Iona, Duart Castle and Tobermory
Today was another memorable day which started early in Oban bay. We left the dock before 7:00 a.m. and headed out across Loch Linnhe, passed by Lismore Light House and tied up alongside the pier at Craignure all before 8:00 a.m. The plan for today was to ride one of Bowman’s of Mull’s coaches across the south of Mull out to the tiny village Fionnphort. From there, we would cross over to Iona. Our coach driver today, Steve, gave us a lively running commentary of matters pertaining to Mull as we made our way across the island. The tiny ferry that was to take us across to Iona was waiting for us on the slip and in no time at all we were across the sound that separates Iona from the mainland of Mull.
Low cloud, light rain and a stiff breeze from the southwest were not really what we had wished for, but it was what we had this morning. Fortunately, not long after arriving on Iona the rain stopped, the clouds began to lift and break up. We all were able to spend plenty of time in the magnificent abbey, pondering almost two thousand years of Christian history associated with this place. Some of us also went for a walk up a nearby hill known as Dun I, while others walked out to a beach on the north end of the Island. We were all pleased to be in the comfortable surroundings of the St. Columba’s hotel for lunch. By the time we were back on the ferry returning to Fionnphort the sun was shining, the sky was mostly blue and we were able to enjoy the wonderful beauty of this special place.
Safely back across the island of Mull we made a short detour off the main road to Duart Castle and had a look around this well restored home of the Chief of the Clan Mclean. The castle stands conspicuous and dramatic, high up on a rock at the southern entrance to the Sound of Mull. From the castle we returned to our ship at Craignure and from there made our way up the Sound of Mull in glorious evening sunshine. At one point a school of common dolphins playfully swam beside us. At the north end of the sound we pulled into Tobermory Bay where we tied up for the night alongside the pier. Dinner was served as the sun set over the bay, painting everything in gorgeous golden light. After dinner, Sue and Richard, the owners of a charity called Wings over Mull, came along to our ship to talk about the work that they do and show us some of her captive birds that included owls and falcons.
