Find Your Holiday Cottage...

Select either Friday or Saturdays for the best results. Click to search all Scottish Locations.

Notice

Google Geocoding API error: The request was denied.

Isle of Lismore

Visitor guide of Isle of Lismore in Argyll here offer you information on and around the place, including sights, sleeping and eating, transport, accommodation and hotels in Isle of Lismore.


The island of Lismore lies only a few miles off the mainland, in Loch Linnhe, yet feels a world away. It makes an ideal day trip and offers great opportunities for walking and cycling, as well as wonderful views across to the mountains of Morvern and Mull, the Paps of Jura to the south and Ben Nevis to the north. It's a fertile little island (the name leis mór is Gaelic for "the big garden") and once supported a population of 1,400, though the present population is about a tenth of that.

Phone code: +44 (0)1631

Region

Argyll

Travel Directions to Isle of Lismore

The CalMac car ferry from Oban lands at Achnacroish, about halfway up the east coast (2-4 daily Mon-Sat; 50 mins). A passenger ferry leaves from Port Appin pier to the island's north point (daily every 1-2 hrs; 10 mins).

There's a limited postbus service which runs Mon-Sat (see the Lorn Area Transport Guide for times), or you can hire bikes from Mary MacDougall, Tel. 760213.

Local Sights & Activities for Isle of Lismore

Lismore has a long and interesting history. It was the ecclesiastical capital of Argyll for several centuries and the Cathedral of St Moluag was founded here in the 12th century, just north of Clachan. All that remains is the choir, which is now used as the parish church. The cathedral occupies the site of a church founded by the Irish saint, who established a religious community on the island about the same time as St Columba was busy at work in Iona. Legend has it that the two saints were racing to the island, in an attempt to be the first to land and found a monastery. Such was Moluag's religious zeal that he cut off his finger and threw it on to the shore, thus claiming possession. This sort of behaviour is, of course, frowned upon in Olympic rowing events.

Not far from the church, is the 2,000-year-old Broch of Tirefour, one of the best-preserved prehistoric monuments in Argyll, with surviving circular walls up to 16-ft high. Other interesting sights include Castle Coeffin, a 13th-century fortress built by the MacDougalls of Lorn, on the west coast, and in the southwest of the island the 13th-century Achadun Castle, built for the Bishops of Argyll. It's a short walk from here to Bernera Island, which can be reached at low tide (but don't get stranded).

Isle of Lismore Hotels & Accommodation

There are a couple of B&Bs on the island, including The Schoolhouse, Tel. 760262, just beyond Clachan, 1 miles north of the ferry pier. There's also a shop and post office at Clachan.