Kildalton Cross

Scotland's finest surviving 8th-century Celtic cross, carved in stone and still standing where it was first erected over 1,200 years ago.

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Kildalton Cross

One of Scotland's finest surviving Celtic high crosses, carved in the 8th century and still standing in its original location on the Isle of Islay. This masterpiece of early Christian art features intricate biblical carvings depicting scenes including the Virgin and Child, David slaying the lion, and the sacrifice of Isaac. Adjacent to the atmospheric ruins of Kildalton Chapel, the site offers a profound connection to over 1,300 years of Scottish religious heritage.

A brief summary to Kildalton Cross

Unnamed Road, Isle of Islay, PA42 7EE, GB
Visit website
Duration: 0.5 to 1.5 hours
Free
Outdoor
Mobile reception: 2 out of 5

Local tips

Visit early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid midges and enjoy the site in quieter conditions. The exposed location offers little shelter from insects during peak summer months.
Walk up the small hill behind the chapel for stunning panoramic views over the graveyard and surrounding landscape, offering excellent photography opportunities and a sense of the site's isolation and spiritual significance.
Examine the carved medieval grave slabs throughout the graveyard, which reveal the artistic traditions and social history of the local community over centuries. Many display intricate designs and symbolic imagery.
Bring binoculars to study the fine details of the cross's carvings from a distance, particularly the biblical scenes and geometric patterns on both faces, which reveal the sculptor's remarkable skill.
Allow time to explore the atmospheric ruins of Kildalton Chapel itself, noting architectural features like the piscina and aumbry, which provide insight into medieval ecclesiastical practice and daily worship.

Getting There

Car via single-track road

From Port Ellen, drive southeast on the A846 past the distilleries of Laphroaig, Lagavulin, and Ardbeg. Continue on the single-track road towards Ardtalla for approximately 10 kilometres. The road becomes increasingly remote and narrow; passing places are provided for oncoming traffic. Journey time is approximately 20–25 minutes from Port Ellen. The road is passable year-round but can be challenging in winter weather or after heavy rain. Parking is available near the chapel graveyard entrance.
Walking from Ardbeg Distillery

From Ardbeg Distillery visitor centre, a walking route of approximately 4 kilometres takes 50–70 minutes on mixed terrain including farm tracks and coastal paths. The route is moderately accessible but involves some uneven ground and gates. Weather exposure increases as you approach the coast. This option offers immersive views of the landscape and is suitable for those with reasonable fitness.
Minibus tour from Port Ellen

Several local tour operators offer guided minibus excursions from Port Ellen that include Kildalton Cross as part of broader Islay heritage tours. Journey time from Port Ellen is approximately 25–30 minutes. Tours typically include interpretive commentary and last 3–5 hours depending on the operator. Booking in advance is recommended, particularly during summer months.
Bicycle via single-track road

The single-track road from Port Ellen towards Ardtalla is suitable for hybrid or mountain bikes, though the surface is tarmac with some rougher sections. The journey of approximately 10 kilometres takes 40–60 minutes depending on fitness and wind conditions. The road has minimal traffic but requires alertness for passing places and occasional vehicles. Not recommended during poor weather or for inexperienced cyclists.

Kildalton Cross location weather suitability

Any Weather
Clear Skies
Mild Temperatures

Discover more about Kildalton Cross

A Monument to Early Christian Artistry

The Kildalton Cross stands as one of the most complete and finest examples of an 8th-century Celtic high cross in Scotland. Carved from grey-green chlorite schist, a particularly hard local stone quarried at Port na Cille nearby, the cross measures 2.65 metres in height with arms spanning 1.32 metres across. What makes this monument exceptional is not merely its age—over 1,200 years—but its remarkable state of preservation and the fact that it remains in its original location, a rarity among early Christian crosses. The durability of the stone, though challenging to carve, has ensured that the intricate details remain crisp and clearly visible despite the passage of more than a millennium.

