I first became aware of Monkstadt 1745 at the beginning of 2021 when I was asked if I would be interested in running photography workshops from the house. Straight away I knew this offer had so much potential and I was desperate to visit the house to experience all I had read about it. Due to the pandemic this took a while but I eventually got there at the beginning of May and oh my goodness it was worth the wait. Not only is Monkstadt luxuriously beautiful it is also steeped in so much history which just makes staying there extra special.
Monkstadt is located on the Northern end of Skye. Just passed Uig, in the wee crofting village of Linicro. Anyone who has been to Skye will know that travelling through this part of the island is just spectacular. We made the journey during the soft glow of the evening light which made the landscape so photogenic. The sun was setting behind the hills of Harris as we drove down the track to Monkstadt resulting in a breathtaking sky awash with subtle but stunning colours.
Upon arrival we were shown to our room, Lady Margaret’s Suite which is the most luxurious of all the rooms at Monkstadt. I’ve been lucky to stay in some really stunning properties throughout Scotland but this one tops them all. The main feature of the room is the super king-sized fourposter bed which is as comfy as it is grand. In the bathroom, there is a large stand alone bath and a hot bubbly bath was just what I need after a long day hiking in the unpredictable island weather. So I popped open a bottle of proseco, slipped into the bath and read all about Monkstadt’s stories.
I was curious to know was where the name ‘Monkstadt’ came from. Unsurprisingly, it comes from Norse and means ‘Monks Farm.’ Straight away this heightened my curiosity and I wondered whether the building had originally been a monastery. This turns out not to be the case however, the name did come from a nearby Monastery with links to St Columba. Less than a mile North of Monkstadt lies a large meadow, if you were here during medieval times things looked rather different. Back then this area was actually a loch called ‘Loch Chaluim Chille’ which translates from Gaelic to ‘The Loch of St Columba.’ In the middle of the meadow lies an area of higher ground which back then would have been above the water. This higher land was once an island called ‘Eilean Chaluim Chille.’ The monastery was located on this ‘island.’ Only a ruckle of stones remain but a chapel and stone fort once stood here. Sadly, I never managed to visit the site on this visit but hopefully next time.
As the name suggests Monkstadt was originally a farmhouse and in the beginning belonged to the MacLeods. By the 1700’s the house fell into the hands of the MacDonald’s and became the seat of their clan chief. During their occupation at the property the MacDonald’s renovated the existing house using stones from their previous home, Duntulm Castle which is located a few miles North of Monkstadt. It must have been quite an operation moving tonnes of stone across the landscape almost 300 years ago. The story goes they moved to Monkstadt because Duntulm Castle was haunted by a variety of ghosts but it could have also been because Duntulm castle was old and sitting precariously at the edge of a cliff. You can still visit the ruins however there isn’t much of it left and the building is cordoned off because of health and safety. I’d still recommend a visit as the surrounding views are wonderful.
Monstadt has many stories, the most famous of which is probably the one where Flora MacDonald and Prince Charles Edward Stuart come to visit. This occurred while he was on the run from the government following his defeat at the battle of Culloden in 1746. Flora met the Prince when he arrived on South Uist after fleeing from capture after the battle. After much discussion it was decided that Charlie should be taken over the sea to Skye in the hope from there he would be able to board a boat and escape to the safety of France. They set sail one summer evening with Charlie disguised as an Irish maid. It didn’t take too long to cross the Minch and land on the shores of Skye, just below Monkstadt House. It was too risky for Charlie to travel to the house so Flora travelled alone. It was just as well she did as there was a group of government soldiers at the house upon her arrival. Luckily, she managed to avoid any suspicion and once the soldiers had left Lady Margaret, the lady of the house provided her with food and supplies for their onward journey. Soon after this Charlie escaped to France by boat never to set foot in Scotland again.
The decor pays tasteful homage to Charlie and the Jacobites. Many of the interiors, including the wallpaper and carpets are bespoke adding to the exclusivity of this place. The patterns are predominately made up of moths, thistles, roses and acorns which are all secret symbols of the Jacobites.
As well as the symbols you’ll find Charlie looking at you from random spots throughout the house. Even in the shower.
The MacDonald’s vacated the house at the end of the 18th century and over years neglect took its toll allowing the house to fall into disrepair. That was until the MacQueen family purchased the property in the 1980’s and slowly restored to its original glory. The owners have drawn inspiration from its history but also added a modern twist. I met the owners during my visit and it was great to hear about Monkstadt’s recent history too.
Monkstadt is truly beautiful with so many wonderful stories and I’m so excited to run my workshops from here in the future. The house’s location is so picturesque I could almost run a workshop from the grounds but there’s so much to explore on Skye it would be a shame to stick to the one area. I’ll be announcing dates later on this summer so stay tuned for more information and blogs from this trip to come.