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Fionnphort is a small Village on the
southwest coast of the Isle of
Mull. The largest town on the Island,
Tobermory, is 55 miles northeast, and
the Ferry Port village of Craignure 35
miles east. The Village is popular for the
Ferry to the Isle of Iona with Iona Abbey, and
Boat Trips to the Isle of Staffa for Fingals Cave, some
of the top attractions in Scotland.
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The image top right is looking down towards
Fionnphort with the Coach Park left, Beach
right, and Isle of Iona with Iona Abbey about 1
mile across the sea.
The Village is mainly a row of house and
shops including a Gift Shop that run down to
the Harbour.
The Coach Park can be busy with coach tours
from the Mainland and Local Coaches. The main
coach company on Mull is West Coast
Motors with their website giving
information on coach travel around the island.
West Coast run a regular service between
Craignure and Fionnphort, normally timed to
suit the Ferries.
By the Harbour is a Cafe / Diner with a
waiting room for the Ferry to Iona
with a crossing time of around 10 minutes with
only a small fee. Ferries run about every 30
minutes. There is also a small Seafood Bar.
The Harbour is also popular for the Boat
Tours to the Isle of Staffa with Fingals Cave,
with its huge basalt columns. Similar columns
can be seen at the Giant's
Causeway in Northern Ireland.
Two companies that run boat trips to Staffa
are Staffa Tours
and Staffa
Trips.
Fionnphort History
500s - Fionnphort grew as a fishing port and
for boats traveling to the Isle of Iona after
St Columba founded an Abbey on Iona. This was
one of the first Christian Churches in
Scotland, attracting many Pilgrims, including
Scottish Kings, many who are believed to be
buried at Iona Abbey.
1800s - Torr Mor Quarry was the main
employer in the area with its Hard Pinkish
Granite being used in buildings around the
world such as Lighthouses, Liverpool Docks, and
Blackfriars Bridge in London.
1847 - Queen Victoria visits the Isle of
Staffa, leading to mass tourism and regular
boat trips from Fionnphort to Staffa, about 7
miles in distance.
1900s - small red boats were used to
transfer people between Mull and the Isle of
Iona.
1979 - a small car ferry named Morven began
operating between Fionnphort and Iona capable
of carrying 4 cars.
1992 - the small car ferry named Loch Buie
capable of carrying 10 cars and 250 passengers
replaced the Morven.
1990s - Torr Mor Quarry closed.
Today - Fionnphort can be fairly busy with
tourists in coaches and cars visiting the Isle
of Iona and Iona Abbey. The boat tours also
attract many visitors, and the area has a good
selection of B&Bs and Guest Houses.
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