St Columba's Isle – River Island Graves and Afternoon Tea
A few hours.
The route
St Columba's Isle is a quiet, wooded island in the River Snizort, reached by a little red footbridge, where the bishops of the Isles once had their church and Nicolson chiefs lie buried among the long grass.
A couple of minutes up the road, the white, turreted Skeabost House serves afternoon tea by the fire or in its conservatory looking over Loch Snizort.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
Book afternoon tea at Skeabost House online or on 01470 373737 at least 24 hours ahead, for about 2.30pm: it's served every day from 2pm to 4pm, £24.95 a person at the time of writing, with a glass of fizz to add if you like.
The day
Skeabost
A slow afternoon: a wander among old graves on a river island, then sandwiches, scones and cake in a country house, with nowhere else to be.
About two hours
St Columba's Isle
An attraction
At Skeabost, on the A850, take the road signed for Peinmore and Tote, then turn left just over the cattle grid and park at the Skeabost Memorial Hall. A signed gravel path by the old Skeabost Bridge leads to a narrow footbridge onto the island, with handrails and five or six steps up and down. A stone there calls it the site of the cathedral church of the Bishops of the Isles from 1079 to 1498, and tradition says 28 Nicolson chiefs lie in Nicolson's Aisle at its far end. The circuit is only about 200 metres, on rough, grassy ground, and only guide dogs may go in.
2 min by car
Skeabost House
Afternoon tea
Drive 2 minutes on to Skeabost House, the white, turreted country house above Loch Snizort, for afternoon tea. It's served every day from 2pm to 4pm, by the fire in the lounge or in the conservatory over the loch, and it must be booked 24 hours ahead, online or on 01470 373737. Expect hand-cut sandwiches, homemade scones with cream, and cakes and shortbread on a platter, at £24.95 a person at the time of writing, with a glass of fizz extra.
If it rains
In rain the isle's grass is wet and the footbridge slippery, so make it a quick look, or see it from the old bridge, and settle in early by the fire at Skeabost House.