A tour with walks tracing St Columba's Scottish journey to Iona. Visit Celtic chapels and the world of stone circles and enigmatic cup and ring markers. The tour culminates with crossing the sea to Iona.
https://www.roamingscotland.com/3 DAY TRIP AND TREKDAY ONE
Depart Glasgow 09:30Drive to the foot of Dumbarton Rock – capital of the Strathclyde BritonsDrive along Loch Lomond and view Inchtavannoch across the waters – monastic cell of St Kessog.Drive the narrow land bridge and hear about a daring Viking raid.Over the Arrochar ‘Alps’ with great photo opportunities of the very rugged peak of The Cobbler and down to the white-washed town of Inverary for coffee.St Columba’s cave and lunch on the beach.Short walk to the Celtic chapel at Keills. Grading: Easy. Distance: 1km Altitude 30mDunnadd Hill Fort. Grading: Easy but short steep ascent. Distance: 1 km Altitude: 58mKilmartin Glen with its prehistoric cairns, standing stones and cup and ring markers. Grading: Easy along paths. Distance: Not more than 2kms, depending on how much you want to see. Height gained: negligible.Arrive at accommodation about 19:15.
DAY TWO
09:50 Ferry from Oban to Craignure arriving 10:40Drive to Fhionnphort arriving 11.50 and ferry to IonaLunch at a café on IonaWalk to the Abbey church, the existing structure spanning the 13-16th centuries; view the iconic high crosses; the site of Columba’s shrine & writing hut; the Augustinian nunnery, the tombs of ancient kings and more.Walk to Dun I and to the sandy beaches of the north end. Grading: Moderate with final steep climb up muddy path. Distance: 7.5kms Height: 110mReturn on ferry to Fionnphort and to accommodation
DAY THREE
Ferry to IonaWalk across island, telling the Columba stories Grading: easy along track. Distance 5kms. Height: 40mReturn via the central divide of Mull with a short walk in the attractive forest through to Loch Ba. Grading: Easy along level estate track. Distance: 2 kms. Height: Negligible variance.Travel back to Craignure for ferry to Oban departing 17:05Arrive Oban 17:55Return to Glasgow at 20:20
COST: £490 inc ferries but excludes accommodation and food/drink. Accommodation will be booked by us in a good standard of B&B or inn and will be paid by you direct to the provider. As it will depend upon availability at the time of booking, accommodation prices vary and so we recommend you budget around £95 for 2 people sharing a room. Single supplements are available but these vary widely from between £50-85 per person. We will quote you the exact amount once we've made a provisional enquiry with the accommodation provider.
** There are 4 day and 7 day alternatives to this tour in following in St Columba's footsteps **
https://www.roamingscotland.com/