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It is virtually impossible to
visit St. Columba's bay with out returning with a pocket (or
haversack) full of stones. It's not just the children who find the
pebbles irresistible! Don't be surprised if
complete strangers will come up to you all excited exclaiming things
like 'Hey look - this one's heart shaped'.
Amongst the dazzling array of
pinks and reds and blacks and whites you may be lucky enough to find
slivers of greenstone (or serpentine)
sometimes called "Columba's Tears" or "Mermaid's Tears". Legend has it
that if you carry a piece of Iona greenstone with you, you will never
drown. (Good news if the ferry journey home is on a stormy day)
Columba is reputed to have
landed at the bay when he arrived on Iona from Ireland in A. D. 563 - he
went on from there to set up his monastery on the island.
Tips:
Before you go, buy sandwiches
and a drink from Martyrs Bay Cafe or the Spar shop and have a picnic at
the bay.
While you are there watch out for seals playing
in the bay.
Take a bag for your stones -
honestly, no matter what you think now, you will pick up pebbles!!!
How to get there:
Follow the
road to the West side of the island - go through the gate into the Machair.
Once at the Machair, take a
sharp left turn and follow the fence line south, you will see a vague path
(and water pipe markers). Cross the burns with bridges made of railroad sleepers.
The golf course should be on your right.
You will come to a steep
pebble-strewn hill - which is usually a shallow burn. Follow this to the
top and onto a path that runs alongside Loch Stonaig.
Follow the path
along the Loch. The path is now much more distinct and it is just a
matter of following it south.The path will rise until you see St. Columba's bay
below - a wide expanse of pebble beach. As you come off the high
ground take a mental note of the route for finding the path back can be
a bit tricky.
Map of Iona showing St
Columba's Bay
St Columba's Bay
Stones at St Columba's Bay
- go on - you know you want to!
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