IONA ABBEY ESSENTIAL BOOKING INFORMATION 2025
In our programmes, guests engage in conversation and action focussed on justice and peace, embedded in the concerns of the Iona Community. We explore faith, take part in creative activities, and discover community over meals. There is time and space to relax outdoors, explore the beautiful island with its white sandy beaches and profusion of wildlife, take time apart to reflect, read, walk or write – or simply to be quiet in the peace of the church or the landscape.
LIVING IN COMMUNITY
True to its beginnings and the rebuilding of life in community, time staying at Iona Abbey includes time spent sharing in the practical tasks of communal living, including helping with cooking, cleaning and hosting. Most rooms are shared, and bathroom facilities are also shared. Our renovated living quarters means that there are accessible bedrooms and bathrooms for those who require this. You will also be invited to join in the daily services of worship in the Abbey Church and, if you wish, help to plan and lead services.
Every week, ‘The Pilgrimage’ visits key Iona landmarks, pausing for moments of reflection. Boat trips to Staffa are also very popular. Browse books of poetry, history, prayers and issues of concern, and purchase postcards and gifts in the The Iona Community Shop
We are looking forward to welcoming you to the Iona Community on Iona.
Click on the sections below to find out all you need to know about your stay at Iona Abbey.
We strongly advise that you have adequate travel insurance in place to cover your needs. If you do not, you accept full responsibility for any losses incurred as a result of your cancellation.
If you still have questions after reading this information, don’t hesitate to get in touch with [email protected]
ESSENTIAL BOOKING INFORMATION
Individual and group bookings
Individual bookings
Have a read through all the programme weeks on offer this year. And when you are ready to book you will find the link included in the programme below.
Group bookings
We are happy to welcome groups of up to 15 people. If you are thinking about bringing a group of 8 or more people to Iona, please contact us by email to let us know a few more details at [email protected]. Group bookings are not eligible for the reduced rate, and we encourage groups to raise funds to support their own members.
Family bookings
We love having children and young people at the Abbey. If you are coming as a family of four, we can allocate you to one room. However, since our biggest room can only accommodate four people, we will have to make use of two rooms if there are more than four of you. If you are coming with little members of the family we can provide cots, highchairs and a baby bath, plus some toys.
We strongly advise that you have adequate travel insurance in place to cover your needs. If you do not, you accept full responsibility for any losses incurred as a result of your cancellation.
Costs and discounts
Abbey prices include accommodation; breakfast, lunch and dinner; all programme sessions, music, art and craft opportunities, and guided walks.
Please note that anyone aged 16 and above are classed as adults for bookings.
Children under the age of 5 can come to Iona Abbey for free. To take advantage of this offer, please email [email protected]
UK residents may also be eligible for reduced rates, see details below.
2025 RATES
Due to the impact of the recent UK Budget and other factors that have increased our operating costs, we have had to make the difficult decision to adjust our prices for 2025, effective from 1st January 2025. Please rest assured, this change will not affect anyone with a confirmed booking made before this date.
| Type of week | Nights | Adult | Reduced | 6-15 | 0-5 |
| Standard week | 6 nights | £846.00 | £423.00 | £423.00 | free |
| Easter Wednesday to Tuesday | 6 nights | £846.00 | £423.00 | £423.00 | free |
| Stillness in Community (no programme) Monday to Friday | 4 nights | £416.00 | £208.00 | N/A | N/A |
| Work week (aged 18+) | 6 nights | £426.00 | £213.00 | N/A | N/A |
Prices shown are inclusive of VAT Deposit for all bookings: 20% (non-refundable)
We strongly advise that you have adequate travel insurance in place to cover your needs. If you choose not to, you accept full responsibility for any losses incurred as a result of your cancellation.
