We sailed early this morning from Oban with a spectacular cloudscape providing a wonderful backdrop for photographing the coastal landscape of the dramatic west coast of Scotland. Duart Castle and Lismore Lighthouse were prominent architectural landmarks that caught our eye – and lens! From Craignure on the island of Mull, we travelled by bus along a narrow, winding road to the small village of Fionnphort to catch the ferry to the historic and spiritual island of Iona. The weather gods were on our side, thankfully, and we enjoyed beautiful, sunny conditions exploring the nunnery and famous 13th century abbey. The island has a rich archeological landscape for photography, and we learned from our local guide about the importance of Iona as the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland. In the afternoon, we retraced our ferry and bus journey to visit the seat of the MacLean clan and explored Duart Castle, which dates to the 13th century and has been progressively renovated and restored since 1912.
8/29/2024
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Lord of the Glens
Mull, Iona, and Duart Castle
Morning found us traveling across the Isle of Mull by bus, headed towards the Isle of Iona, a small island with a significant place in Scottish history. In 563, Columba arrived on Iona from Ireland to establish a Christian community, spreading this faith across Scotland. On Iona, we had the chance to tour the sites and visit the 13th century Benedictine Abbey with a local guide. Some set off on other activities, either a hike to the western shore of Iona or a boat ride out to the fabulous Isle of Staffa. After lunch, we headed back across Mull, with a stop to admire the Highland cows. Before reaching the ship, we turned off the main road to visit Duart Castle, home to Clan MacLean. Our final destination of the day was Oban on the mainland, a bustling town of about 8,000 people. The day was capped off with a whisky tasting provided by the local Oban Distillery.