Sunday, 30 May 2010

Walks

Dun I

dun-i.jpg Distance: 1.41 miles
Ascent: 94 metres
Duration: 32 minutes

Iona's Hill

Rising to 100 metres above sea level (and another metre if you include the summit cairn), Dun I is Iona's hill - both in name and in fact. From here the entire island unfolds: the farmland to the north contrasting with the rough moorland of the south. Between them, the "big village" Baile Mòr and on its outskirts, the Abbey.

The short walk from the Abbey to Dun I's summit may be straightforward, but there's still a strong sense of achievement as the viewpoint reveals that you are indeed standing on an island, with water visible between the horizon and the land in three hundred and sixty degrees.

On a clear day the view is phenomenal. The three Paps of Jura can be clearly identified to the south-east; directly south you may be able to make out the lighthouse at Dubh Artach fifteen miles away. The line on the horizon to the north-west marks Coll and Tiree, the outermost Inner Hebrides while to the north-north-east the furthest landmarks beyond Mull are the hills of Rùm, Eigg and Skye.

This walk is well worth an hour of anyone's time on Iona; even if just visiting for the day I'd say it's an essential part of your trip.

Posted by pab at 14:43 | Comments will be back later in the year. Please email me instead!