Iona
Boats cross from Fionnphort at the southwest tip of Mull to the offshore island of Iona. Day trips to Iona are also possible from Oban. Now under the administration of the National Trust for Scotland (1979), the island was a druid shrine long before St Columba landed there in 563. Known originally as "Hy", then "Iona insula", the monastery that St Columba and his 12 companions founded on Iona served as their base as they sought to convert Scotland to Christianity.
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Iona Abbey
The monastery on Iona was destroyed on more than one occasion by Vikings, but it was always rebuilt. About 1200 Reginald MacDonald founded a Benedictine monastery on the site of the old abbey. The chancel and parts of the 13th C Norman chapel are still intact.
Historic Scotland
Longmore House
Salisbury Place
Jedburgh TD8 6JQ
Scotland
Longmore House
Salisbury Place
Jedburgh TD8 6JQ
Scotland
Hours
April 1 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 |
| Close | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 |
October 1 to March 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 |
| Close | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
St Martin's Cross
Opposite the west portal of St Mary's Cathedral stands the imposing St Martin's Cross (10th century). This 14ft/4.27m Celtic cross was built as a memorial to St Martin of Tours. The much-admired sculpture shows figures, animals and the holy family.
