Home > Attractions > Strathclyde > Cill Chaitriona

Cill Chaitriona

Travel Information and nearby accommodation

The partial remains of a chapel and burial ground, possibly early medieval, near the northern tip of Colonsay. Local tradition says that the chapel was founded by monks from Iona. Fifty feet or so north of the chapel site is a standing stone known as Clach A'Pheanais, or The Penance Stone, which may have been used for flagellation or other acts of penance by parishioners following confession at the chapel.

The chapel is roughly oblong, measuring 32' by 20', with walls 3-4' thick, and is enclosed within an oblong enclosure. At one corner of the chapel is a small stone cross. At the west end is a small basin possibly used for holy water.

Several cruciform stones (rough stone crosses) have been found on the site. No one seems to know when Cill Chaitriona was built; if local tradition is correct and it was founded by monks from the first phase of monastic settlement on Iona, that would suggest a date between, say, 600 and 800 AD. Or, if the monks came from the second phase of monastic activity on Iona, that would place the building of the chapel at a time after 1200.
Colonsay, Balnahard, Argyll and Bute, Strathclyde, Scotland

About Cill Chaitriona
Attraction Type: Church
Location: Follow the track past Balnahard Farm towards Balnahard Bay. The chapel is beside a livestock pen to the left of the track.
Location map
OS NR421998

Heritage Highlight: Chapel perhaps founded by monks from Iona.
Heritage Rating:   ?

Nearest attractions Nearest Towns and Villages Nearest accommodation Nearest Tourist Information Centre

OS map Related Information Photos

Nearest Attractions Clach A'Pheanais (Balnahard) Standing Stone - 0 miles (Prehistoric) Colonsay Whale Sculpture - 1.1 miles (Countryside) St Columba's Well - 1.3 miles (Prehistoric) Isle of Colonsay - 2.5 miles (Island) Colonsay House Gardens - 2.7 miles (Garden) Tobar Oran Sculptured Stone - 2.7 miles (Prehistoric) Buaile Riabhach Stone Circle - 4 miles (Prehistoric) Scalasaig Standing Stones - 4.4 miles (Prehistoric)

Nearest Towns and Villages Bowness - 140.3 miles away Burgh-by-Sands - 146.8 miles away Cockermouth - 148.9 miles away St Bees - 149.9 miles away Carlisle - 152.3 miles away Bewcastle - 153.7 miles away Caldbeck - 153.9 miles away Wark-on-Tweed - 154.2 miles away

Photos of Cill Chaitriona

Holy water basin

Chapel walls

Chapel foundations

See all Cill Chaitriona Photos

Nearest Accommodation to Cill Chaitriona

Nearest Self Catering Cottages

Cruachan - 13.2 miles from Cill Chaitriona Bunessan, Strathclyde Sleeps: 6 Stay from: £150

Shepherds Cottage - 13.2 miles from Cill Chaitriona Bunessan, Strathclyde Sleeps: 6 Stay from: £190

Cnoc Mor - 13.2 miles from Cill Chaitriona Bunessan, Strathclyde Sleeps: 4 Stay from: £130

More Self Catering near Cill Chaitriona

Nearest Hotels

Loch Melfort Hotel - 24.1 miles from Cill Chaitriona Oban, Strathclyde Stay from: £147.00

Cairnbaan Hotel - 25.9 miles from Cill Chaitriona Cairnbaan, Strathclyde Stay from: £130.00

The Cuilfail Hotel - 26.8 miles from Cill Chaitriona Oban, Highlands and Islands Stay from: £60.00

More Hotels near Cill Chaitriona

Nearest Bed and Breakfasts

Cairnbaan Hotel - 26.2 miles from Cill Chaitriona Lochgilphead, Strathclyde From: £130.00

Allt-Na-Craig House - 28.1 miles from Cill Chaitriona Ardrishaig, Strathclyde From: £45.00

Glenavon Guest Accommodation - 32.8 miles from Cill Chaitriona Oban, Highlands and Islands From: £50.00

More bed and breakfasts near Cill Chaitriona

Islay
Tourist Information Centre
The Square
Main Street
Bowmore
Isle of Islay
Strathclyde
Scotland
PA43 7JP
Tel: 08707 200 617
Email: bowmore@visitscotland.com
Web: http://www.visitscottishheartlands.org/
Map