St Conan’s Pilgrim Way Useful Contacts Castles Estate T: 01838 200638 Glennoe Estate T: 01866822212 Carsaig Estate T: 01681 704209 Pennyghael Estate T: 01681 704232 Scoor Estate T: 01681 700087 Iona Prayer House Cnoc a' Chalmain, Catholic House of Prayer, Isle of Iona, PA76 6SP T: 01681 700369 E: [email protected] Craignure Bunk House T: 01680 812043 E: [email protected] Oban Tourist Info Centre for Taynuilt/Oban/Mull Accommodtion Information North Pier, Oban, PA34 5Q T: 01631 563122 Calmac Ferries T: 0800 066 5000 www.calmac.co.uk Iona Abbey More information from: Craig Lodge Family House of Prayer Dalmally, Argyll PA33 1AR T: 01838200216 E: [email protected] www.craiglodge.org Find us on: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram ST CONAN’S WAY A walking pilgrimage route from Craig Lodge to Iona St Conan was part of the monastic tradition established by St Columba on Iona and here in Dalmally we regard him as our local saint. St Conan’s Pilgrim Way Route I CRAIG LODGE to TAYNUILT (14.2 miles, 23 km) Start: Craig Lodge Miles Km a) Follow Craig Lodge access road to Dalmally Bridge. Do not turn le over the Bridge into Dalmally but connue west along the B8077 to the cale grid entrance to Castles Farm. It was almost certainly here that St Columba founded a monasteryon the side of Loch Awe and the hill immediately be- hind the farm is called Beinn Eunaich which translates into St Adamnan who was a follower and biographer of St Columba ..................... 3.7 6.0 b) Walk to the end of the well-maintained Hydro- Electric road up the Allt Mhoille. You inially pass Castles farm which is on your right. The gradient of the road is never too steep and wonderful views emerge as the hills and corries appear……………….. 2.8 4.5 c) Now follow a footpath, well-defined by sturdy poles at regular intervals, to the summit of the pass at an altude of 564m (1850) here can be found the flat rock which was used by the MacIntyre clan (see their clan history) to conduct ‘parliament’ meengs! .................. 0.3 0.5 d) Descend down Glen Noe to Glennoe farm. If the hills are clear of mist you will get fabulous views of the northern corries of Ben Cruachan which hold snow well into summer. You will also pass the ruins of former MacIn- tyre habitaons. ………………………… 3.0 5.0 e) From Glennoe farm you now take the private road to Inverawe road junc- on. Where you turn right. You skirt along the side of Loch Eve (oers are frequently seen here in the sea)… 2.5 4.0 f)You now head for the suspension bridge (019316) over the R.Awe which leads you into Taynuilt where B&B, Shops etc are available .......................... 1.9 3.0 TOTAL NB 14 miles 23 km This is a really fine walk through the hills and you are likely to see deer and perhaps golden eagles. If some of you think the 14.2 miles is a bit much we could drive you to Castles farm cale grid thereby saving you 3.7 miles! Please note that if you propose walking in the autumn during the deerstalk- ing season it is imperave that you contact the Castles and Glen Noe estates to check if it is OK for you to walk on a parcular day. Their tel no’s are:- Castles Estate T: 01838 200638 Glen Noe Estate T: 01866 822212 St Conan’s Pilgrim Way Route 3,4,5 Coastal Route Variations Route Three Miles Km Take the coastal route as far as Carsaig but instead of carrying on to Malcolm’s Point you take the road to Pennyghael (5 miles) and then on to Bunessan and Fionnphort Malcolm’s Point path Juncon to Pennyghael 2.5 4 Pennyghael to Bunessan 13 21 Bunessan Fionnphort 5 8 Route Four Take the coastal route as far as the start of forestry plantaon (466200), aer Malcolm,s Point and then connue on the Loch Assapol road to Bunes- san (6 miles) and then on to Fionnphort Start of Forestry Plantaon make for Loch Assapol road juncon 3.5 5.6 Loch Assapol road juncon to Bunessan 2.2 3.8 Bunessan to Fionnphort 5 8 Route Five At Bunessan rather than connue by the A849 road to Fionnphort you take the road to Ardalanish (2 miles) and then connue following the coastal route. At Bunessan make for Ardalanish 2 3.2 Ardalanish to Fidden 6.8 11 Fidden to Fionnphort 1 2 Stopping to look back at beauful Loch Eve on the way to Taynuilt St Conan’s Pilgrim Way Route 2 Craignure to Iona (43.4 miles, 69.4 km) Isle of Mull - Craignure to Iona- Coastal Route Contd. Miles Km Carsaig to Scoor (11.2 miles) There are no shops in Carsaig although bb/self-catering can be obtained. On leaving the footpath at Carsaig Pier to connue Route Two (the coastal route) it is recommended to