The Wonders of Inner Hebrides

A 7 day long journey of exploration of the stunning Hebridean Isles of Iona, Staffa and the Ross of Mull, encountering these wonderful places through their landscape, geology and folklore and the chance to get a bit creative! Visit an award-winning ecocroft and find out how you can work in partnership with this fragile environment for sustainable farming practices and learn how the seas are the roads of these isles. Explore the mighty Fingal’s cave on the Isle of Staffa, one of the wonders of the world, immortalised in Mendelssohn’s Hebridean overture and make friends with the delightful puffins! Follow a geological adventure across the land of Iona walking in the footsteps of saints to St Columba’s bay, a chance to walk a labyrinth and find some semi-precious stones and then onto the famous Iona marble quarry. Treading on some of the oldest rocks on the planet, understand how these beautiful rocks with their stunning colours were created. As you tred the land you can feel the forces that made it. Explore a weaving mill on an organic farm, see the machines at work that make ethical tweeds using natural dyes from the land and sea. Take part in a craft ale and delicious artisan food tasting. Delve into the past at the Hermits cell and Well of the North Wind. Take a walk up Iona’s holy hill to the Well of Eternal Youth. Relax on the magical white shell sand beaches backed by a turquoise sea, breathe in the wonderful air and absorb the very special tranquil atmosphere that personifies Iona. Hear and maybe spot the elusive corncrakes of Iona, see the dolphins which often grace the Sound of Iona. Walk in the beautiful summer meadows and take a moment to admire some for the islands exquisite native orchids. Learn a few simple printing techniques with a local island artist to create something really special to remember your week by. Stay in an historic house on the land of the original Iona Abby with its own housekeeper, surrounded by fields with outstanding views of the Abbey and to the islands North and South of Iona. Just relax, have a wonderful week and leave this special place feeling really recharged.