Inchtavannach

Inchtavannach is a wooded island in Loch Lomond, one of the larger islands in the loch. It lies opposite the village of Aldochlay, separated from the mainland by Bandry Bay south of Luss. The island rises steeply in places, covered mostly with natural oak. Two summits mark its landscape: Tom nan Clag reaches 86 metres and the southern summit stands at 55 metres. The name Innis Taigh a’ Mhanaich means ‘Island of the Monk’s House’, recalling its past. The island once held a monastery where monks rang a bell to call worshippers to prayer. A large house has stood on the site since 1760, and roe deer have been recorded living there. In the 17th century Sir James Colquhoun built a winding path to the higher summit. The poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Wordsworth and Dorothy Wordsworth visited in August 1803. For ten years the producer of the television series Take the High Road lived in a house on the island. Visitors find a quiet island mostly covered in oak woodland. The winding path leads up to Tom nan Clag, offering views across Loch Lomond. Bandry Bay frames the island’s northern shore, with Aldochlay visible across the water. The southern slope rises more gently, where the lower summit overlooks the loch. The remains of the monastic site lie near the modern house, and deer may still be seen among the trees.