June 14th 1122

Loch Tay's islands

There is evidence for the existence of quite a number of artificial islands, or crannogs, in Loch Tay. These provided safe refuges for the inhabitants from wild animals and even human enemies. The largest of these islands is Eilean nam Ban, the Island of the Women. This island, about a quarter of a mile from Kenmore is about eighty yards from the shore. When the waters of the loch are low, the causeway joining the island to the shore can still be seen, not more than a couple of feet below the water’s surface. In spite of the size of the island the foundations are found to consist of small stones and gravel and there is every reason to believe that it is artificial in origin.

It was here that Queen Sybilla, an illegitimate daughter of Henry 1st of England and married to Alexander 1st of Scotland, fell ill and died. She was buried on the island and as the King put it, “for the honour of God and St Mary and all the saints I have given for myself and for the soul of Queen Sybilla the island of Loch Tay in perpetual possession to the Holy Trinity of Scoon and the Brotherhood serving God there by monastic rule so that a church may be built there for me and the soul of the Queen.” The isle then became a nunnery.

With the rise of the Campbells the priory came into possession of Sir Colin Campbell in about 1474. He decided to make the island a fortified residence and erected a barmekyn wall or rampart around the island, The remains of the wall may still be seen today. The island continued to be used by the Campbells of Glenorchy until the family moved to the Castle of Balloch.