Tradition has it that on his journey from Ireland, Saint Columba stopped at various points on the western seaboard of Scotland. If he could still see his native land he moved further away. It was only when he climbed the highest point on the island of Iona and could not see Ireland, that he decided to stay. Here he made his base and built a monastery which was to be renowned for centuries for the missionary outreach of its missionary monks, for their strictness of life, their holiness and their academic achievements.