Lord of the Glens set off before breakfast, leaving Oban to sail to Craignure on the Isle of Mull. This was the beginning of our exploration of the islands of the Inner Hebrides.
With an early start, we bussed across Mull through green valleys and rugged mountains to Fionnphort and the ferry crossing to Iona. This small island is where Columba came from Ireland in 563AD, establishing a Christian presence that spread across Scotland. Once on Iona, we had a local guide who gave details on both the history and modern life of the isle. While most of us toured the 13th century Augustinian nunnery and the Benedictine abbey, some went off for a hike further afield.
On our bus ride back to the ship, we detoured off the main route to visit Clan MacLean’s Duart Castle, an imposing building on the edge of the Sound of Mull. The day was capped off by a presentation from the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust.
