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Saddell Abbey is in Argyll / Scotland,
on the Kintyre Peninsula, 10 miles north
of Campbeltown, 125 miles
southwest of Glasgow by road.
Saddell Abbey was built from the 1100s
for Somerled,
Lord of Kintyre, free to visit, with the
Bay with a Castle and Sculpture also
popular.
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Attractions
The image top right is of the Car Park
at the very small village of Saddell with
the Abbey only a 2 minute walk up to the
left of the Car Park.
The second image is from the entrance
to the Abbey with the small Museum
containing a number of carved Graveslabs.
This is normally open, just have to play
around with the latches to get in.
These Graveslabs are thought to have
been from the 1100s up to the 1600s, with
upright Gravestones being used from the
1600s, said to be as the Reformation
encouraged less elaborate burial
markers.
Graveslabs were normally decorated
with a Coat of Arms, as Knights for
warriors, or with Symbols showing what
type of business they worked in. Large
Shears are often seen in Shepherds
stones, and Anvils in Blacksmiths.
In the Graveyard are Graveslabs with
Scull and Crossbones, said to be a
warning that everyone dies.
Little remains of the Abbey itself,
just 2 walls and a doorway.
The Abbey is thought to have been
abandoned around 1470, although many
burials will have taken place here ever
since.
Saddell Castle and Bay are a short
walk south from the Village, down a
narrow lane at the small bridge, best
known as the setting in the video for the
song Mull of
Kintyre of Paul MacCartney and Wings,
released in 1978.
The MacCartney's often lived at High
Park Farm by Campbeltown around the time
the song was released.
Saddell
Castle was built from the 1100s for
Clan MacDonald, with most of what can be
seen today built in the 1500s. Clan
MacDonald are said to be descendants of
Somerled.
The Castle is now operated by the
Landmark Trust as a self-catering
property.
Saddell
House is a short walk north of the
Castle, built in 1900 on the site of an
earlier building from 1774 of Colonel
Donald Campbell.
Saddell House is now operated as a
self-catering property by the Landmark
Trust, also with open days, normally in
September.
The Bay is well worth visiting, best
to walk down to it, about half of a
mile.
There is a Sculpture on rocks at the
Bay by Anthony
Gormley named Grip.
Saddell Bay images by Nozza
Wales at Flickr.
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