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Iona Abbey

Iona Abbey

Highlight • Religious Site

Iona Abbey

Recommended by 41 hikers out of 42

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Location: Iona, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, United Kingdom

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Best Hikes to Iona Abbey

4.7

(9)

161

hikers

1. Iona Abbey and Nunnery – St John's Cross, Iona Abbey loop from The Village

6.99km

01:53

90m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.1

(17)

108

hikers

2. Iona Abbey – View of the Sound of Iona loop from The Village

9.44km

02:28

70m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.3

(12)

hikers

3. Baile Mòr Beach – View of the Sound of Iona loop from The Village

8.42km

02:17

120m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

Tips

1Fritz-Marc 🚴🥾🏊🌲

August 21, 2017

In the year 563 Columban came with twelve men from Ireland to Iona and founded there the monastery Iona Abbey. From Iona Christianity spread in the form of the so-called Celtic Church in Scotland and northern England. Presumably, the Book of Kells, one of the most valuable works of insular illumination, was written in the 7th or 8th century on Iona. Iona was the spiritual center of the Celtic Church, to whose followers the Culdeer counted.

Iona was considered a "holy place" for several centuries. Scottish Irish and Norwegian kings are to be buried in the cemetery Reilig Odhráin. So Iona was burial place of the kings of Dalriada and their successors, the early kings of Scotland. The last of these was Macbeth, known from Shakespeare's drama of the same name. Numerous crosses were created at this time on Iona. Many were later thrown into the sea by puritanical groups. The St. John's Cross from the 8th and the St. Martin's Cross from the 9th century still exist, with some fragments.

The Celtic monastery existed until the 11th century. It was destroyed by Viking raids (795, 802, 806). In the 12th century, the Culdeer were subject to the northward-pressing followers of the Roman Catholic Church. As a result, a second monastery was built in 1203 as a Benedictine abbey and cathedral of the islands. The monastery existed until the Reformation, then fell and was rebuilt in 1939. Source: Wikipedia

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Matti

June 10, 2020

A really fantastic monastery with a lively church community. A day visit to the museum with a German audio guide and an evening fair are definitely recommended.

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Peter

February 17, 2024

What was created here in absolute seclusion is impressive.

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Details

Informations

Elevation 20 m

Weather

Today

Thursday 11 December

12°C

8°C

96 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 49.0 km/h

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See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Iona, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, United Kingdom

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Iona Abbey

1. Iona Abbey and Nunnery – St John's Cross, Iona Abbey loop from The Village

2. Iona Abbey – View of the Sound of Iona loop from The Village

3. Baile Mòr Beach – View of the Sound of Iona loop from The Village

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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