Saddell Abbey

Saddell Abbey is a Cistercian monastery in Argyll and Bute with standing stone walls showing sections of the north transept and nave built from rubble set in lime mortar. The ruins sit surrounded by a graveyard where burials accumulated across the centuries.

The monastery was founded in 1160 by Somerled, Lord of Kintyre, and completed by his son Ragnall. It was abandoned by the late 15th century and gradually fell into ruin afterward.

The grounds hold numerous medieval grave slabs from the 14th to 16th centuries carved with warriors, clerics, ships, and Celtic patterns. These stone carvings reveal how local people honored their dead and expressed their beliefs through images rather than words.

The site is reached by following the B842 road north from Campbeltown and has parking at the entrance. Wear weather-resistant clothing since the ruins are open to the elements and exposed to Scottish conditions.

A 19th-century holy well at this location features a stone drinking basin decorated with a Latin cross. This well bridges medieval religious traditions with later acts of local devotion.

Location: Argyll and Bute

Location: Saddell and Skipness

Inception: 13 century

GPS coordinates: 55.53180,-5.51189

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:23