Overview

Iona Abbey is a very special place and was founded by St Columba in 563. The original abbey was constructed of wood and does not survive. The Benedictine abbey was built in the mid-fifteenth century and was restored in the twentieth century. Visitors can see the Abbey, cloister, high crosses, museum and grounds. There is reasonable step free access to most of the site although inside the Abbey itself very disappointingly it has very limited step free access. Despite some limitations in access this is a very unique place, don't be put off. I would say if it is on your wish list (as it was on mine) with a bit of planning it is very do-able. It's an exceptional place to visit, I loved my visit and nothing detracted from its magic, and I am so happy that I went. This is a review for Iona Abbey only. See my separate review for the Nunnery. Although the admission ticket is combined, they are two separate sites.

Transport & Parking

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 the Abbey 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.

Access

ENTRANCE TO SITE There is a wide open entrance gate into the Abbey grounds. The ticket booth door was open. Sorry can't remember the height of the counter. There is some bench seating with back support and arms by the entrance which was a very welcome sight. GROUNDS The Abbey stands in its own grounds. There are gravel paths and lawn. There is some seating outside the abbey in a small garden area. ABBEY CHURCH There is a step free route into the Abbey church via the cloister and involves a couple of heavy manual doors. However, disappointingly once in the Abbey there is only a very small area which is step free with a couple of free standing chairs, with back support but no arm rests. If this is the only part of the Abbey you can visit if you require total step free access. From there you will be able to see the altar and the entire nave but will not be able to visit any parts close up or visit any of the side areas. Most parts of the Abbey involve a least a couple of steps. Please be aware that there are no ramps, they do not even have temporary ramps, and there are no handrails for any of the steps. For people who can manage 1 or 2 steps without a handrail, you will be able to visit most areas but there are 5 steps leading to the font, so that was a no go area for me. There is a lovely quiet corner up a couple of steps which is a lovely space. The main entrance is not step free. There are 2 steps with no handrail up to the Abbey's main door. Then there is an immediate inner door. Once inside you are on the level with the font and there are 5 steps which are edged in white. However, there is no handrail. This brings you to a seating area and then there is another single step which brings you to another row of chairs, and then 2 more steps down. This brings you out into the flooring area where you come out onto if you use the step free route. CLOISTER There is a heavy manual door into the cloister. The entrance and entire cloister are step free. This area is beautiful and fascinating and it's well worth exploring all the individually carved capitals. MUSEUM While technically there is step free access to the museum. If following the route from the cloisters, the quickest way involves 3 steps without handrail. If you require step free access you will either need to cross the lawn or walk a longer way round. This might not been easy to do with mobility aids or a wheelchair. Once inside the museum it is step free and there was one stool without back support or arms inside. Did not notice any large print information. However there are audio guides available from the box office.

Toilets

There are no toilets on site but 2 accessible toilets are located in the Iona Community's Shop and Welcome Centre directly opposite the Abbey, see separate review.

Staff

Apologies but I have forgotten the member of staff who I met at the ticket office. She was extremely helpful with informing me of the step free route and when I said I was doing a Euan's Guide review was interested in my feedback about accessibility, and we had a chat later on during my visit. Apart from that there were no members of staff around.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

I really loved my visit and I'm delighted I went. Overall it is doable apart from exploring the entire Abbey church if you require full step free access. There are a couple of areas where Historic Environmental Scotland who manage the site to improve disabled access and make the site more inclusive to all. 1) The access information on the website could be improved. They could add photos and improve text to explain the step free route and level of access in the Abbey church, so disabled visitors would be better prepared for their visit (given that disabled people tend to plan visits to new places to ensure that the venue can meet their access needs). 2) Consideration should be given to a permanent/ portable ramp (s) in the Abbey to enable wheelchair users to see more of the building. 3) The steps by the museum should be replaced with a ramp. Why go to the effort of building a lovely accessible museum space and then put obstacles in the way of wheelchair users being able to access it easily. I think Historic Environmental Scotland should carefully consider how they can make some reasonable adjustments. Iona is unique and special, no one should feel excluded. For disabled people visiting as apart of a group, such as a family, school, college or church group, they may well feel isolated, excluded and missing out compared the the able-bodied people in the group. If St Paul's Cathedral can install a permeant ramp on the outside of their building, there is nothing technically stopping other historic venues from doing the same. If Historic Environmental Scotland are truly committed to what they say about accessibility on their website "In line with best practice in the visitor attractions industry, visitors with disabilities are treated on an equal basis with all other visitors", they need to put this in practice, otherwise these are just empty, meaningless words.

Photos