Keills Chapel

Keills Chapel is a small medieval chapel in the west Highlands of Scotland, in Argyll and Bute. It sits on the Knapdale peninsula, close to the village of Tayvallich, and is often described as one of the best-kept secrets of the region. It appeals to anyone interested in early Christianity, carved stone and Scottish history.

What is Keills Chapel?

The building dates from the late 12th century and is dedicated to St Cormac. Today it works as a small indoor stone museum. The chapel was re-roofed in 1978 so that it could shelter the collection of carved stones found around the site. Old grave slabs and crosses can now be seen under cover, away from the weather.

What is inside?

The collection holds almost forty carved stones, dating from the 8th to the 16th century. They include:

• fragments of a second early Christian cross,
• four cross-decorated grave slabs from the early period,
• later West Highland grave slabs.

One slab shows a harp and carries Latin inscriptions, which translate as "O'Cuinn had me made" and "Here lies ... and Allan his son".

What is the Keills Cross?

The most important piece is the Keills Cross, about two metres tall and made of blue-grey slate. Only one face is carved. The shaft has panels of spirals, animals and key-pattern interlace. On the crosshead is a robed figure holding a book in one hand and raising the other in blessing, flanked by lions. On the upper arm, St Michael slays a dragon.

Historic Environment Scotland dates the cross to the 8th century and links it to a craftsman from Iona. Its central boss has a parallel on the Kildalton Cross on Islay. Other sources give dates from the late 7th to the early 9th century, so the dating remains debated.

Where did the cross originally stand?

Its original location is uncertain. It is not mentioned in a survey of the site from the 1830s, and excavation around its base in the graveyard suggested it had been set up there relatively recently. Since 1979 the cross has stood inside the chapel.

Planning a visit

The chapel lies in a quiet rural setting near Loch Sween, with Tayvallich as the nearest village. Coordinates are roughly 55.963 N, 5.703 W. It makes a good stop on a tour of Argyll for visitors who prefer historic sites away from the crowds.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Keills Chapel? In Knapdale, Argyll and Bute, in the west Highlands, near the village of Tayvallich.

How old is the chapel? It dates from the late 12th century, and it houses stones from the 8th to the 16th century.

What is the main highlight? The early medieval Keills Cross, richly carved on one face.