A Journey to the Isle of Iona from Inverness
In the year 563 AD, an Irish monk named Columba arrived on the tiny island of Iona and founded a monastery that would go on to become the single most influential religious site in early medieval Scotland and the cradle of Celtic Christianity. Two years later, he journeyed northeast along the Great Glen to meet King Bridei of the Picts near modern-day Inverness, and according to his 7th-century biographer Adomnán, it was on that journey that he confronted a "water beast" in the River Ness. Travelling from Inverness to Iona today retraces that route in reverse.
Waypoints on the journey
Isle of Iona: The heart of the journey. Founded in 563 AD, St Columba's monastery became a centre of learning that produced the Book of Kells, and the ancient graveyard of Reilig Odhráin is recorded as holding the remains of many early Scottish kings. Iona remains a living site of pilgrimage today, with the modern Iona Community still drawing visitors who come simply to walk its ground. Beyond the restored Abbey and the 13th-century Augustinian Nunnery, much of Iona's power lies simply in its overwhelming sense of history.
Duart Castle: Standing on a headland guarding the Sound of Mull, Duart has been the seat of Clan Maclean since the late 14th century. Restored in the early 20th century after centuries of ruin, it remains one of the best-preserved clan strongholds in the Hebrides.
Tobermory: The Isle of Mull's principal town, with its distinctive colourful harbour front and relaxed, easy character – a great place simply to slow down between the castle and the crossing to Iona.
Glencoe: A dramatic glen on the return route to Inverness, site of the 1692 Massacre of Glencoe, and a fitting close to a journey that moves through so many layers of Highland and island history.
Why this journey takes four days
Most regular tours to Iona run out of Oban, which is easier to reach if you are travelling up from Glasgow or Edinburgh. If you simply want a quick trip to Iona, taking train or road connections to Oban from the Lowlands and booking a local tour from there is far more direct.
Starting from Inverness is a very different experience. You are travelling right through the breath-taking scenery of the Highlands twice, following the Great Glen down to the West Coast and taking two separate ferries to reach Iona. Trying to squeeze that into two or three days means a rushed itinerary.
In keeping with my approach that the Highlands shouldn't be rushed, four days allows an unhurried visit to Iona – nearly five full hours on the island – combined with a wonderful journey to and from Inverness, taking in Urquhart Castle, the dramatic scenery of Glencoe and the coastal landscapes of Mull along the way.
What is the catch?
The two nights on Mull are there for a reason. The crossings from Oban to Mull and from Fionnphort to Iona can both be affected by weather, and a second day on the island gives us more options with the ferries. If the forecast looks unfavourable for Iona on Day 3, we can often bring the visit forward to Day 2, which is why Day 2 is deliberately kept shorter.
That flexibility is the trade-off for visiting the islands. This journey suits guests with a flexible and adventurous spirit, who are happy to adapt the plan if the weather requires it. Island ferries run to the sea rather than to a timetable, and in my experience a little adaptability is part of what makes the trip memorable.
How to make this journey
All of the waypoints above can be visited independently by car and ferry, if you have the time to plan the logistics and connections between Inverness, Oban, Mull and Iona.
However, if you prefer a private tour, I offer a curated 4 Day Journey to the Isle of Iona Private Tour following this same route from Inverness at an unhurried pace.
4 Day Journey to the Isle of Iona Private Tour
This is a curated private journey through the Scottish Highlands and Inner Hebrides to the sacred Isle of Iona. It is not one of my six standard tours, but a bespoke itinerary for guests wishing to travel from Inverness to Iona, exploring the history and landscapes of the Highlands along the way.
What's Included
- Private tour for your group only (1, 2 or 3 persons)
- An experienced driver-guide and historian (John Alasdair Macdonald)
- A comfortable tour vehicle with good visibility and generous legroom
- All ferry tickets (I take care of all ferry bookings)
- All taxes and fees
What's Excluded
The tour price does not include your accommodation costs, entrance fees, meals and refreshments.
Tour Itinerary
- Day 1: Inverness to Oban — Follow the Great Glen and Loch Ness, with a visit to Urquhart Castle to explore its medieval history and its links with St Columba. before travelling south through Argyll with a viewpoint stop at Castle Stalker. Overnight: Oban.
- Day 2: Oban to the Isle of Mull — Take the morning ferry from Oban to Craignure on Mull, then visit Duart Castle, ancestral home of Clan Maclean. This is deliberately a shorter day, leaving time to enjoy Tobermory and its colourful harbour at a relaxed pace. Overnight: Tobermory.
- Day 3: Isle of Iona — Our longer day begins with a scenic two-hour drive across Mull to Fionnphort, where we catch the short passenger ferry to Iona. Spend nearly five hours exploring Iona Abbey, the thirteenth-century Augustinian Nunnery, Reilig Odhráin and the island's beautiful beaches and coastline, before returning to Mull. The two-night stay in Tobermory also provides some flexibility: subject to ferry operations and availability, the Iona visit can sometimes be moved to Day 2 if the forecast looks unfavourable. Overnight: Tobermory.
- Day 4: Isle of Mull to Inverness — Take the ferry from Craignure back to Oban, then travel north through the spectacular scenery of Glencoe, with stops to explore the glen and visit a reconstructed traditional seventeenth-century turf house. Continue along the Great Glen, with time to enjoy Fort Augustus and the Caledonian Canal, before returning to Inverness.
Optional Fifth Day: Kilmartin Glen and Argyll
If you have more time, the tour can be extended to five days with an additional overnight in Oban at the start, giving you two nights in Oban and two in Tobermory. For a surcharge of £800, the additional day includes the prehistoric standing stones of Kilmartin Glen, along with visits to Inveraray Castle and Kilchurn Castle, before continuing to Mull and Iona.
Would You Like to Stay Overnight on Iona?
It may be possible to adapt the itinerary to include an overnight stay on Iona, although accommodation is limited and must be arranged in advance. A one-night stay offers the chance to enjoy the island after day visitors have left and explore again the following morning. In peak season, however, many accommodation providers require a minimum two-night stay, which would mean a more substantial adjustment to the itinerary.
If staying on Iona is a priority, I can discuss adapting the tour to suit your plans. However, if your main aim is to spend several days on the island itself, travelling independently may offer better value, as Iona is small and largely explored on foot. Either way, booking accommodation well in advance is essential.
How do I book the tour?
The first step is simply to email me directly – info@thehebrideanexplorer.com – with your preferred travel dates. I will then reply with availability and a detailed tour quotation (with absolutely no obligation to proceed at this stage).