Inchmahome

'The lake, with its three islands, its giant chestnuts, now stag-headed and about to fall, the mouldering priory, the long church with its built-up, five-light window, the castle, overgrown with brushwood ...'

~ Mist In Menteith (A Hatchment, 1913)

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Photo credit: Andrew Shiva

Close to Gartmore lies the Lake of Menteith. On its island of Inchmahome stands Inchmahome Priory, founded in 1238 by RBCG's ancestor, Walter Comyn, Earl of Menteith.

Robert the Bruce is known to have visited the priory in the early 1300s. Mary Queen of Scots was hidden here for several weeks, aged five, following the defeat of the Scots army at the Battle of Pinkie, in 1547.

Both RBCG and his wife Gabriela are buried there, in the chancel of the ruined Augustinian priory. RBCG is said to have dug the grave himself the night before Gabriela's interment, in 1906.

As boys, RBCG and his brothers would row over to Inchmahome, and explore the smaller, neighbouring islands of Inch Talla, where the Comyns had built a small castle, and Inch Cuan (Isle of Dogs), where the dogs were kennelled.

Inchmahome today is in the hands of Historic Environment Scotland. From April till October a small boat runs a shuttle service to the island from the pier at Port of Menteith, where there is a commemorative plaque to RBCG. Sailing times and tickets here.