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Iona Abbey is on the Isle of Iona, 1 mile
off the west coast of the Isle of Mull. Iona is
popular for the Abbey, Walking, Small
White Beaches, Island Heritage Centre, and Boat
Tours to the smaller Isle of Staffa
with Fingals Cave.
The Abbey was built from 563 with most of
what can be seen today built in the 1200s and
1400s.
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The image top right is of the Ferry at
Fionnphort on the southwest of the
Isle of Mull. This is a short crossing of about
one mile with the Ferry running about every 30
minutes.
Regular Buses
run between Fionnphort and Craignure on
the east coast of Mull, 35 miles apart. Regular
Ferries run between Craignure and Oban on the
Scottish Mainland. The Buses normally run to
suit the Ferries. You can also book Ferry/Coach
Tours through the website: westcoasttours.co.uk
The Boat next to the Ferry is for Trips to
the Isle of Staffa for Fingals Cave, another
top attraction in Scotland. Two companies are
StaffaTours and
StaffaTrips
The Ferries dock at Baile Mor Village on
Iona with about a one mile walk from the Ferry
Slip to Iona Abbey. You get great views of the
Abbey from the Ferry.
Iona Abbey is one of the most historic
places, and in one of the most picturesque
places in Scotland. It is open to the public
most of the year with an entrance fee. Abbey
Website
Large Stone Crosses and St Columba's Shrine
are at the entrance to the Abbey.
The main Church is next to St Columba's
Shrine, and Cloister next to the Church.
Around the Cloister are a number of early
Grave Slabs.
By the Cloister are a large Gift Shop and
Cafe.
The Museum is in the Abbey Grounds,
containing large Stone Crosses, Grave Slabs,
and information on the Abbey from the 600s -
today.
St Orans Chapel is next to the Abbey with a
Graveyard, thought to be where many early
Scottish Kings and Noblemen were buried. John
Smith the Scottish Politician is also buried at
St Orans.
The Low Door Shop is next to the Abbey with
a selection of Gifts.
St Columba
Hotel is also next to the Abbey with great
views.
Oran Creative
Crafts is between Iona Abbey and Baile Mor
Village.
Iona Heritage
Centre is also between the Abbey and
Village, giving information on the Island and
its People.
Next to the Heritage Centre is Iona Parish
Church built in 1828. In front of the Church is
MacLean's Cross, thought to have been erected
in the 1400s.
Iona Nunnery is also between the Abbey and
Village, built in the 1200s.
Baile Mor Village has Shops, Visitor Centre,
Bar Diner, two small
white Beaches, and is the starting point for
walks around the Island. North Walk .
South Walk
Iona Abbey History
400s - Scotland was divided into a number of
Kingdoms, with the Isle of Iona said to have
been in the Kingdom of Dal Riata, founded by
Fergus the Great. It is unclear what religious
beliefs people at that time had.
397? - St Ninian from Cumbria in England
began spreading Christianity in southwest
Scotland.
563 - the Irish Abbot Columba, traveled to
the Isle of Iona where he set up another
Christian Monastery in Scotland.
671 - Saint Maelrubha traveled from Ireland
to northwest Scotland to spread
Christianity.
732 - Relics of St Andrew, one of the Twelve
Apostles of Jesus Christ, were taken to east
Scotland.
700s & 800s - large stone Crosses were
built at Iona Monastery, some are in the
grounds, others now in the Museum.
800s - Vikings began taking control of the
Scottish Western Isles. They carried out a
number of raids on the Isle of Iona, burning
down the original wooden Columba Monastery.
806 - 68 Christian Monks are said to have
been killed by Vikings on the south side of
Baile Mor Village on Iona, with the area now
known as Martyrs Bay.
818 - a stone Monastery was built to replace
the original Columba wooden building.
825 & 849 - further Viking raids damaged
the Monastery, leading to the Monks fleeing to
the Mainland with Relics and Valuables. Some of
the Relics were taken to Dunkeld
Monastery in Perth, now Dunkeld
Cathedral.
Even after the Viking attacks, the Church at
Iona continued to attracted many visitors from
all over Scotland, including Kings and
Noblemen. It is claimed many of the early Kings
in Scotland, and Noblemen, were buried at Iona
Abbey, up to the 1000s.
