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Iona Abbey and Nunnery – Tràigh an t-Suidhe Beach loop from Iona

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Iona Abbey and Nunnery – Tràigh an t-Suidhe Beach loop from Iona

Easy

4.7

(10)

140

hikers

Iona Abbey and Nunnery – Tràigh an t-Suidhe Beach loop from Iona

01:54

7.07km

90m

Hiking

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: June 17, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

82 m

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 Iona and the village of Fionnphort on Mull. Baile Mor was the location of a 6th-century monastery and nearby are 13th-century remains and a 15th-century Celtic cross (MacLean's Cross). Iona's parish church is a parliamentary church, funded by the British government, designed by engineer Thomas Telford (1757-1834) and built in 1828. Iona Abbey and St Columba's burial ground are located north of the village. In the village you will find several eateries, various shops, public toilets, etc. Although the island of Iona has fewer than 200 permanent residents, it attracts over 100,000 visitors annually.

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124 m

Baile Mòr Beach

Highlight • Beach

A dream beach but “as cold” water.
Fantastic landscape. We still took a bath!”

Translated by Google •

Tip by

681 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 1203, a Benedictine abbey was founded (by Reginald MacDonald of Islay, son of Somerled) on the site where several churches dedicated to Saint Columba presumably stood. The new church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. This marked the beginning on Iona of the Roman church, which replaced the Columban (Celtic) church.
(Wikipedia)

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713 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. The original is kept in the museum behind the abbey, to the northeast. The St John's Cross was structurally flawed and probably collapsed shortly after its creation. With a span of 2.2 metres, it was one of the widest crosses known in the British Isles.
Originally, it was a ringless cross, and it is thought that the four ring segments were added later to strengthen it. Even its recent history is sad: it was glued together with concrete and rebuilt in 1927, but was blown down in 1951 and again in 1957. It was then decided to move the fragments to the abbey museum for safety. The concrete replica we now see on the spot was placed in 1970 on the original stone pedestal.
(Seaview B&B)

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1.33 km

Hill Climb Signpost

Highlight • Viewpoint

Easy to miss the gate for the turn off, it's nestled between homes.

Tip by

1.78 km

View from Dùn Ì

Highlight • Summit

on the slope and above

Translated by Google •

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3.27 km

Traigh Ban Nam Monach Beach

Highlight • Beach

Great little beach with wind swept sands, worth taking a moment to enjoy after the walk.

Tip by

4.44 km

Tràigh an t-Suidhe Beach

Highlight • Beach

Fantastic quiet beach, great for a swim if your brave enough!

Tip by

7.07 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

3.35 km

2.53 km

1.03 km

156 m

Surfaces

3.47 km

1.96 km

1.52 km

108 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Saturday 11 July

21°C

15°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 10.0 km/h

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Comments

July 22, 2022,Scotland / Iona: Nordinsel

A circular hike over Iona's highest mountain: Dùn Ì with 101 m and
To the northern tip with the sandy beaches to the west and the "White Beach" to the east.
At some point Komoot said goodbye on the way back before the tour was over.

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May 15, 2023,Iona Abbey, Dùn Ì and the north end

I intended to walk further at the northern tip but the white sand and turquoise water was so seductive that I chilled for an hour there.

Didn't see the corn crame but we heard some and there were plenty of ornithologists around desperately trying to spot them and photograph them.

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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Iona Abbey and Nunnery – Tràigh an t-Suidhe Beach loop from Iona

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Iona Abbey and Nunnery – Tràigh an t-Suidhe Beach loop from Iona

Baile Mòr Village and Martyrs Bay Café

Baile Mòr Beach

Iona Abbey and Nunnery

St John's Cross, Iona Abbey

Hill Climb Signpost

View from Dùn Ì

Traigh Ban Nam Monach Beach

Tràigh an t-Suidhe Beach

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