Access to Iona from the mainland is set to get a lot faster this month, as Oban’s Seafari Adventures launches a new daily tour to the island using a brand new 12 passenger boat.

The four-star Wildlife Experience operator has just launched a new £135,000 cabin RIB, which will carry 12 passengers direct to Iona from Easdale near Oban, reducing travel time to just 75 minutes.

Seafari will also operate daily whale watching trips, starting from Saturday 24 May.

The new RIB, built by Quinquari Marine of North Ballachulish, will provide much speedier access to Iona for visitors who might otherwise be deterred by the long travelling time. The cabin has large picture windows affording excellent views during the journey, which cruises at a comfortable 25 knots.

More information from www.seafari.co.uk/oban

Further details are available on VisitScotland’s Wildlife Experience and other quality assurance schemes.