The journey there can be uncomfortable and the weather unpredictable, but it is always good to arrive there and to experience its special atmosphere and the rich Christian heritage from the time of St Columba and his monks, to the modern Christian presence in the local community and pilgrim visitors. I joined a number of pilgrim groups last year travelling to Iona to mark the 1450th anniversary of St Columba’s arrival; notably, a group of 50 Spaniards—the friends of the way to Santiago de Compostela—with whom I celebrated mass in the abbey on 25 July, which is the feast day of St James, their patron.