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Our last day on Islay, we started out with a tour of Laphroaig distillery. After that we went to find a nearby standing stone. On our way back down to Port Ellen, we stopped by the Highland Cows again (some of the earlier photos were from this stop). Then we had lunch at a local diner. It was a computer cafe/youth center/nonprofit. Food was decent, prices were fair. Didn't see anyone else who looked like a tourist. Then we went up through Bowmore and around Loch Indaal, but went north. The north side of the island doesn't get much traffic. We took a one-land road along Loch Gruinart.
Loch Gruinart is one mile wide and four miles long, running from the Atlantic on the north side of the island. Kilnave Chapel overlooks the loch, about a mile from the ocean. In this photo, past the point is the Atlantic, with Colonsay island beyond. The mountains in the distance are on Mull.
Kilnave Chapel is about 600 years old. The cross likely dates to the late 700's.
There were many of these old slate slabs in the ground. Some had no writing, or were illegible.
1789
Here Lies The Corps of Lora McQween, spouse to Patrick Cwrrie Tacksman of Larabus, Who Died 23d January 1780, Aged 61 Years
Note the "w" versus "u", and backwards D's. A tacksman is someone who held a usually long term lease on land from the local laird, and in turn leased most of that land out to others. A mid-level landholder.
This place belongs to Archibald Giles Tennant in Octomore
In the corner, the wall drops down with the contour of the land below it, while the ground within stays level. There is cow pasture below, along the shore.
To the memory of Peter Ferguson, Aged 75 years
This stone was split and grainy like rotting wood.
This grave slab is of the West Highland style, and dates to medieval times. It has a carving of a sword surrounded by foliage, and is in pretty good condition for its age.
Most of these old churches were abandoned, and the roof beams, which were hard to come by, were taken for other uses. This church was the site of a massacre, in 1598. Thirty fleeing invaders took refuge in the chapel, and all but one were killed when the thatched roof was set alight. It is unknown where their bodies lie, but the people interred here have a nice view.
Loch Gruinart is one mile wide and four miles long, running from the Atlantic on the north side of the island. Kilnave Chapel overlooks the loch, about a mile from the ocean. In this photo, past the point is the Atlantic, with Colonsay island beyond. The mountains in the distance are on Mull.
Kilnave Chapel is about 600 years old. The cross likely dates to the late 700's.
There were many of these old slate slabs in the ground. Some had no writing, or were illegible.
1789
Here Lies The Corps of Lora McQween, spouse to Patrick Cwrrie Tacksman of Larabus, Who Died 23d January 1780, Aged 61 Years
Note the "w" versus "u", and backwards D's. A tacksman is someone who held a usually long term lease on land from the local laird, and in turn leased most of that land out to others. A mid-level landholder.
This place belongs to Archibald Giles Tennant in Octomore
In the corner, the wall drops down with the contour of the land below it, while the ground within stays level. There is cow pasture below, along the shore.
To the memory of Peter Ferguson, Aged 75 years
This stone was split and grainy like rotting wood.
This grave slab is of the West Highland style, and dates to medieval times. It has a carving of a sword surrounded by foliage, and is in pretty good condition for its age.
Most of these old churches were abandoned, and the roof beams, which were hard to come by, were taken for other uses. This church was the site of a massacre, in 1598. Thirty fleeing invaders took refuge in the chapel, and all but one were killed when the thatched roof was set alight. It is unknown where their bodies lie, but the people interred here have a nice view.
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no subject
Date: 2014-01-25 09:56 pm (UTC)From:And I like the cattle through the window picture very much.
PS The stone does look like fossilized wood!
no subject
Date: 2014-01-27 06:48 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2014-01-25 11:50 pm (UTC)From:All of the stone works - and the views through what looks like a keyhole to more stone (as in photo #7) are... well, poetic the best way I can describe it. The colors are lovely, but my enjoyment of them is undoubtedly influenced by the season.
And Lora McQween died 185 years before my sister was born. Oh, unless they hadn't gone to the Gregorian calendar yet.
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Date: 2014-01-26 03:50 am (UTC)From:It is interesting that several of the arches don't seem to have one definitive keystone. Beautiful stone work!
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Date: 2014-01-27 06:46 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2014-01-27 07:48 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2014-01-26 06:01 pm (UTC)From:The view is just great!