Tuesday 25 July
Mate had read that the best time to visit Iona Abbey was early in the morning or late in the afternoon, outside trip boats’ visiting hours, and a good day’s (motor)sailing brought us into the turquoise calm waters of the Sound of Iona on a warm, sunny late afternoon. The anchor went down into water clear enough to see it lie snugly on the white sandy seabed, and the crew went ashore to stroll through the grounds of the ruined nunnery on the way to the iconic Abbey. 
This is a very special place, and Mate was moved by the spiritual atmosphere of centuries of Christian worship and retreat centred on this unadorned, high- ceilinged building. Although the church was mostly empty of people, she could almost hear the monastic plainsong resonating from the thick stone walls.
After a brief pause to sample the local refreshment, we made our way up the Sound and around onto the North coast of the Ross of Mull, to anchor off Bunessan in Loch na Làthaich.