Another windy, rainy day and thus perfect for travel from Oban to Iona.  I caught the 8:30 ferry to Craignure.  I had been scheduled for the 9:55 but showed up early and wound up being able to get onto the earlier crossing. I headed south to Fionphort where I would catch yet another ferry to cross over to Iona.  On the way I made a stop at Duart Castle which has been the seat of Clan Maclean for over 700 years.  The castle, which can be viewed from the ferry on the crossing between Oban and Craignure, has dominated the view to the Sound of Mull and Loch Linnhe.  According to the Duart website the “first recorded mention of the Macleans of Duart is in a papal dispensation of 1367 which allowed Chief Lachlan Lubanach Maclean to marry the daughter of the Lord of the Isles, Mary Macdonald.”  The Macleans were part of the loose alliance that supported the Lordship of the Isles. More information can be found at https://duartcastle.com/maclean-clan/history/

After leaving Duart I drove to the Ardalanish Isle of Mull Weavers, part of a 1500 acre farm set on a peninsula near Bunnessan.  This was a great find as they had woven thrown and blankets in natural colors, including my favorite black Hebridean sheep. I was able to watch Monica, a veteran of more than 25 years,  weaving a blanket on the electric loom in the weaving shed.  This was vastly different from the foot-pedal loom used by the weavers of Harris Tweed. The fgarm uses its own fleece as well as bringing in fleeces from other areas of Mull. Using fleece from the Hebridean, Shetland whites and colored, and Max Loaghtan their products have unique natural hues and palettes.  Natural, plant based, dyes are used for accent color.  More information on the farm and mill is found at https://ardalanish.com/about/ . I was so excited to see products woven in the native Hebridean wool that I bought a beautiful throw and plan to order a blanket – yes, you can shop on line.

Then it was on to Iona.  I had to back, or as they say “reverse”, onto the small ferry and made it without dropping off the ramp!  I checked into the Hotel Columba where I will stay for 5 days before moving to the self-catering cottage I have booked for the following week. It is good to be back on Iona – it is a peaceful and spiritual place so I should get some writing done as well as adding to my photo library.

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