We had the alarm set for very early this morning (5am) and we were out of the cottage by 5.55am!! It took 1 1/2 hours to drive to Oban (1/2 hour less than advised by the tourist lady) - so we had time to find parking and buy our tickets (24 pound) for the ferry to Craignure on the Isle of Mull. From the ferry port it was very easy to get the local bus served to Fiohnport (7pound 40) and then the ferry to Iona (4 pound 50).

It was still dark when we left Oban at 8am, but the sun was shining by the time we arrived at Fiohnport at 10am.

Over at Iona we walked through the ruins of the nunnery, and all around and through the restored Abbey. It was incredibly quiet. We also found the rubble of foundations from St Columba's cell, and walked through the museum at the Abbey - they have headstones dating back to hundreds of years ago - used for clan chiefs and ancient kings and queens.

Unfortunately we didn't have time to walk over to the other side of the island, where Columba came ashore, although the local lady didn't seem to think there were any green stones on the shoreline there anymore.

We caught a ferry back to Fiohnport (The Loch Buie - takes 5 mins) and waited in the pub (with the warm, dry fire) for 1 1/2 hours for the little bus to take us back to Criagnure.

On the ferry to Oban I met a lady who spent her teen years on Mull, went to Australia, married a Kiwi and now lives in Auckland - her brother lives in Werrington County!!!

We had our sunniest day in Scotland, and coming home tonight, the coldest temperature (-1.0 C)!! We had a lovely 2 course dinner at the 45 at Lochearnhead - for 3pound each!!