Name: Iona Abbey and Nunnery
Address: Iona, Isle of Iona, Inner Hebrides, PA76 6SQ, United Kingdom

Iona Abbey, located on the Isle of Iona off the west coast of Scotland, is one of Scotland’s most historic and sacred sites. In AD563, Columba came to Iona from Ireland with twelve companions and founded a monastery. The abbey was transformed into a Benedictine monastery in about 1200. Its buildings were restored in the 1900s, and in 1938, the Iona Community was founded to revive its traditions of work, worship, and teaching. The Abbey is well known as being ‘the cradle of Christianity’ in Scotland.

Dog-friendly policies:

While the Isle of Iona itself is very dog-friendly, Iona Abbey has restrictions. Dogs are not allowed inside the Abbey or the associated museum, however, dogs can accompany you in the outdoor areas around the Abbey, including the Abbey grounds and gardens, as long as they are kept on a lead.

Features and activities:

Although you can't go inside you can:

See the four iconic high crosses
Admire the abbey church, its architecture spanning the 13th to 16th centuries, now restored as an active place of worship
Stand on Tòrr an Aba, the little hill above the abbey where St Columba is said to have had his writing hut
View the vallum – a boundary ditch and bank of earth
Walk the Street of the Dead, a cobbled stretch of road flanked by the medieval St Martin’s Cross and a replica of St John’s Cross

Or just use the location to take in the beauty of Iona.

Access and facilities:

Access to Iona is pedestrian-only; visitors must leave their cars on the larger Isle of Mull.

The ferry from Mull to Iona is short and dog-friendly. Once on Iona, everything is within walking distance with the abbey being 600m uphill from the ferry pier.

Conclusion:

While visiting Iona Abbey with a dog does come with restrictions, the Isle of Iona offers plenty of outdoor spaces and stunning sceneries to enjoy with your furry friend.

If you want more information on the area visit our local Isle of Iona Destination page or our regional Inner Hebrides Destination page.

Planning your visit to Iona Abbey and Nunnery

How far is Iona Abbey and Nunnery from your location? Get directions

7 Day Weather Forecast for Isle of Iona, Inner Hebrides

Today

Expect a temp in the range 9.4℃ to 9.8℃ with wind speed 7.2 m/sec (N)

Wednesday, May 08
cloudy

Expect a temp in the range 9.4℃ to 9.9℃ with wind speed 4.1 m/sec (S)

Thursday, May 09
cloudy

Expect a temp in the range 10.4℃ to 10.7℃ with wind speed 7.5 m/sec (SSW)

Friday, May 10
cloudy

Expect a temp in the range 11.3℃ to 12.1℃ with wind speed 3.8 m/sec (ESE)

Saturday, May 11
cloudy

Expect a temp in the range 10.9℃ to 11.3℃ with wind speed 3.2 m/sec (SSE)

Sunday, May 12

Expect a temp in the range 11.6℃ to 12.3℃ with wind speed 9.5 m/sec (SE)

Monday, May 13

Expect a temp in the range 10.4℃ to 10.8℃ with wind speed 6.1 m/sec (SW)

Our Isle of Iona weather forecast is from Yr, delivered by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and NRK

Other Dog-Friendly Attractions

Here, you have a list of some more dog-friendly places near Iona Abbey and Nunnery by order of being the closest.

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Iona Abbey and Nunnery

Planning your visit to Iona Abbey and Nunnery

7 Day Weather Forecast for Isle of Iona, Inner Hebrides

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