Columba Centre

The Columba Centre

The Columba Centre, on Fionnphort's Fidden Road, serves as an interpretative centre of the visitor attractions on the island of Iona. Presumably it made more sense to build this close to the ferry link to Iona (the terminal is just a five minute walk away) than on the island itself.

Ionan Grave Marker 600s. Early Wooden Church Columban Era Boat

The Centre comes complete with a turf roof and combines background information about the island of Iona and the life of St Columba with a cafe and a gift shop. Admission is free. The Columba Centre was opened on 8 June 1997 by the then President of Ireland, Mary Robinson.

Since it initially opened, issues over the operation of the centre have led to it coming under the wing of Historic Scotland. The main consequence of this is that the centre remains open, though with different opening times from those shown on the large sign next to the centre's main door. The current opening times are shown in the panel above right.

The interpretative centre occupies the arm of the building facing onto the car park (which, visitors intending to visit Iona should note provides a free alternative to the pay and display parking on the main road above the ferry terminal). Other parts of the building are used by Historic Scotland for offices and workshops, and as a University of Highlands and Islands Learning Centre.

View from the Road

View from the Cafe

Shop

One other thing has changed since the Columba Centre initially opened. It was sited here to allow it to take advantage of the superb views of Iona over the Sound of Iona. Sadly these views have now been obstructed by a row of modern houses built on the west side of Fidden Road, opposite the centre. As the photo on the right shows, the view from the windows of the drum-shaped cafe area now include very little island glimpsed through the gaps between the modern houses. It is easy to understand why this would be a great site for houses from a landowner's or occupants' point of view, but it is less obvious what led the planners to approve a building project that has effectively wrecked the whole point of putting the Columba Centre here in the first place.

Despite this, the centre makes a great addition to any visit to Iona, with a wealth of background information on view. Visiting children, of all ages, are encouraged to don monks' outfits while they undertake their tour.

Columba Centre Interior