Explore Inverness

Beauly Priory.

Located in the village of Beauly, the ruined church of a Valliscaulian priory, is one of three founded by the order  in 1230. Part of the building was later rebuilt.

It became a Cistercian home  around 1510. The church was roofless in 1633, the stone is said  to have been used by Cromwell to build a fort in Inverness in 1650.

It was the burial ground for the chiefs of Clan Lovat (Frasers) - "In 1544 Beauly Priory saw a sad funeral procession enter the restored church, bearing the bodies of Hugh Lord Lovat and his eldest son (by his first wife) Hugh Master of Lovat, killed in a clan fight. Lord Lovat's son (by his second wife) Alexander, who succeeded on his father's and elder half-brother's death, before 1555 married Janet, the daughter of Sir John Campbell of Cawdor."

A plaque tells of Mary Queen of Scots' visit here in 1564 and her travels in the Highlands. Descriptive plaques point out all the points of interest.

Open daily. Free admission.
Historic Scotland. Situated in Beauly village, on the A862.

Summer - 1 April - 30 Sept: Daily, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm

Winter - 1 Oct - 31 March: Daily, 9.00 am to 4.00 pm

Telephone: 01667 460 232