I am with a group that arrives on Iona late afternoon on a Saturday, wants to hike part of the island Sunday, and leaves Monday morning. I read online that one needs a detailed hiking map because trails may not be well-marked. I read the info center may have hiking maps, but we might arrive after it closes Saturday. I understand there is spotty internet, so an online hiking site might not work reliably. How to get a detailed-enough map for island hikes? An online to download before we arrive would be OK. Can you help?
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
6181 posts
When you are standing on Iona, you can literally see the entire island. It is a speck. I hardly think a hiking map is necessary.
Posted by
Angleterre
2896 posts
Ordnance Survey is the map to get https://osmaps.com/
Either get the app or a paper map; it is a wonderful souvenir
Posted by
Lake District, England
12303 posts
When you are standing on Iona, you can literally see the entire island. It is a speck. I hardly think a hiking map is necessary.
That is not true, that you can see the entire island from any one point. 95% of people don't need a map because they are on the bus tour which gives them a mere 2 or 3 hours on the island, so yes you can see everything from the ferry slip you will have time to visit.
But there is so much more to the island, which without a map you would not know about. In this case mercifully we have an OP wanting to immerse themselves in the island, not just treat it as a quick obligatory stop. So yes a map is very useful.
And yes the Ordnance Survey Explorer map #373 (2 1/2 inches to a mile in old money, 1:25,000) is the best you can get. It may be overkill in that the Landranger map #48 (inch to the mile in old money, 1:50,000) is quite adequate, but the Explorer gives you field boundaries, fences. open access land etc.
And is a great and inexpensive souvenir, in paper format.
Posted by
Lincolnshire, UK
3130 posts