The road swings past the organic gardens of Iona’s two main hotels to reach the abbey. But even on a day trip you have plenty of time to walk around the island. This is a magical way not only to explore Iona but to take in some of the best views of Mull.Start at the ferry dock, go up the main street, and turn right by the nunnery. St Columba’s legacy also lives on in the religious tourism- some of it decidedly esoteric – which accounts for a good proportion of Iona’s visitors: you will not lack opportunities to indulge in aromatherapy, acupressure or reflexology.
Today, most visitors make the 10-minute ferry trip from Fionnphort, the last community on Mull, across the Sound of Iona, in order to visit the abbey. Even at the height of summer, you are unlikely to have much company on the splendid beaches of the north of the island. It is only five miles from north to south, and barely two miles across the midriff, but it is still possible to give the crowds that visit its abbey the slip and wander among the small but tough hills that characterise the south of the island. St Columba arrived in AD563, and in some ways the island has changed little since.

The Rev George MacLeod, who founded the ecumenical Christian Iona community, described Iona as a “thin place” – by which he meant that only a thread of gossamer separated the material from the spiritual. Tiny, remote and very often wild and windswept, this island is an elemental place. Iona, where St Columba began his mission to spread the Gospel to the heathens of the British Isles, is typical. For believers and atheists alike, it is difficult to argue that the pioneers of Christianity lacked a sense of place. How to get there De La Warr Pavilion, Marina, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex TN40 1DP (01424 229100; dlwp ) By public transport: trains run from London Victoria and Charing Cross to Bexhill-on-Sea (0845-127 2920; southernrailway ; 0845-000 2222; setrains.co.uk) By car: off the A21. There is pay-and-display parking right outside the building.. Large print copies of the guide are available and guide dogs are permitted where practicable Admission Open daily 10am-6pm.

Entry to the building and exhibitions is free; prices for the events vary. Access All areas are fully accessible and there is disabled parking outside A loop system operates in the auditorium. The restaurant serves organic produce such as fresh linguine with hot smoked salmon, roast sweetcorn and sorrel (£10) and beer-battered cod with chips and mushy peas (£9.50) – plus children’s food, vegetarian meals and snacks, such as homemade soup Reservations essential at weekends. These moreish chocolate, marshmallow and biscuit creations are produced on the premises by the Good Eating Company which runs the caf?ar (open daily 10am-6pm) and restaurant (open daily 12-2.30pm, and Friday/ Saturday 7-9.30pm; 01424 229119). A good time for families to visit is the first Sunday afternoon of each month when they run Lift the Lid – free creative drop-in activities – in an area on the top floor Refreshments Worth a visit for a Rocky Road Slice alone.

For children There is plenty of space outside along the seafront where little ones can run around and older ones can skateboard and rollerblade (activities that are welcomed here). There is a free weekly Exhibition Walk and Talk at noon on alternate Wednesdays and Saturdays. For National Architecture Week (17-25 June) there is a programme of special events, including musical tours. Current exhibitions (until 2 July) are “Bridget Smith: Rebuild”, a photographic exhibition exploring the restoration of the building, and displays on Erich Mendelsohn. Designed by the German and Russian architects Erich Mendelsohn and Serge Chermayeff, the De La Warr Pavilion was built in 1935 and was the first public Modernist building in the UK.
For adults You don’t have to be an architecture buff to appreciate this unique building, with its sweeping spiral staircases, curved balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows, but if you fancy finding out more you can join the twice-monthly tours (the next is on 6 June at 2pm, £3, booking required).