Skye-activity
Iona island walking route
Key Facts
- Location: Inner Hebrides, off Mull
- Size: 877 hectares
- Terrain: Mostly free-range through grass and dunes. Boggy areas in north and south tips
- Access: Ferry from Mull
- Height gain: 445 metres
- Map: OS Explorer 373 Iona, Staff, and Ross of Mull
- Starting point: Iona’s ferry pier; grid ref. NM 286 240
Renowned for its historic and religious significance, its natural beauty and potential for adventure is equally impressive with several secluded and stunning white beaches, secret coves, a beautifully sculpted serpentine cave and wild, remote headlands to explore. All can be visited an explored on this circular walk around Iona’s coastline.
The walk is rugged and mostly free-range connecting the wild moors of the north to the heather-clad cliffs of the south via the glorious Bay at the Back of the Ocean. There is plenty of time to visit the famous Abbey, admire the Celtic crosses or add to the Celtic stone artwork of the beaches. Highlights of the Iona walk include colourful St Martin’s cave, fabulous rock pools on north tip, hearing a corncrake, searching for Iona marble pebbles at St Columba’s Bay.
Full route description can be found in ‘Islandeering: adventures around the edge of Britain’s hidden islands’; or download route GPX.
Swimming in Iona’s hidden beaches
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