An abbey, some corncrakes and a mystery gravestone

Went over to Iona this morning and enjoyed a walk along the roads and tracks looking at the beautiful flower meadows which are the chosen habitat for the resident corncrakes. They like long grass or other plants in which to hide, and there are many stands of the native iris, I. pseudoacorus, which they enjoy. With careful management these birds are slowly making a comeback in various suitable places - we didn't spot or hear any tho' we knew they were there! At one point we had a good view of Iona Abbey framed in the branches of a tree - my Blip today.

Eventually took the ferry back to Mull for a pub lunch at Fionnphort before visiting two wonderful flower meadows further back along the road to Pennyghael. I say 'flower meadows', but each one was of many acres. I suppose it's only fair to say that in times past these meadows were used by local farmers for grazing and taking a hay crop, and it's probably because of the 'foreigners' coming in and buying property that has enabled these astounding meadows to survive. Acre upon acre of flowery meadows, full of orchids and many other lovely plants. I've put one on as an extra, though it's quite hard to show what they're really like. One of the two properties also had a pentagon-shaped graveyard in the middle of the meadow with only one remaining upright stone. Oddly this stone has the symbol of set square and dividers, which I thought was a masonic symbol. Must look into this!

Back to Bunessan to enjoy a magnificent view over the harbour with the cliffs of The Burg as a backdrop.