There are a vast number of Grave Slabs at
Iona Abbey, with inscriptions showing they are
for wealthy individuals, also some of Warriors
with armour and weapons. This was a time Clan
Chiefs were Warriors that led their men into
battles.
Other Christian Churches were later built on
the mainland such as Dunkeld from 500s after Columba
followers visited Dunkeld, St
Andrews from 747, and Dunfermline Abbey from 1070s.
1057 - King Macbeth was killed by forces of
Malcolm Canmore, with Canmore soon becoming
King. Macbeth is said to have been buried at
Iona Abbey.
1070s - King Malcolm
III Canmore and his wife Margaret, later
Saint Margaret, had the earliest parts of
Dunfermline Abbey built in east central
Scotland. This was the family that eventually
gained control of all Scotland, under one King.
Margaret had some work carried out to restore
Iona Abbey.
1156 - Somerled, part
Viking, became King of the Isles through
marriage and battles, building St Orans Chapel
next to Iona Abbey to serve as his family
burial place.
1164 - Somerled was killed in battle on the
Scottish mainland by the forces of King Malcolm
IV, with him said to have been buried at St
Oran's Chapel on Iona, or at Saddell Abbey in
Argyll.
1200 - Reginald MacSomerled, son of
Somerled, built a large Benedictine Abbey on
the site of the original St Columba Monastery,
he also built a Nunnery close by with his
sister Bethoc being the first Prioress.
1263 - forces of King Alexander III defeated
the Vikings at the Battle of
Largs, leading to the Vikings being forced
out of the Western Isles.
1314 - Angus Og MacDonald, descendant of
Reginald MacSomerled, fought alongside Robert
the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn, leading
to the MacDonald's being close to Scottish
Kings, with them holding the title Lord of the
Isles.
1400s - Iona Abbey was extended to give more
space for the vast number of Pilgrims visiting
the Abbey.
1493 - the Scottish King James IV found out
the MacDonald's had talks with the English
about overthrowing the King, leading to James
IV taking their title, Lord of the Isles, from
them.
The Kings then ruled the Western Isles with
more loyal Clans, with Clan MacLean controlling
Iona and most of Mull for the Kings.
1549 - a survey claimed 48 Dal Riata Kings
were buried at Iona Abbey, including Macbeth,
as well as 8 Norwegian Kings, and 4 Irish
Kings.
1560 - the Reformation led to Iona Abbey
being abandoned as Catholic worship was then
outlawed. Over 300 stone crosses are believed
to have been taken from the site around that
time.
1693 - Clan Campbell gained control of Iona
and the Abbey after conflicts with the
MacLean's, with the Campbell's being one of the
most loyal Clans of the Kings.
1828 - the Parish Church and Manse were
built on the north side of Baile Mor Village
for Protestant worship with Government funds, a
time the Government was building Roads and
Churches around the remote areas of
Scotland.
1847 - Iona Free Church was built on the
south side of Baile Mor Village for people to
worship free of Government interference.
The Manse for the Free Church was built next
to Iona Abbey.
1868 - the Manse for the Free Church was
converted to the St Columba Hotel.
1874 - the 8th Duke of Argyll, George
Campbell, had work carried out to preserve the
Abbey ruins.
1899 - ownership of the Abbey, Nunnery, and
St Oran's Chapel were transferred to the Iona
Cathedral Trust.
1902 - restoration of the Abbey began.
1921 - the Iona War Memorial was built at
Martyrs Bay, with 11 names for World War I, 16
names for World War II.
1929 - worship at the Iona Free Church ended
after the reunification of the United Free
Church and Church of Scotland that year. The
building was used as a Highland Folk Museum in
the 1930s, it has since been converted to a
house.
1965 - the Iona Abbey seen today was
completed including a Cafe, Museum, and Gift
Shop.
1990 - the Parish Church Manse was converted
to serve as the Iona Heritage Centre.
Today - Prince William is known as the Lord
of the Isles.
The title, Lord of the Isles, has normally
been held by a close relative of the King or
Queen since it was taken from the MacDonald's
in 1493.
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