Another island. Two islands, in fact. Mull and Iona.
A long way from home. Almost 3 hours driving to get to Oban, followed by 50 minutes on a Calmac ferry to Craignure on Mull.
Mull Ferry
Calmac’s Iona ferry leaves from Fionnphort. My research informed me that’s a 35 mile drive west on the A849. British roads are classed either as A or B (unless they’re motorways or unclassified). I did wonder why a 35 mile drive on an A road would take over an hour, but passed on quickly to other planning tasks.
Well, it turns out this A road is single track with passing places!
A849
Island life…
I’d decided to stay in Fionnphort, but I arrived too early to check into my B&B so I decided to get the ferry to Iona. The timetable? Ah…
Sailings in the early morning and late afternoon run at fixed times. In the middle of the day they just run “regularly”. More island life…
It’s a 10 minute voyage so the ship just runs a shuttle service.
Iona Ferry
My sailing had just left the jetty by a minute or two when it went into reverse all of a sudden and returned to the pier. A problem? No, a BT Openreach (telephone & internet provider) van had arrived at the jetty just after we’d sailed so the captain decided to go back for it…
Wait for Me!
Yup, island life again.
Was it worth it? Yes, Iona has been added to the list of special places. Mull too.
ⓒ iain taylor 2016