Mull and Iona

On Thursday, August 14, we departed Oban Harbor on our way to the islands of Mull and Iona. Due to a problem with the ferry’s radar, we left about an hour late.

St Columba’s Cathedral

War memorial

Dunollie Castle is located about 1 mile north of Oban along the coast, in an area known to have been inhabited for at least 8,000 years. It’s associated with the MacDougalls.

Duart Castle is a castle on the Isle of Mull. The castle dates back to the 13th century and is the seat of Clan MacLean.

Cattle grazing on the Isle of Mull

A spot of sunshine Isle of Mull

House sits alone on the Isle of Mull

Loch on Isle of Mull

Ferry dock on east end of Isle of Mull. Access to outer islands like Iona.

Rock split in two

Ferry and other boats off of eastern Iona

St. Ronan’s Bay beach beside the Iona ferry dock

Iona Abbey

St Columba established a monastery here in AD 563. Columba’s monastery survived until the end of the 12th century, despite repeated Viking raids. It’s thought that the world famous Book of Kells was made here, along with other great works of art. In the distance.

Up close

Me in front of the monastery.

Inside the church

Sculpture of the Virgin Mary in the courtyard

Classic west highlands grave slab on Iona

St. John’s cross

Ruins on Iona

Ruins of the nunnery

The heather on Iona

Beach of Iona

The late departure in the morning cut our time on Iona from 2 hours to less than 1. Except for that, we really enjoyed the day. Back in Oban, we ate dinner at the Olive Garden. Not the Italian chain restaurant in the US, but a wonderful seafood restaurant.

Tomorrow we plan to explore Oban again.