Beauly Priory Ruins, Beauly, United Kingdom

Beauly Priory was a Valliscaulian monastic community. It was probably founded in 1230. It is not known for certain who the founder was, different sources giving Alexander II of Scotland, John Byset, and both. The French monks, along with Bisset (a nearby, recently settled landowner), had a strong enough French-speaking presence to give the location and the river the name beau lieu ('beautiful place') and have it pass into English. It is not the best documented abbey, and few of the priors of Beauly are known by name until the 14th century. It became Cistercian on April 16, 1510, after the suppression of the Valliscaulian Order by the Pope. The priory was gradually secularized, and ruled by a series of commendators. The priory's lands were given over to the bishop of Ross by royal charter on October 20, 1634. The ruins today are still extensive and are one of the main visitor attractions in Inverness-shire.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

HG (2 years ago)
Really lovely place, but would not advise during the winter as the roof is absent. Also we were lucky enough to meet the local tour guide there (pictured below), he offered us a tour for 5 pounds (cash) which was very informative about the site's Roman history.

Tork Mackenzie (2 years ago)
ruins of a priory from the 14th century set in a peaceful graveyard right in the middle of a lovely wee village , ample parking in the village square and a lot of info boards set up to tell you the history of the place

Susan Willcock (2 years ago)
Beautiful place. Very peaceful. Enough information boards to provide the background. No parking at the site but plenty of free parking nearby. Set in a lovely village with great shops and cafes

Pete Wickenden (2 years ago)
What a magical place. We just stopped to have a nosey and it was a pleasant surprise. Beautiful ruins in a beautiful little town

Ewen Leslie (2 years ago)
Freshly cooked food fish batter was perfectly crisp staff were friendly

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