On a grey morning we departed Oban for the Isle of Mull aboard an early ferry. The crossing was short and smooth and we arrived at Craignure (a small town serving as the main gateway to Mull) just as the showers started.
After a wet drive across the southside of Mull we made our first stop at Ardalanish where a famous weaving house is located. We got to see a man preparing the loom to produce a bolt of amazingly fine twill cloth and Samuel got press ganged for some manual labour working on a machine just like the 9 year old children in the 18th century would have done it.
At Fionnport we left our car to take the short 10 minute very scenic ferry across to Iona.
Iona is famous as one of the most significant religious sites in the United Kingdom. Back in 563AD, the monk (later Saint) Columba founded a monastery which became a famous centre of learning and played a key role in the conversion of the Pictish population of Scotland to Christianity for several centuries. By the time we reached the abbey the rain had blown away leaving us free to wander the grounds without getting soaked.
After visiting the inside of the church and very sacred chapel we walked through the Abbey cloisters followed by the museum.
Before long it was time to walk back to the ferry for a late afternoon crossing back to Mull and another stunning evening drive to our campsite half way along the western side of the island.
After a wet drive across the southside of Mull we made our first stop at Ardalanish where a famous weaving house is located. We got to see a man preparing the loom to produce a bolt of amazingly fine twill cloth and Samuel got press ganged for some manual labour working on a machine just like the 9 year old children in the 18th century would have done it.
At Fionnport we left our car to take the short 10 minute very scenic ferry across to Iona.
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| Hot chips while we wait for the ferry |
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| The abbey from the sea |
Iona is famous as one of the most significant religious sites in the United Kingdom. Back in 563AD, the monk (later Saint) Columba founded a monastery which became a famous centre of learning and played a key role in the conversion of the Pictish population of Scotland to Christianity for several centuries. By the time we reached the abbey the rain had blown away leaving us free to wander the grounds without getting soaked.
After visiting the inside of the church and very sacred chapel we walked through the Abbey cloisters followed by the museum.
Before long it was time to walk back to the ferry for a late afternoon crossing back to Mull and another stunning evening drive to our campsite half way along the western side of the island.
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