St Oran’s Chapel

Isle of Iona

4.5

1 review

Review this place

tinahodgkinson

08 Jun 2024

Beautiful chapel with one step

4.5

Date of visit: April 2024

I have experience of challenges around: moving around

Image of a stone wall, with a gravel path leading to a small stone-built chapel.

Image of a simple-looking stone built chapel.

Image of a very simple interior of a stone built chapel. Stone flooring. The alter is a plain wooden beam, there is a small row of church candles next to it. There is a crucifix in the corner possibly made of driftwood.

Image of alter. The alter is in the center and is a plain wooden beam. To the left there is a small row of church candles next to it. To the right is a crucifix in the corner possibly made of driftwood.

Image of stone carvings suspended on the wall of the chapel.

Image of small step leading into the chapel from the doorway.

Image of the grass-covered graveyard with gravestones visible. The sea is in the background.

Image of the headstone of the grave of John Smith.

Overall Rating

Excellent

St Oran’s Chapel is a small, simple, beautiful church within Reilig Odhrain burial ground. It is the oldest of the surviving medieval buildings on Iona. There is a single step down into the chapel. Well worth visiting.

Disabled Access In and Around

Good

There was an open gate into the burial ground, and a short grave path up to the chapel. The chapel door was open and there was a single step with no handrails down into the church. Inside there were a couple of benches with back support but no arms.

Parking & Transport

Excellent

Travelling to Iona involves taking a ferry from Fionnphort Ferry Terminal in Mull. The ferry mostly takes foot passengers but residents of Iona or for disabled people who arrange permission in advance, can take their car over. From Iona Ferry Terminal it is about a 10-15 minute walk to Iona Community's Shop and Welcome Centre with the first part being slightly uphill. The other option is to take a taxi. There is one taxi service on Iona and I used it while I was there and found the staff very help. Just be aware they don't take cards so you will need to pay by cash.

Accessible Toilets

There are no toilets at the chapel. However, there are 2 accessible toilets close by at Iona Community's Shop and Welcome Centre, which is opposite Iona Abbey.

Staff

There was no staff about.

Additional Information

This is a lovely chapel and within the burial ground is the grave of John Smith, former leader of the Labour Party. It is close to the chapel on the left hand side, if facing the chapel.

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