2 Days in Iona
Posted: Tuesday, 06 May 2008 |
Monday and Tuesday this week saw me on a "two hat trip" . There was a geology class field trip lined up for the Monday, and Tuesday was to be spent fixing PCs and stuff at the Abbey. So a packed programme as the Two Ronnies used to say.
Weather was very hot, very bright and almost soporific. Sort of day where "chilling" is the theme. Except it was so hot that chilling is totally the wrong word....
The itinerary was simple. From the pier, down the east side, look at the rocks at Traigh na Siolag, over the Machair, down to the Spouting Cave area on the west side, zoom over to Loch Staoneag, down to Columba's Bay, nip in to Port Gortain Iar, head up to the Marble Quarry and then back to the ferry via the "crossroads". Actually, it made for a very enjoyable 6 hours. Here are some pics:
Happy students at Traigh na Siolag
A very fine erratic boulder of Ross of Mull granite sits on the shore. Vertically bedded Torridonian sediments behind
The Machair, looking north west
Looking down to Columba's Bay
Visitors in the Marble Quarry
As we got back to the pier, we saw the Waverley in the Sound of Iona. Nice day for a sail. Or should that be a paddle?!
In the evening I took a trip up Dun I, the highest point in Iona. Its not very high, but the view from the top is great on a clear day. You get an awful lot of view for very little effort! Here are some more pics:
Looking north from Dun I summit
View towards Jura
Ross of Mull and over to Ardmeanach
Bac Mor, the Dutchmans Cap
And this is how a sunset should look! Tiree just visible.
Be back soon!
MM
Weather was very hot, very bright and almost soporific. Sort of day where "chilling" is the theme. Except it was so hot that chilling is totally the wrong word....
The itinerary was simple. From the pier, down the east side, look at the rocks at Traigh na Siolag, over the Machair, down to the Spouting Cave area on the west side, zoom over to Loch Staoneag, down to Columba's Bay, nip in to Port Gortain Iar, head up to the Marble Quarry and then back to the ferry via the "crossroads". Actually, it made for a very enjoyable 6 hours. Here are some pics:
Happy students at Traigh na Siolag
A very fine erratic boulder of Ross of Mull granite sits on the shore. Vertically bedded Torridonian sediments behind
The Machair, looking north west
Looking down to Columba's Bay
Visitors in the Marble Quarry
As we got back to the pier, we saw the Waverley in the Sound of Iona. Nice day for a sail. Or should that be a paddle?!
In the evening I took a trip up Dun I, the highest point in Iona. Its not very high, but the view from the top is great on a clear day. You get an awful lot of view for very little effort! Here are some more pics:
Looking north from Dun I summit
View towards Jura
Ross of Mull and over to Ardmeanach
Bac Mor, the Dutchmans Cap
And this is how a sunset should look! Tiree just visible.
Be back soon!
MM
Comments
good blog-again and the pictures are brilliant-the one of the waverley made my eyes mist over-dreaming of days sailibg up and down the kyles of bute in the sixties,sniff,sniff
carol from in a wistful mood
What memories your pictures recall! And what future vistas they conjure!! "Waverney" looks really in her element, paddles or no paddles.
Barney from Swithiod super blog
MM, Absolutely perfect photos. Thanks for taking us with you. -- Bruce
CVBruce from CA, USA
A little tale about the Waverley - I had to phone the Vodafone call centre on Saturday. The voice that answered was Scottish. Hmmmm, I thought, that makes a change. Anyway, the guy was helpful and I thanked him and said how refreshing it was to hear a Scottish voice when phoning a call-centre. "We're in Dunoon" he said "Hey , just down the coast a bit, said I. "Im in Tobermory" He said, "well in that case, you might see the Waverley - she is coming into Tob today". Looked out the window, and hey, there was the Waverley, in Tobermory Bay - who said call centre were impersonal? :-))
MM from Mull
I should have taken the time to climb Dun I when we were there last summer. Thanks so much for the pictures!
mardfo59 from west Texas desert
LAST PICTURE COULD BE COLL I Skimmed over Tiree once she be very flat COLL BE VERY HIGH AND ROCKY. NO ,YES?
THE FLYING FISH from SKIMMING OVER THE WAVES
Thank You for the awe inspiring photos. Visiting many times since 1999 , I am flying over on 5/16 and plan to visit Iona for the first time. My stay will be at The Torbermory Hotel on Mull. ..... Thanks for sharing !! Andrea
Andrea from Naples, Florida
Andrea, I know I probably shouldnt be advertising, but the Tobermory Hotel is very good. Good service, good reputation, you wont be disappointed! Thanks for the comments!
MM from Mull
Andrea, the Tob's lovely, say hi to the owners from me! MM, lovely pictures, I adore Iona, and the views on a fine day can't be beaten. The colour of that water! Fantastic sunset shots too. Iz
Iz from Flintshire
This is Iona at it's best. These photos absolutely capture it's unique magic. It's amazing how I can actually feel I am there just by looking at your fabulous pics. And The Waverley as a bonus! No longer sailing down the Clyde but still paddling! What memories you bring back!
Kamala from Australia
Oh it's wonderfull to see these photos! It's been exactly a year now since my second trip to Iona. The marble quary is such a fascinating place!
Sunila from Switzerland
What lovely views...reminding me of past visits, and especially climbing Dun I on my last trip. Not too high, not too low - but just right (as the 3 Bears would say) for me and my then 8-year old. Many thanks for these photos MM, and for your great blog.
Jill from Ontario
Exploring the hills and coasts of Mull and Iona and occasionally elsewhere, with a close eye on the geology
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