Campsites in Isle of Iona
Iona entices campers with its peaceful grassy pitches and picturesque island beaches.
- Isle of Iona
Popular camping styles for Isle of Iona
Campsites in Isle of Iona guide
Overview
Serene little Iona has punched above its weight for centuries, once home to the sixth-century monastery (where Iona Abbey now stands) that became instrumental in the spread of Christianity through the British Isles. This spiritual island may be still mainly visited for the abbey, but its gentle grassy terrain, bounded by sandy beaches, persuades plenty of people into longer stays to soak up the special atmosphere. Camping is limited—the delightfully simple Iona Campsite is the island’s only campsite with facilities, and otherwise, Iona has little cultivable land, so wild campers should take care not to erect tents in any enclosed fields.
Where to go
Western Iona
After the east coast where Iona Abbey is set, western Iona is the island’s next-easiest area to access, and boasts the only campsite with facilities, too. Aptly named Iona Campsite, it’s situated on a working farming croft a 20-minute walk by lane from the ferry terminal. With grassy pitches tucked within an expanse of tussocky moorland, it’s a wild-feeling site. Continuing along the lane past the campsite, you hit the golf course and a beautiful sandy curve of beach.
Northern Iona
Carrying on past Iona Abbey and following the lane along the east coast until its end, you reach the track to the two splendid northern beaches of Tràigh Bhàn and Tràigh an t-Suidhe. You can wild camp around the shore here, looking out on a scattering of reefs and islets. The double act of sandy strands are serene and allow wild swimming just a 30-minute walk from Iona Abbey.
Erraid & Around
A short ferry ride across from Iona, and almost certainly the way you travelled to get here, is the Ross of Mull, the Isle of Mull’s southwest peninsula. Turning south at the ferry port for Iona, Fionnphort features moorland roads and grassy pitches that gaze out at wild white-sand beaches. Across the water is tidal island Erraid, where Robert Louis Stevenson got inspiration to write Kidnapped. Hike along the ragged coast to more hidden coves.
Uisken & Around
A 15-minute drive from Fionnphort (and thus 45 minutes’ travel time from Iona) across the Ross of Mull, a lane branches southeast down to a double arc of rarely trammelled sandy bays: Port Uisken and Ardalanish Bay. Wild camping, with a small fee payable to Uisken Croft for the privilege, is available overlooking Port Uisken beach. Wild swim around the offshore rocks or hike along the coast looking for prehistoric sites.
