Iona Abbey and Nunnery – Iona Nunnery loop from Iona

Hiking trails & Routes

Iona Abbey and Nunnery – Iona Nunnery loop from Iona

Easy

hikers

Iona Abbey and Nunnery – Iona Nunnery loop from Iona

00:40

2.58km

20m

Hiking

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Last updated: October 8, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

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683 m

Iona Abbey and Nunnery

Highlight • Historical Site

Iona Abbey is an abbey founded in the sixth century by Saint Columba. From here, Christianity spread throughout Scotland. Sixty kings, mainly Scottish, found their final resting place there. In …

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736 m

St Martin's Cross

Highlight • Monument

For almost fourteen centuries, the St Martin's Cross has stood in this place, a silent witness to great events on Iona. The cross stands furthest from the church and is …

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754 m

St Columba’s Shrine

Highlight • Religious Site

Behind St. John's Cross stands a small stone building, known as the shrine of St Columba. Most of the walls were restored in 1962, but the lower courses are original …

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793 m

St John's Cross, Iona Abbey

Highlight • Religious Site

At the abbey, in front of the entrance to St Columba's Sanctuary, stands a beautifully reconstructed replica of the 8th-century St John's Cross, an impressive cross with a large span. …

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885 m

St Oran's Chapel

Highlight • Historical Site

This was the burial chapel of the MacDonald Lords of the isles. Built in the 12th century, it is the oldest intact structure on Iona. Go through the ornate doorway …

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1.14 km

A cute little garden café next to the Iona Heritage Center. Scones, coffee, cakes, sandwiches, and soups. While everything is delicious, my personal tip: Only go to the Rookery for coffee and cake and for lunch with Ailidh!

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1.40 km

Baile Mòr Village and Martyrs Bay Café

Highlight • Cafe

Baile Mor is a small village (and the only one) on the island of Iona. It is located on the east coast of the island and overlooks the Sound of …

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1.47 km

Iona Nunnery

Highlight (Segment) • Historical Site

Around 1205, Benedictine monks came to Iona. At the same time as Augustinian nuns. These religious groups helped to revive the dilapidated abbey. The nuns wore black habits; the Gaelic …

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2.58 km

End point

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

1.63 km

945 m

Surfaces

1.63 km

468 m

290 m