walk up the road to Pennyghael as far as the juncon (532229) to the footpath that leads to Malcolm’s Point (497185). In good weather you get stunning views from this amazing cliff-top walk cul- minang with the spectacular Carsaig Arches (497185). You now connue to the beginning of the forestry plantaon (466200) and leave the forest and connue le to Scoor (419191). Kilvickeon Chapel is well worth a visit. It here that Mary MacDonald, a poet and devout Bapst, is buried. She lived in Shiaba – the sad, lonely deserted village that was scandalously ‘cleared’ to make way for sheep farming. She composed the beauful ‘Child in a Manger’ (Leanabh an Aigh) sung to the melody now known as ‘Morning has broken’ which is so popular. Shiaba (440192) is only a short walk east from Scoor and is well worth a visit. The walk from Carsaig to Scoor is approximately 11.2 miles. Carsaig to Malcolm’s Point path juncon 1.6 2.6 Malcolm’s Point path juncon to Malcolm’s Point 4.0 6.4 Malcolm’s Point to Scoor 5.6 9 Scoor to Fionnphort (15 miles) From Scoor you connue to Uisken via Dun a Gheird (406189) and then on to Ardalanish (famous for its weaving and where you can get a cup of tea) passing Ardachy Hotel on your le. The beaches and sea views from here are something special! To connue to Fionnphort you can follow the route as dewscribed in the Stevenson Way (www.stevensonway.org.uk/mull) or alternavely leave the track half a mile SW of Ardalanish at (366182) and make for the Knockvologan road via Loch Mor Ardalanish and Lochan Sgalain and then passing the sad deserted villages of Tireragan and Breac Achadh. From Knockvologan you connue to Fidden an excellent camp site with superb views if Iona which is one mile short of Fionnphort where there are b&b’s and a shop The distance from Scoor to Fionnphort is approximately 15 miles Scoor to Fionnphort (via Ardalanish & Fidden) 12.8 21 Fionnphort to Iona (Calmac Ferry - 10 minutes crossing) TOTAL 43.4 69.4 St Conan’s Pilgrim Way Route I Day Two: TAYNUILT to OBAN (12 miles, 19.4km) Miles Km Starng at Taynuilt Hotel at the crossroads (003310) you take the Glen Lonan road heading due south. This single, tarred road through beauful Glen Lonan was a recognized pilgrim route to Iona and there has been evi- dence of Crosses marking the way. You gradually walk up to a height of 367 (112m) before reaching Barguilean Farm(980288) and roughly 2.5 miles (4km) from Taynuilt. From there on the road more or less levels out. There is very lile traffic on this road thereby allowing a wonderful quiet and peaceful walk. At Glenamacrie farm, a further 4.5 miles (7.2km) there is a knoll on the north side of the road called Tom na Croise (the hill of the Cross) (923287) and this cross is marked as standing on earlier maps. A mile further on you come on a very impressive standing stone and stone circle (907289), dang back to the Bronze Age, close to the road on your right. Aer a further 1.5 miles (2.4km) you turn right at the juncon (890292) on the Kilmore road which you follow for only half a mile (1km) before turning le up to Glencruien House (879296) at 348 alt. (106m). From here you TOTAL drop down into Oban a further 2 miles (3.2km) where there is an abun- 12 miles 19.4 km dance of accommodaon plus a Youth Hostel. Glen Lonan road from Taynuilt to Oban Looking back at Dalmally before crossing over to Glen Noe The dramac Carsaig arches well worth a visit if you are passing St Conan’s Pilgrim Way Route I Route 1 Craignure to Iona (37 miles, 59.3 km) Miles Km Crossing from Oban to Craignure, Isle of Mull This excing and exhilarang ferry crossing to Mull only takes 45 minutes and there are several sailings each day which you can check on www.calmac.co.uk Isle of Mull - Craignure to Iona (via A849) This is the ‘easy’ way to Iona via the main road which is a very beauful and scenic route. You can also use secons of the old road which run adjacent to the main road; and there are excing plans afoot to have the old road upgraded to cycle path standard the whole way. Road traffic is fairly light except when coaches, etc leave Fionnphort soon aer 3pm to catch the 5pm ferry crossing from Craignure to Oban However, if you are relying on b&b facilies there are difficules! Apart from Craignure where there is also good bunk house accommodaon, and Lochdon a further 3 miles on, the next b&b’s are in Pennyghael, where there is also a shop, some 20 miles from Craignure! If this is too long a walk for some a suggeson would be to use the local bus service for part of the way.