Cathedrals · Scottish Islands
Iona Nunnery
Iona Nunnery is a cathedral in the United Kingdom.
David Dixon — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1 h–2 h
- Best time of year
- Year-round
- Family-friendly
- Wheelchair accessible
Getting there & planning your visit
Iona Nunnery is located in the Scottish Islands, with the postcode PA76 6SJ. The site is wheelchair accessible. Entry details are not provided.
About
Iona Nunnery is a cathedral in scotland islands, United Kingdom — the principal church of its diocese, dating from 1201. Cathedrals are seats of bishops in the Church of England, the Roman Catholic Church, and other Christian denominations across Britain.
Photo gallery
Summary from the official site
Iona Heritage Centre offers insights into the island's history, showcasing the fishing and crofting community, local artists, and significant events. Visitors can explore old photographs, search family trees, and learn about the island's geology and flora.
Read more on the official property page.
From the Wikipedia article
The Iona Nunnery was an Augustinian convent of nuns located on the island of Iona in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. It was established sometime after the foundation of the nearby Benedictine monastery in 1203 by Ranald, son of Somerled. Bethóc, daughter of Somerled, and sister of Ranald, was first prioress. The ruins of the nunnery stand in a peaceful precinct adjacent to Iona's main (and only) village, Baile Mor. They form the most complete remains of a medieval nunnery extant in Scotland. After the Reformation, the priory was dissolved and reduced to a ruin.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
The nunnery was founded after the establishment of the Benedictine monastery, founded by Raghnall mac Somhairle in 1203. Raghnall's sister, Bethóc, became the first prioress. This was one of the three Augustinian monasteries of women in Scotland, St. Leonards Nunnery located at Perth and Teampull na Trionaid at Carinish in North Uist being the other two. In the Abbey museum of the nearby Iona Abbey, the top half of a headstone of Anna MacLean, a prioress of the monastery of nuns who died in 1543, is on display. Restoration work on the nunnery occurred in 1923 and 1993.
Architecture
The construction of the Iona Nunnery follows the typical Irish style. The Church consists of a building with three bays with a passage to the north side and a small chapel on the east side of the passage. The monastic cloister measures 14 metres square, but it was originally smaller. The east wing had three rooms on ground level, above was the dormitory. The south wing contained the refectory. In the sixteenth century a floor was added. The west wing is below the modern road and was most likely the guests wing.
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 56.3313, -6.3940
- District
- Argyll and Bute
- Postcode
- PA76 6SJ
- Parliamentary constituency
- Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber
- Established
- 1201
- Opening
- Daily (except Sunday) 10.15am–4.30pm; closed for winter until 9th March 2026
- Official site
- www.ionaheritage.co.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q82249 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Iona Nunnery (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
Iona Nunnery
Abbeys & priories · 0.0 km
Iona Heritage Centre
Museums · 0.1 km
MacLean’s Cross
Memorials & monuments · 0.1 km
Iona Church, Iona
Historic churches · 0.1 km
Bishop's House, Iona
Historic houses · 0.2 km
Port nam Mairtir
Beaches · 0.3 km
St Oran's chapel
Chapels · 0.4 km
Iona Abbey
Abbeys & priories · 0.4 km
Iona Abbey
Cathedrals · 0.4 km
The MacLeod Centre
Hostels · 0.5 km
Iona Abbey Museum
Museums · 0.5 km
Cladh an Diseart
Historic houses · 0.9 km
Nearby
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Where to eat & stay near Iona Nunnery
Places to stay
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Places to eat & drink
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📷 2Frequently asked questions
- Where is Iona Nunnery?
- Iona Nunnery is in the Scottish Islands, United Kingdom (postcode PA76 6SJ).
- What is Iona Nunnery?
- Iona Nunnery is a cathedral in the United Kingdom.
- How do I get to Iona Nunnery?
- Drivers can use postcode PA76 6SJ.
- When was Iona Nunnery built?
- Built or established in 1201.
- How do I get to Iona Nunnery?
- Drivers can navigate to postcode PA76 6SJ. It sits within the Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber parliamentary constituency.