'''Iona''' [http://www.iona.org.uk/]is an island in Scotland. It is 3.5 miles long and 1.5 miles across.
Cities
The island only has two major settlements, Baile Mor and the Iona Community. There are 70 permanent residents, but 500,000 visitors each year.
Understand
The monastic community on Iona was founded in 563AD by Colum Cille (St. Columba) from Ireland, who was driven out of his homeland, Ireland, in the 6th c. and settled on the Isle of Iona, with his monks; the nearest point to Ireland from which he could not see his homeland. This was the home of celtic christianity for six hundred years until King David suppressed celtic christianity in the twelfth century. Iona remained a major pilgrimage site until the reformation when the island was sacked and the community scattered. In the early twentieth century, the abbey was rebuilt and a new monastic community has begun here, providing much of the tourism for the island.
Get in
By boat
A [http://www.calmac.co.uk Caledonian Macbrayne] ferry service operates from the town of Fionnphort, on the isle of Mull
The ferry from Fionnphort connects with a bus number 496 to Craignure, which connects with a [http://www.calmac.co.uk Caledonian Macbrayne] ferry service to Oban. Oban has a train and bus service to Glasgow. The journey from Iona to Glasgow takes approximately 5 hours. The bus and ferries will wait for incoming services to try to keep the connections.
By car
Visitors are not allowed to bring cars onto Iona, but you can park for free at Fionnphort on Mull. There are ferries to Mull from Oban, Kilchoan and Salen.
Get around
Iona has one [http://www.mullionataxi.com/ Taxi]. If you stay in one of the retreats or hotels, then you may be collected from the quay by car. You can hire bicycles from the Finlay Ross shop in Balle Mor. Otherwise you need to walk.
See
The Augustan Monastery in Balle Mor
Iona Heritage Centre
MacLean's Cross - one of the few surviving stone crosses on the island.
The Lewissian Gneiss rocks on the Western half of Iona are ~ 2 Billion years old and are some of the oldest in Europe. They are a mixture of pink, white, red, green and black.
Do
Walk to the top end of Iona where there are several beaches with white sand, clear water and beautiful rocks. The views are stunning views back towards the Ross of Mull or to the North to Tiree, Coll, The Treshnish Isles, Staffa, Eigg, Muck, and Skye. This walk can be combined with a visit to the Abbey, which is enroute to the beaches.
Walk to South West coast of the island to the beach at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_at_the_Back_of_the_Ocean Camas Cuil an t-Saimh]. To the south of the bay there is a spouting cave.
There are [http://www.fingals-cave-staffa.co.uk/fingal-cave.asp boat trips] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fingal%27s_Cave Fingal's Cave] on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staffa Staffa]
Eat
'''Argyll Hotel''', [http://www.argyllhoteliona.co.uk/].
'''St Columba Hotel''', [http://www.stcolumba-hotel.co.uk].
Drink
There is a bar near the quay in Balle Mor, and in the hotels.
Sleep
Iona Hostel [http://www.ionahostel.co.uk/] - __17.50 Adults, __12.00 Children. The hostel in a fantastic location on a sheep farm to the North of the island. It has 21 beds in 5 rooms, with a good kitchen for self-catering.
Stay safe
Its safe. The biggest danger on Iona is from the elements. In 1998, four men from Iona were killed when their boat capsized on an evening trip to Mull [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/240211.stm].
Get out