Date: Tuesday 27th April 2021
Company: Just myself
After work on Tuesday (home working from my campervan), I caught the ferry from Fionnphort on Mull across to Iona for an ascent of Dun 1. On my previous visit to Iona I had failed to visit its summit. I had to put that right.
It had originally been my intention to undertake lots of walking in the week subsequent to this visit however due to a fairly bad ankle injury, I am currently off the hills. Not ideal timing giving lockdown easing. Not sure if I have a stress fracture or strained tendon but as A&E in Fort William would not X-ray my ankle, who knows
.From the minute I arrived it was great to be back on Iona. St. Ronan's Bay beach is beautiful.
St. Ronan's Bay:
From the beach, I made my way along the road towards Iona Abbey. I hadn't done any research on how best to ascend the hill and just expected to find a good path.
Iona Abbey:
Beyond the abbey, I turned off too early towards the hill making my way through a farm and then via a pathless ascent of the hill. I had to climb over a couple of fences which could have been avoided if I had just carried on a couple of hundred metres further along the road before starting my ascent.
Looking back towards Iona Abbey during initial ascent of Dun 1:
Ascending Dun 1:
As the hill is only 101m in height, it didn't take long to reach the summit despite my gammy foot.
At the summit I took several photos before making my way back down.
View from the summit of Dun 1:
View from the summit of Dun 1:
View from Dun 1:
View from the trig point on Dun 1:
View during descent:
During the walk out I again passed Iona Abbey and also visited St. Oran's Chapel.
Looking back to Dun 1:
St. Oran's Chapel:
Inside St. Oran's Chapel:
Nunnery:
A quick revisit to the beach was also undertaken before catching the ferry back to Mull. It was a late afternoon visit so time was not on my side for a longer stay.
St. Ronan's Bay:
On driving back from Fionnphort to Loch na Keal, I just had to stop to photograph a couple of beautiful baby H'lan Coos
.Baby H'lan Coos:
