What To Bring
It appears that "Four seasons in one day" was originally written about Melbourne, Australia; but that is only because the writer had obviously not been to Iona and the Hebrides. What characterises our weather patterns most is the dramatic changeability, and our best advice on what to bring is to prepare for anything!
As with the whole of Scotland this means good wet weather clothing and stout walking boots even in the height of summer. You can get days where your activities will be greatly restricted if do not have a waterproof outfit, although for the summer season at least it can be a light weight shell which can be easily carried around. On the other hand, it also means fine summer weather shorts and tee shirts are needed when the weather is warm. Sun screen and hats are also highly recommended since the sun can be very strong, especially when you are on or near the water.
Another necessity for Scotland in summer is some form of insect repellent. This is because of that tiny, but most tenacious of highland beasties; the midge. We are very fortunate on Iona to not be bothered by them too much, principally because they do not like salt water. That said they can still be a nuisance on a still summer's evening, so a quick dollop of Nivea's Skin So Soft can be very handy. If you react strongly to insect bites in general then one of the more virulent Jungle formula repellents would be a good investment. Midge are around on Mull and Iona from June until the first chill evenings of September. They do not like wind, direct sunlight, or rain – and with our swiftly changing weather, that means you can avoid them most of the time.
Though Iona is a small island, there are many walks to be found, and so a small back-pack to carry your jackets and so forth is a good idea. If you have a thermos flask as well, we can provide you with the hot water; we also sell packed lunches which you can take with you to one of the many beaches and picnic spots around the island.
In terms of bikes and golf clubs, many of our regulars bring their own, especially if they are staying with us for any length of time. For those who are wishing to travel more lightly, you can also rent clubs at the hotel and bikes from the Finlay Ross shop by the pier. As for other forms of entertainment and activities, it's up to you to decide; kites, fishing rods, painting gear, telescopes, bird and flower spotting guides – the list could be endless; the most important thing is that you take full advantage of your time on the island.
We are often asked what books we would recommend people to bring, and our first response is to start with the most local - Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson. It's a ripping yarn that is well worth even a re-read when you're here, simply because it gives such a fascinating account of the Ross of Mull, and a good flavour of West Highland history. Stevenson wrote the book when he was living across the Sound in the 1860's and working on the construction of a lighthouse on the Torran rocks. A subject that is covered in the biography of his family - The Lighthouse Stevensons, which again is a good read whilst you are on a Hebridean island.
As for Iona itself, there are various histories of the island, and the most detailed and locally based are those written by E. Mhairi MacArthur. Just like the Historic Scotland guides to the Abbey, most of these histories and other commentaries can be bought on the island. The Iona Community book shop has a particularly well stocked Christian and faith based line that many people specifically visit the island to come and peruse.
When it comes to more general guides to Scotland, the Lonely Planet Scotland still seems to be the most comprehensive general guide. The Rough Guide to the Highlands and Islands is also very comprehensive and has a better review of the islands in particular. Fodors and Frommers guides have more interest in the cities of Scotland and do not have as much detail of the rural areas and attractions. Two non-syndicated and independent guides that we would highly commend are Alastair Sawday's Special Places in Scotland, which provides accommodation details of like-minded hotels and B&B's, and then the eponymous Scotland the Best which gives reviews of all the best things to do and see in Scotland, as well as where to stay and eat.
