On the largest of the islands in the Lake of Menteith (this is Scotland's only 'lake' as opposed to 'loch'!) stand the ruins of the priory of Inchmahome.
Mary, Queen of Scots, stayed here in 1547. Not that that is especially notable...where didn't she stay?
The priory was founded in the early 13th Century for a small community of the Augustinian order (the Black Canons) by the earl of Menteith, Walter Comyn. It would seem that his reason for founding the priory was so that the prayers of the canons would ensure the salvation of his soul.
The Chapter House (recently re-roofed) contains several effigies and gravestones, including a rather splendid effigy of Walter Stewart who died in 1295.
1/37 Looking east to the entrance of the nave, with the bell tower to the left of the doorway.
2/37 Looking from the west end of the nave towards the presbytery window.
3/37 Interior view of the east window of the choir. Between the two leftmost lancets is carved a human head.
4/37 The carving of a head at the upper junction of two lancets in the east window.
5/37 The Choir and the east window, as seen from the Nave.
6/37 Exterior view of the east window of the choir.
7/37 The bell tower entrance from inside the nave.
8/37 One of the arches in the north side of the Nave, looking out
9/37 A view of the warming house.
10/37 View of the priory from the south-west. You see, from the left: the West Range; the Nave; the Chapter House; the East Range. onto the lake.
11/37 Looking north across the south range to the cloister, with the nave and bell tower beyond.
12/37 Looking north towards the latrine block and warming house. The roofed building is the chapter house.
13/37 Looking northeast across the cloister.
14/37 Part of a graveslab with thick interlacing.
15/37 Part of a graveslab with a fine interlaced cross.
16/37 View from the priory island, looking west to the mainland.
17/37 Looking south to a neighbouring island where there are castle ruins.
18/37 Wooded paths give access to the whole island.
19/37 Looking east to the entrance of the nave, with the bell tower to the left of the doorway.
20/37 Looking into the nave.
21/37 Arches around the east entrance.
22/37 Looking across the cloister to the chapter house, later turned into a mausoleum.
23/37 Another view across the cloister to the chapter house.
24/37 Looking from the west range north into the nave and the bell tower beyond.
25/37 Looking from the nave back out to the west range. Look at the arc of edge-on flat stones above the doorway. Then look a little higher up the wall and slightly to the right. There was clearly another opening there at one time.
26/37 Looking through the ruined arcade on the north side of the nave.
27/37 Looking into the nave from the northwest.
28/37 Looking west along the northern face of the nave to the bell tower.
29/37 Arches in the nave windows.
30/37 Looking from the east end of the nave towards the bell tower.
31/37 The <i>sedilia</i> on the south side of the choir. This is where the priest and servers would sit during services.
32/37 Looking north past the chapter house. The root of the low arching roof over the covered walkway around the cloister can be seen projecting from the chapter house wall.
33/37 The 14th Century graveslab of Sir John Drummond inside the chapter house.
34/37 Part of a graveslab with a fine interlaced cross inside the chapter house.
35/37 The inside of the chapter house - later to be a mausoleum. Lying on the left is the effigy of a Stewart knight. On the right is the double effigy of Earl Walter Stewart (who died around 1295) and his countess.
36/37 The east window of the church, viewed from the outside.
37/37 The west entrance, bell tower and north aisle of the church, seen from the northwest.
Nearby Sites
1km Menteith 16 Cup and Ring Marks
1km Menteith 20 Cup Marks
1km Nether Glenny Cairns Cairn
13km Fintry Standing Stone
14km Garadh Ban Wood Chambered Cairn
14km St. Maha's Well Standing Stone; Well
15km Doune Castle Castle
18km Doune Standing Stones
18km Waterhead Standing Stones
20km Blanefield Standing Stones; Cairn
(NB: All distances are as-the-crow-flies. Lochs, mountains and beautiful winding roads will make it further. Sometimes much further.)