inchmahome priory

We were disappointed that on a Saturday (7th March) the boat trip was not running to the island that the Priory is on. Thus this is not a review, but just a wee warning to check that the boat is running before making a special trip (as we did) from somewhere else in Loch Lomand area.

Myself and a photographic colleague had been on a trip around the Trossachs National Park and decided to stop of and finish our journey at the Lake of Mentieth(which is not really a lake but probably was a slip of the Cardinals or Monks of the time elevating themselves to a point of grandeur) but this aside the weather was near perfect and the short boat ride to the island was enchanting across an almost 'pea green' water due to an algae 'bloom' due to the excellent weather. The Historic Scotland guide was exceptional in his knowledge of both the local facts and those of the history of the founding of the Priory.On arrival at the island the ruins of the priory are magnificent in themselves and one can understand why it was built where it is, in the middle of a 'lake' as the whole setting is tranquil and exceptionally beautiful at the autumn time. There is a small shop on the island albeit some of the goods can be 'pricey' and there are toilets available.A stroll around the island at leisure should take you no more than an hour with some fascinating remnants of trees from the old Caledonia Forests, you might be even lucky to spot a red squirrel on the island (must have been a good swimmer) and there are picnic areas to indulge yourself whilst taking in the magnificent scenery.The only downside is that the island is NOT available to wheelchair users due the method of alighting and disembarking from the small launch and most of the tracks on the island are not suitable for wheelchair access.The short trip takes around seven minutes and usually runs on demand and in the 'close' season you can still access the island if you phone beforehand and make arrangements.You pay for your trip when you alight at the island and is a moderate charge for what is on offer.On the way back to the mainland you might want to partake lunch at the Lake of Menteith Hotel before resuming your journey around this enchanting are of Scotland.

We spent 12 days touring Scotland earlier this month and this was one of our favorite places! The Priory isn't as big or elaborate as the Abbys in the borders region, but it was beautiful and we loved the island. The ferry ride takes seven minutes (I love their system of turning the white panel towards the island so they know you want to come over) and we enjoyed visiting with Martin, our boat driver, on the ride. The island is so beautiful and peaceful- all that we could hear was the birds chirping. I'm not a religious person, but this seemed like a very spiritual place. Very beautiful and tranquil!

We had a lovely visit this autumn to Inchmahome Priory. It was quieter than summer and one boat was running, but the wait is not long. The boat runs on demand and takes about 7 minutes each way. The trip over is a lovely experience but come dressed for the weather as you will be more exposed to the elements in the boat. Bad weather can close the site.The island itself has the abbey, a shop and toilets. It's a lovely setting and there are information points and guide book available for purchase. I was on cruches the day we visited and managed the boat trip and short walks with care. It was a bit slippy but ok.Overall a great outing. Consider membership or multi visit pass if you are visiting multiple Historic Scotland sites.

Visited last week on a sunny day, lovely boat ride over to the Island, with a friendly and informative guide. Surprised on how big the ruins of the priory were for such a small island, had a lovely walk round in total peace. Sat on one of the benches feeding fish which came readily to the bank, whilst watching the many fisherman out on the boats! Clean toilets and a little shop, what more can you ask for? Thought that £5.50 each was good value for the boat ride and the island, there is no rush from the guides and you can stay. and just watch the world go by....lovely setting.Spoke to a local shop girl in Aberfoyle the day after and she didn't even know there was a priory-obviously a bit of a secret!

I thought this was a very interesting attraction, however at £17 for three adults I did not really feel there was great value for money. But it is worth a visit if you can spend quite a few hours there- we were in a hurry to get the last ferry home and only managed a 45 minute visit. Would be perfect to take a picnic to in the summer months.

Its an hour drive from Glasgow . Thanks to our Satnav which took us to this small parking by mistake. We parked our car & then walked out of a small unattended Reception hut which leads us to a small Green Water lake shore where a boat with very friendly staff comes every 10 minutes To & Fro to take you on a boat ride to this to this historic ruins Island of Inchmahome Priory set in the Lake of Menteith. Ticket can be purchased on the Island from the little souvenir shop which serves some refreshment as well. These ruins have a history with Greenery, giant trees, graves ,chapel.

Beautifully set on a small wooded island in the middle of a lake, the priory is steeped in history. With the original chapel partially intact and roofed chapter house, you can get a good sense of what it might have been like to be a prior here. The island can be muddy so good sturdy shoes are recommended and warm clothing for the short boat ride. The docks at either end don't have railings so hold onto small children. There is some signage but the guide book is worth buying. Make sure to check last sailing times before you go.

Beautiful place to visit, lovely boat ride across to the island.Very picturesque, especially on a sunny day.A real must see place, don't miss out, all our family enjoyed it, including the dog :-)

This was the highlight of our holiday in Stirlingshire. Beautiful countryside with so much history. Fantastic loch. The boat ride was excellent, With 4 kids and a dog, we were made to feel very welcome. The walk around the island takes about 30 mins and another hour to see the ruins etc. it would be a nice place to reflect for the afternoon aswell. The land is quite wet so wear decent shoes.Please remember that actually joining Historic Scotland is often the cheaper way to visit places like this, especially if visiting 2 places in the same year. They dont seem to push the membership - i had to ask specifically for it - as they make much more money by charging a 1/3/7 day passes which are more costly than a years membership. this is the way Historic Scotland are and not specifically this attraction. Membership gives you 20% discount on shop purchases too.

Lovely 10 minute or so boat trip across the Lake of Menteith. 2 small x 12 seater boats in operation. To make the most of the island best to see it in sunshine I think. Ruined priory with some boards explaining the history and you can also do a short walk around the island. Toilets and small shop. Ideal spot for picnic with very scenic views. Car parking is tight and you may end up parking on the road.

This is a lovely trip for a sunny day in Scotland. This is an interesting ruin in the middle of Scotland's only lake. However, I could not really recommend it on a rainy day. Luckily, we did have beautiful day and a nice ride over on the small ferry. The location is beautiful but I'm sure life was hard for those in the priory.This site is one that is available as part of the Explore Scotland pass. Parking and the ferry ride are included in the price (or free with the pass). There are nice toilets on the island but not at the dock where you catch the ferry to the island.

My Family went here on one of our glorious Scottish sunny days( rare we know). This was a perfect adventure for their age group and all enjoyed the boat trip and exploring the island. Take your picnic here if it`s sunny and enjoy the views. Hard to believe on a sunny day that this where the famous "Bonspiel" takes place when the ice is thick enough (mass curling in case you are wondering)

We were staying above the Lake of Menteith so thought we would go across and take a look at this. Very interesting and a lovely tranquille spot -- I bet it was pretty bleak in the winter when it was actually a priory though. Nice views back across the lake. It won't take you long, but a worthwhile visit and good to support Historic Scotland as well.

After many out of season visits to the Lake of Menteith we eventually succeeded in satisfying our curiosity about Inchmahome Island. The short ferry trip in the sunshine was a pleasant start to our visit. The guide shared her knowledge about the area as we headed to the island. The visitor centre has worksheets for children to complete to keep them busy during their visit. We enjoyed walking round the island - I thought the "hollow tree" looked amazing. There are several seats around the island and we sat on the one overlooking the old ferry landing to enjoy our picnic lunch. The priory was very interesting to see and imagine what it would have been like in years gone by. There are nice clean toilets next to the visitor centre. There is no café although you can buy a coffee in the visitor centre (more a hot water and coffee in a polystyrene cup if you are desperate!)