Eileach an Naoimh is a tiny uninhabited isle of 138 acres. It is the southernmost of the Garvellachs, a group of islands north of the isle of Jura in the Firth of Lorn. There are the a number of monastic buildings on the isle. The earliest are thought to be the double beehive cells, the remains of a monastery established in 542 A.D. by St. Brendan. The beehive cells are thought to be the earliest surviving monastic structures in Britain.
Standing in front of the beehives is a 12-foot stone pillar with a natural overhang called St. Columba's Pulpit. The later Christan monuments include a pair of churches, two graveyards, and domestic buildings including a kiln and barn. The earliest church is from the 11th Century, while the other is from the 14th Century. St. Columba is also said to have visited the island, and many believe that his mother Eithne is buried here. Her gravestone stands on the slope of the hill above the latter-day monastery, marked with a simple cross.
Journey to Eileach an Naoimh
There is no ferry to Eileach an Naoimh. Access is by private boat only. Recommended: Farsain Cruises, which operates out of the marina at Craobh Haven on the Argyll Coast.Visited in 2022
Streetmap UK (NM641098)
Visitors Information
Visitors information on the Eileach an Naoimh Monastic Sites may be found at the Historic Environment Scotland website. General tourist information may be found at the Visit Scotland: Argyll & the Isles website.
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