Tormore pier and quarry circuit, Fionnphort

Summary

This is a great walk across a coastal headland to the hidden anchorage at Tormore where there is a white sandy beach. From here climb up through the pink granite quarry that supplied much of the stone for the abbey on Iona. Return across fields which can be very muddy at times.

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Rough coastal path, flight of steps in quarry, stony track, path boggy in places.

Getting there

Start

Fionnphort, free car park at Columba Centre.

Public Transport

Bus to Fionnphort.

Start Grid Ref

NM302231

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 2.5km / 1.5 miles
Time: 1 - 1.5 hours
Ascent: 72m (Profile)

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Explorer 373 - Iona

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Walk Description

User reports (3)

Stage 1

Start from the large free car park next to the Columba Centre and walk back to the main road and turn left. Before you reach the shop turn right down the side road and before the trees turn left onto a track that leads to the beach. Fingal's Rock can be seen in the middle of the small bay. Legend states that the giant Fingal threw the rock in temper causing it to split down the middle.

Stage 2

Walk across the back of the beach and pick up a very faint path heading around the coastline from the far side. The path soon becomes clearer as it weaves between rocky knolls, always staying some distance from the sea. It is very wet underfoot in places. There are good views of the abbey on Iona across the water.

Stage 3

There are a couple of blue arrow waymarkers but they are easy to miss, however the path soon reaches the slope down to Tormore where a house is visible by the sea. On the left there is a lovely sandy beach and to the right is the pier used for taking the pink granite from the nearby quarry. Above the beach is a hidden cave, fairly high in the rocks, that is known as Uamh na Marbh, Gaelic for the cave of the dead. This was used to shelter coffins on route to burial on Iona.

Stage 4

From the pier follow the track, which is also the route of an old tramway used to move stone, uphill passing the houses. Soon the dramatic entrance to the lower section of Tormore quarry is reached. Here the stone for the abbey on Iona and many more buildings, both local and international, was quarried and exported. Looking back Eilean nam Ban, can be seen to the right side of the safe anchorage known as the Bull Hole. It was to this island that St Columba is said to have banished women from Iona.

Stage 5

From the back of the lower quarry climb the flight of steps to the upper level. Here there is an information board. Follow the stony track downhill until a gate. Just before the gate turn right to cross the grazing land on a faint and boggy path. Keep heading in the same direction and the path emerges at some houses. Turn left to follow the road past the old graveyard to the main road in Fionnphort and the start of the walk.

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