Ye Canna Get There Frae Here!

The final leg of our journey to Iona on Sunday began without a hitch at 9 a.m. when the charter coach picked us up on schedule in front of our hotel. The weather was all blue skies and sun, with high cirrus clouds and a pleasant breeze. Temps were in the high 40s or low 50s, and it promised to be a beautiful day. Plus, all twelve of us were on time for the bus (not always true!), our luggage all fit in the somewhat smallish compartment, there were only a few lurches and abrupt stops on the way to the terminal in Oban, it was a short walk from the bus to the ferry port, and we were early enough that there were only a few people in front of us in the queue.

Admittedly, there was a moment of panic when Jane realized that the vouchers provided by the tour company were not valid for passage on the CalMac ferry, but she quickly addressed that issue, and we were on our way to the island of Mull.

Passage to Iona from Oban involves a ferry to Craignure on the island of Mull (a few miles from Oban across the Sound of Mull), then transfer by bus down the east coast of Mull and across the Ross of Mull to Fionnphort, followed by a last, brief ferry ride from Fionnphort across the Iona.

Given the high cost of chartering a bus to carry us from Craignure to Fionnphort, we had decided to rely on public transportation. Upon arriving, however, we learned that the only bus across Mull on Sundays departed at 5 p.m.! We tried to find extra seats on a charter coach, but to no avail. Finally, the services of Jimmy Poulson (8-passenger van) and Michael Kennedy (4-passenger cab) were secured. Michael arrived first, so four of us set out with him, followed about 30 minutes later by Jimmy with the rest. Just before 1 p.m., we were all reassembled at Fionnphort with only minutes to spare before the ferry left for Iona.

Iona did not disappoint! The island is lovely, our accommodations at the St. Columba Hotel are perfect, the Abbey is striking, and the people, both visitors and permanent residents, are friendly. Can't wait to see what our week here will bring.