We know that some people cannot afford these prices and offer the following reductions and discounts:
We offer a 50% reduction to the following UK residents (select the reduced option on the booking page):
- students in full-time education
- people whose only income is from state benefits or a state pension
- people paid beneath the real living wage (The UK Living Wage is £12.60 an hour, and the London Living Wage is £13.85 an hour from Oct 2024)
- those who are homeless, refugees, or asylum seekers
A 15% discount is automatically applied to families of four or more (where adults are paying full price).
We do not want financial cost to be a barrier for anyone who wants to come and stay with us at Iona Abbey.
Read our FINANCIAL SUPPORT section, next, to find out what further support we can offer.
Financial support
We know that the cost of travelling to and staying at Iona Abbey can be prohibitive to many. We offer a range of reduced prices, and discounts on all weeks. We encourage groups to raise funds to support their own members.
From 2024, we are delighted to extend our free places to all children under the age of 5. To take advantage of this offer please email [email protected]
The Iona Community has an access fund to help those resident in the UK who would not otherwise be able to come. Subsidies, including towards cost of travel, may be available. We encourage individuals to apply for this via [email protected] or call 01681 700404.
We want all people to be able to come to the Abbey, and will offer what support we can.
Support our Access Fund
While you are making your own booking, please consider making a donation towards the Access Fund if you are able to, which allows financially disadvantaged people to stay at Iona Abbey or Camas. Thank you.
Your gift would help to pay for:
| £1,000 | A week for a family on Iona |
| £300 | A week for a person on Iona |
| £200 | A week for a child on Iona |
| £100 | A week for a person at Camas |
| £50 | A night on Iona |
| £25 | A night at Camas |
Can only stay for a few nights?
We are now delighted to be able to welcome guests for ‘Flexible Stays’ in the Abbey when we have spare beds during our guests’ weeks. These are great opportunities for people able to make arrangements at relatively short notice.
These spare beds are offered nearer the time on a flexible basis, i.e. you can arrive when you like and stay for as long as you like between Saturday to Thursday (we are closed on Friday evening).
The beds are normally released no earlier than 4 weeks prior to the start of the week. To enquire about availability please contact [email protected].
These Flexible Stays are offered on a price per person per night basis and also include breakfast, lunch and dinner and are as follows:
£90 per person per night or £75 per person per night if sharing a room with someone you don’t know i.e. are not travelling with.
To ensure a consistent and unique experience for programme guests, those staying on this flexible basis cannot participate in programme activities – sorry about that.
We also have a number of programme weeks that have 3 night stays available, have a look at our 2025 Iona Abbey programme to find out more.
We’re looking forward to having you come for a short break!
Cancellation policy
We strongly advise that you have adequate travel insurance in place to cover your needs. If you do not, you accept full responsibility for any losses incurred as a result of your cancellation.
For individual booking full payment must be made on or before 6 Weeks Prior to the start date. Any booking not paid at this time is subject to immediate Cancellation.
For Group Bookings full payment must be made on or before 12 Weeks Prior to the start date. Any booking not paid at this time is subject to immediate cancellation.
Contact [email protected] for further information.
Deposit payments are ALWAYS non-refundable and non-transferable.
Full booking balance must be paid 42 days before arrival. Bookings made less than or equal to 42 days require the full balance to be made on Booking.
If cancelled 42 days or less prior to the trip to Iona the full cost is non-refundable and non-transferable.
In the event that, for unforeseen reasons, a paid place cannot be taken at the last minute, we would only ever consider a refund of the balance payment if there was a waiting list for the week and your place could be given to another guest. If there was no waiting list, we would ask that you claim on your travel insurance.
If your insurance policy could not cover your claim, we might consider a transfer if there were weeks later in the season with plenty of remaining availability.
If we are able to offer alternative dates but these do not suit you or you have to cancel the alternative dates, then the non-refundable and non-transferable policy would apply in full.
If you still have unanswered questions after reading through the essential information do check out our Frequently Asked Questions linked to below.
And if you still have a query, please get in touch with [email protected] or call 01681 700404.
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