Spoiled for choice I would say — from a world-famous famous abbey to a pile of medieval stones via classic 19th Century Church of Scotland small churches and a couple of Roman Catholic chapels. So where to begin? I guess with the medieval chapels, some with graveyards, separate burial grounds (or cemeteries), and ancient crosses — there are loads in various states of ruination at the following anchorages:

 

Ardlussa and Lussa Bays, Jura: burial ground

Ardminish Bay, Gigha: St Cathan's chapel and graveyard

Bagh Dun Mhuilig, Loch Craignish: old church of Kilmarie and graveyard

Balnahard Bay, Colonsay: a very ruined chapel and eroded cross

Balvicar, Seil Island, Loch Shuna: Kilbrandon Old Parish Church and graveyard

Calgary Bay, West Mull: Cladh Mhuire, burial ground

Canna: graveyard and cross

Carsaig Bay, KIntyre: burial ground

Chapel Bay, Kintyre: very overgrown St Columba's chapel and burial ground

Craighouse, Jura: Killearnadale burial ground (Cill  Earnadil)

Dunstaffnage, Lower Loch Linnhe: rather grand chapel, more of a church really

Eilean Mòr, Loch Sween: monkish cave and St Cormac's chapel

Eilean Munde, Loch Leven: the very best of burial grounds, and a chapel

Ellary: burial ground

Inch Kenneth, West Mull: chapel and graveyard

Kilchoan, Loch Sunart: chapel and graveyard

Kilnaughton Bay, Islay: chapel and rather interesting graveyards

Loch a'Choire, Lower Loch Linnhe: graveyard

Loch Aline, Sound of Mull: graveyard, grave slabs in the church

Loch Beag, Firth of Lorne: old parish church of Kilmarie and graveyard

Loch Buie, South Mull: St Kenneth’s Chapel and graveyard

Loch na Cille, Kintyre: graveslabs, chapel

Loch Spelve: parish church of Killean

Loch Stornoway, Kintyre: burial ground

Nave Island, Islay: chapel

Port Mòr, Aros Bay, Glas Uig, Islay: Kildalton old parish church, and cross

Toberonochy, Loch Shuna: chapel with graffiti, and graveyard

 

There is then a gap of several centuries, spanning the destruction during the Reformation, before the sort of churches we are familiar with started to be built in the late 18th/19th century.  Many are very serene and rather nice to visit even if you are of no particular religious persuasion, but need a bit of a sit down and a think:

 

Ardfern, Loch Craignish: Craignish Parish Church

Camus Aiseig, Upper Loch Linnhe: Ardgour Parish Church

Arinagour, Coll: Parish Church

Bowmore, Islay: Kilarrow Parish Church — the round one

Canna: round tower church and the Roman Catholic Chapel

Craignure, Sound of Mull: Parish Church

Drimnin, Sound of Mull: St Columba's chapel

Kilchoan, Loch Sunart: old and new Parish Churches, graveyard

Loch a Coire, Lower Loch Linnhe: Kingairloch Church

Loch Cuan, West Mull: Kilmore (Dervaig) Parish Church, another round tower

Portnahaven: Parish Church

Ulva Ferry, West Mull: Parish Church

 

And some grander stuff:

 

Ardchattan, Loch Etive: ruined Priory

Iona, West Mull: Abbey and Nunnery — a magnet for tourists, but remarkable

Oban: St Columba's cathedral

Port na Moralachd or Achnacroish Lismore: Clachan Kirk, surprising previous cathedral

Oronsay, Colonsay: extensive and well-preserved ruin of a priory

 

And finally, there is a great monastic site with monkish beehives — more or less unique to the area — on the Garvellach Islands

Please let me know if there is anything wrong or out of date on this page, or if there is anything I should add — by clicking HERE

Graveslab, Bagh Dun Mhuilig chapel, 

Loch Craignish

The Gaelic Bible in Kilberry Parish Church, Loch Stornoway