The Port of Menteith, is a small community that offers boat trips to the ancient priory of Inchmaholme. Surrounded by fertile farmland and overlooked by the Menteith Hills, this village sits on the shores of Scotland's only Lake. From here, you can take a ferry to the peaceful island of Inchmahome and visit the romantic, 13th century priory where the infant Mary Queen of Scots was sent for safekeeping in 1547.

Inchmahome Priory is situated on Inchmahome ("Inch" meaning an island), the largest of three islands in the centre of Lake of Menteith, close to Aberfoyle, Scotland.

Inchmahome PrioryThe name "Inchmahome" comes from Innis MoCholmaig, meaning Island of St Colmaig.The priory was founded in 1238 by the Earl of Menteith, Walter Comyn, for a small community of the Augustinian order (the Black Canons). The Comyn family were one of the most powerful in Scotland at the time, and had an imposing country house on Inch Talla, one of the other islands on the lake. There is some evidence that there was a church on the island before the priory was established.

The priory has a long history of receiving many notable guests. King Robert the Bruce visited three times, in 1306, 1308 and 1310. His visits were likely politically motived, as the first abbot had sworn allegiance to Edward the I, the English King. In 1358 the future King Robert II also stayed at the priory. In 1547 the priory served as a refuge for Mary Queen of Scots, aged four, hidden here for a few weeks following the disastrous defeat of the Scots army at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh during the Rough Wooing.

Decline of the monastic orders in the 16th century was hastened by the fact that the heads of abbeys and priories became appointees of the local landowner, who often did not share the religious goals of the ordained priests. In 1547, the office passed to John, Lord Erskine, who later became head of Cambuskenneth and Dryburgh abbeys. The Reformation meant that there were no new priests being ordained, and religious land and buildings gradually passed into secular hands, leading to the priory's gradual decline. In 1606 the land and property passed to the Erskine family. It later passed to the Marquess of Montrose, and the 6th Duke of Montrose passed it into the care of the State in 1926.

Although most of the buildings are now ruins, much of the original 13th century structure remains, and it is now in the care of Historic Scotland, who maintain and preserve it as an important historic site. The priory can be visited by boat, operated by Historic Scotland from the nearby pier at Port of Menteith, from March to September.