Iona

Whenever people ask me what my favorite part of our trip to Scotland was, I answer with all sincerity "Scotland!". I loved every bit of it, and would go back to any of the places we went to again in a heartbeat.

But I find my thoughts of Scotland drift back to Iona. We only spent a couple of days there (we only spent a couple of days anywhere, for the most part). The thing that made Iona special was the simplicity of the island. Separated from the Isle of Mull by a mere one mile strait, it nevertheless is its own little peaceful world.

Our hotel, The St. Columba (one of two hotels on the island, I believe) included a place called "The Quiet Garden". I spent a good bit of time there, but really anywhere you went was a quiet or even solemn place. This included a monastery and a graveyard where Macbeth (and Macduff, for what that's worth) are supposed to be buried.

We walked on Iona. I once again gave in to the desire to climb to the top of everything by ascending something that is apparently named "Cnoc Mor". The next day we took a boat off to see Puffins and Fingal's cave on the islands of Lunga and Staffa, but came back to enjoy a walk to see the sunset on the west end of the island.

I'm told there is a golf course on the far side of the island. We never got over there to look for it. I suspect we missed nothing (none of us are golfers).