Iona from Glasgow

Gail, Iona is an island. There are no trains going to it. There are not much of any transportation going to it. I haven't been to Iona but I have to a nearby island. I think you have to get to the island of Mull first, then either walk to Iona at low tide or find out if there is local transportation. Considering the number of pilgrims that go there each year there must be some sort of organized transportation. If you are going to stay overnight you should make your plans way ahead for August. It would help to do some research on your own. I have an old Rough Guide Scotland and it isn't much help. Several years ago we took the ferry from Islay to Oban and it stopped at Mull. That's really as much as I know about it.

I don't know how you're going to get from Glasgow all the way across Mull, but CalMac runs the ferry for the last leg. With a car, and working the timing, it's almost a full day each way.

When we visited Iona, many years ago, we stayed in Oban. We took a ferry over to Mull, and boarded a bus at the dock, which took us across that island. At the other end there was a very small ferry that took us to Iona. I'm remembering that the trip was a package, i.e., one ticket purchased at the Oban harbor. Can't say if that's still the only way to get to Iona.

Hi, from my researching about Scotland (we go in June) it seems that you can do a day trip from Oban (boat, bus, boat then return). I am not sure about the train to Oban but I think there are organised tours to there from Glasgow

I did it last Summer. Take the Train from Glasgow to Oban. Beautiful scenery. Train passes Loch Lommond and Loch Awe. In Oban, purchase a tour package (Bowman Bus Tours) There is a ticket booth right inside the ferry terminal which is located right next to the train stop. There is also a small ticket office just a short walk (from the train stop) on the sidewalk that goes around the bay. Sign on window. The ticket package includes round trip tickets from Oban: CalMac Ferry, Bus Shuttle(Mull), Iona Ferry. There are also tours to Staffa(Fingal's Cave) and Lunga (Treshnish Isles) and other Islands. We stayed in Oban 3 nights. One night for train travel to Oban. Then, we got our tickets and took two tours from Oban. You can stay overnight In Iona - however, hotels are limited and you have to plan in advance. I would pack some food as well. Not many good options for food in Iona and expensive.
If you are staying overnight in Iona - I would contact Bowman Tours in advance about the details of arranging transportation for an overnight on Iona. A day tour from Oban is definitely possible. You only get a few hours on Iona though.

Hi Gail, Possibly a bit late, but here's some advice from Scotland. If you have a look at the Caledonian MacBrayne website (CalMac, as they are known locally, run the ferry services to the Western Isles) you'll see that the 8.21 train from Glasgow Queen Street connects to the 11.55 ferry from Oban to Mull. Then there's a bus services across Mull to the tiny ferry at Fionport, which takes you to the very beautiful island of Iona. Although there are only two hotels on Iona, there are at least a dozen bed and breakfast places, and there may even by hostel places at the Abbey. A couple of general points. The train journey from Glasgow to Oban is ranked as one of the most scenic in the world, with one highlight being the viaduct made famous in the Harry Potter movies. Catering facilities on the train are rather basic, though, and the journey takes three hours, so you might want to pop into the Marks and Spencers at Queen Street Station and buy yourself a picnic. Oban is a beautiful port. The train station is adjacent to the ferry terminal and you can pop into the green shed on the pier and refuel on fresh salmon sandwiches or the best scallops you will ever taste. The CalMac ferries to Mull are fairly large car carriers, with good facilities on board. Bed and Breakfast places in the UK are not quite as luxurious as those I've stayed at in the US, but share the same pleasure of staying with locals. Catering is generally limited to a hearty breakfast and packed lunches - you will need to eat dinner elsewhere. Again, the Abbey might help with that.
I can't say enough nice things about Iona. As a place of pilgrimage, it's unmatched for me in the world.

Hi Gail, Possibly a bit late, but here's some advice from Scotland. If you have a look at the Caledonian MacBrayne website (CalMac, as they are known locally, run the ferry services to the Western Isles) you'll see that the 8.21 train from Glasgow Queen Street connects to the 11.55 ferry from Oban to Mull. Then there's a bus services across Mull to the tiny ferry at Fionport, which takes you to the very beautiful island of Iona. Although there are only two hotels on Iona, there are at least a dozen bed and breakfast places, and there may even by hostel places at the Abbey. A couple of general points. The train journey from Glasgow to Oban is ranked as one of the most scenic in the world, with one highlight being the viaduct made famous in the Harry Potter movies. Catering facilities on the train are rather basic, though, and the journey takes three hours, so you might want to pop into the Marks and Spencers at Queen Street Station and buy yourself a picnic. Bed and Breakfast places in the UK are not quite as luxurious as those I've stayed at in the US, but share the same pleasure of staying with locals. Catering is generally limited to a hearty breakfast and packed lunches - you will need to eat dinner elsewhere. Again, the Abbey might help with that.
I can't say enough nice things about Iona. As a place of pilgrimage, it's unmatched for me in the world.

Hi Gail, Possibly a bit late, but here's some advice from Scotland. If you have a look at the Caledonian MacBrayne website (CalMac, as they are known locally, run the ferry services to the Western Isles) you'll see that the 8.21 train from Glasgow Queen Street connects to the 11.55 ferry from Oban to Mull. Then there's a bus services across Mull to the tiny ferry at Fionport, which takes you to the very beautiful island of Iona. Although there are only two hotels on Iona, there are at least a dozen bed and breakfast places, and there may even by hostel places at the Abbey.
A couple of general points. The train journey from Glasgow to Oban is ranked as one of the most scenic in the world, with one highlight being the viaduct made famous in the Harry Potter movies. Catering facilities on the train are rather basic, though, and the journey takes three hours, so you might want to pop into the Marks and Spencers at Queen Street Station and buy yourself a picnic for the train.

Hi Gail, Possibly a bit late, but here's some advice from Scotland. If you have a look at the Caledonian MacBrayne website (CalMac, as they are known locally, run the ferry services to the Western Isles) you'll see that the 8.21 train from Glasgow Queen Street connects to the 11.55 ferry from Oban to Mull.
Then there's a bus services across Mull to the tiny ferry at Fionport, which takes you to the very beautiful island of Iona. Although there are only two hotels on Iona, there are at least a dozen bed and breakfast places, and there may even by hostel places at the Abbey.