Tormore

Fionnphort Beach - Tormore Pier - Tormore Quarry A short rugged coastal walk along the scenic Iona Sand. Enjoy stunning seascapes and views to Iona and Abbey and explore the history of the Tormore Quarries. Route Details No car required - Distance 2 miles, 1 hour. Start and finish at Seaview in Fionnphort Village. Good walking shoes required.	Click on the images to enlarge
Leaving from Seaview's white gate, cross the main road and walk down the wee road opposite Seaview. At the bottom of the hill on the left is Fionnphort Beach. On the right you will find the old graveyard, now unused, has interesting granite steps outside the boundary wall which were used for mounting your "trusty steed" in bygones times. Fionnphort's (white beach or port) beach has white sands with a large split rock in the centre of it. At low tide you can walk to "Fingal's Rock", where legend has it that Fingal the giant (who stayed here on his journey from Ireland to Staffa), woke up one day in a poor temper, picked up the rock and threw it in the air and smashing it onto the bed rock which caused it's present day split. From the beach you can see a panorama of the Village, pier, Iona and the Abbey. Crossing north from the beach climb onto the hillside passing the "big rock" as you pick up a rough but well worn path. Take time to look around and admire the increasingly spectacular views of the pier, beach, Iona and Abbey. Near to the Tormore pier and above the sandy cove, hidden amongst the rocks is a cave called "The Cave of the Dead", (Uamh na Marbh) large enough in size to hold a coffin containing an ancient Scot's king. The perfect place to shelter in bad weather for the final journey of burial to Iona. The sandy cove is an idyllic spot for a picnic and a wee snooze on a sunny summer's day.
At the partially ruined Tormore Quarry Pier you look across "Bull Hole" to "Eilean nam Ban" (Island of the Women) where it is said Columba banished women from Iona because he thought they were troublesome! The anchorage of Bull Hole to the north is a safe anchorage for the Iona Ferry and local fishing boats in the area. From the old pier follow the track uphill, eastwards and into the quarry. This track had a tramway which carried the quarried red granite down to the waiting boats at the pier to be exported all over the world. At the top of the track, climb the steep granite steps.
The quarry contains the magnificent red granite which is unique both in colour (almost pink) and also that large slabs can be quarried without any flaws or cracks, and when polished makes superb facing stone on buildings. There is a sample of the polished granite on the gate pillar at Seaview. This stone, which the Abbey and Seaview were built of, was used all over the world. On top of the hill above the quarry you have a spectacular panoramic view of Iona, Staffa, Erraid, The Ross of Mull, Tiree, Coll, Jura, Islay, North Mull and the Burg peninsular. After taking these breathtaking views proceed south out of the quarry, down the hill, past Bruach Mhor, through the gate turning right onto the main road. Fionnphort Village is just a 5 minute walk.
Wildlife Watch All year: Seals, hooded crows, buzzards, ravens, otters, seabirds including kittiwake, terns, shag and eider ducks Summer: Dolphins MAP OS EXPLORER 373 Iona, Staffa and The Ross of Mull
Last amended 27/06/2010 © 2000 - 2007