Benedictine Abbey. The Monastery flourished as well until the reformation when most buildings were demolished and all but three celtic crosses were destroyed.

Remote, romantic and often mysterious, the islands off the coast of Scotland hold a strong fascination for thousands of visitors each year. Focusing on Mull and Iona, this title is one of a series of illustrated guidebooks providing information on heritage, landscape, climate, flora and fauna.

Expresses the events of the days leading up to Easter Sunday through the biblical readings and the reflections of several well known Iona Community members. This work connects the denials, betrayals, suffering and eventual new dawn of this life-changing week with what happens in our own world.

Iona Abbey is considered one of the earliest and most important Christian centres in the whole of Western Europe. In fact, Monks from Iona spread across the continent founding centres of Christian learning as far away as Switzerland.

The original monastery built by St Columba nd his followers was built with wood, wattle and daub. This was later replaced with stone. With the downfall of the Celtic style of Christianity in the 1200s, the Abbey was transformed in to a Benedictine Abbey. The Abbey was added to over the years, with new additions being built to suit the needs of its monastic inhabitants.

The Abbey was left in ruins after the reformation of 1560 and remained in this state until the Duke of Argyll transferred ownership of the buildings to the Iona Cathedral Trust. The trust had to raise money for the restoration of the Abbey and in 1901 the first appeal went out. In 1902, the first work began with the re-roofing and glazing of windows.

The completion of the refurbishment was celebrated in 1965 and since then it has been used as a community centre and a place of worship. The maintenance has since past from the trust to Historic Scotland, as the costs were to much for the trust to cope with.

As previously mentione dthe Graveyard is the final resting place for early Scottish, Irish and Norwegian Kings. It is also the resting place of former Labour Party (UK) leader John Smith.

Several Celtic Crosses are to be found on the Isle of Iona. The Eighth Century St Martin's Cross still stands by the road side. A replica of St John's Cross is found by the doorway of the Abbey. The restored original is located in the Infirmary Museum at the rear of the abbey.

The ruins of Iona Nunnery are nearby and it is a nice place to walk around soaking up the island's atmosphere.

Visiting Iona is not the easiest thing in the World to do. You will need to fly into Scotland at Glasgow and travel up the coast to Oban, from where you will need to catch a ferry to the Island of Mull.

Mull is a lovely place to visit in itself, so you may want to take a few days exploring here. To reach Iona you will need to get to Fionnphort, where the ferry to Iona sails from.

Flights to Glasgow from Europe and the UK are best found from the budget airlines. Flying from elsewhere you will be better off looking at Travelocity.




You can see all of the sights on Iona in one day, so you are better off taking a day trip there from Mull or Oban. A good place to find accommodation is hotels.com.