Biblical Narratives Carved in Stone

The cross serves as a visual scripture, its surfaces densely covered with biblical scenes and symbolic imagery. On the east face, facing the sea, the upper portion displays two angels flanking a figure gripping the jaws of a rearing beast—likely depicting David slaying the lion, a scene that also appears on crosses at Kells and Kilcullen. Below this, peacocks feast on grapes, a motif paralleled in the famous Book of Kells. The cross-head features the Virgin and Child, flanked by angels, representing one of the earliest surviving depictions of this iconic Christian subject. The left arm shows Cain murdering Abel, while the right depicts Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac, both profound Old Testament narratives rendered in stone. The west face presents equally sophisticated decoration. Four inward-facing lions, symbolising Christ as the Lion of Judah, are interwoven with serpents in a design that echoes Pictish artistic traditions. The central boss is surrounded by seven smaller bosses intertwined with serpents, while geometric designs comprising roundels of 'snake-and-boss' decoration demonstrate the sculptor's mastery of abstract Celtic ornament. This combination of figurative biblical scenes and intricate geometric patterns showcases a sophisticated level of craftsmanship that bridges Celtic and Christian artistic traditions.

A Preaching Tool and Spiritual Centre

The Kildalton Cross would have functioned as a preaching cross, helping priests communicate the Christian gospel to a largely illiterate population. Its placement in the graveyard of Kildalton Chapel made it a focal point for spiritual life in the medieval parish. The adjacent chapel, built in the late 12th or early 13th century, served the local community as both a place of worship and a gathering space. The presence of the cross itself indicates that Christian activity at this site predated the chapel by several centuries. Archaeological excavations during 19th-century repairs revealed evidence of an even earlier cross-slab beneath the current monument, along with human remains, confirming the site's long-established significance as a place of Christian devotion and burial.

The Chapel and Its Medieval Legacy

Kildalton Chapel, also known as the Church of the Foster Son, stands as a roofless rectangular structure with internal measurements of 17.3 metres by 5.7 metres—remarkably large for a Highland church of its era. The building likely had a thatched roof originally, as no records exist of broken slates. The chapel continued in use as a parish church until the end of the 17th century, when the drift of population towards the Ardbeg distillery area led to the transfer of services to Lagavulin. Today, atmospheric ruins remain, including interior features such as the piscina and aumbry, offering glimpses into medieval ecclesiastical practice. The graveyard contains a fine collection of carved medieval grave slabs and crosses, some now displayed at the Museum of Islay Life in Port Charlotte, adding further layers to the site's historical narrative.

The Thief's Cross and Local Lore

Beyond the chapel's boundary wall stands a simple late-medieval cross, possibly erected by a dignitary as a place for private prayer and personal salvation. However, because this cross stands in non-consecrated ground outside the churchyard, local tradition has evolved to call it 'The Thief's Cross,' attributing it to the grave of a criminal. This folk etymology illustrates how even modest monuments accumulate stories and meaning within their communities over centuries.

Artistic Influences and Scottish Heritage

The Kildalton Cross belongs to a distinctive Scottish group of high crosses, most closely resembling St Martin's Cross on Iona and fragments found at other Hebridean sites. Some scholars suggest that the cross may have been carved by the same school of sculptors responsible for St John's Cross on Iona, reflecting the artistic networks that connected early medieval Christian communities across the Scottish islands. The cross's ornamentation, while sharing some characteristics with Irish high crosses, is distinctly Scottish in its overall aesthetic and symbolic vocabulary. Its survival in an original location, combined with its artistic sophistication, makes it an invaluable document of early medieval Scottish Christianity and Celtic artistic achievement.

Iconic landmarks you can’t miss

Kildalton Cross

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Leodamais

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Unmissable attractions to see

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Lagavulin Distillery

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Laphroaig Distillery

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IsleAdilla @ The Old Excise House

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Vista point

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Randal R. Plot

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Carey Estate

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Port Ellen Community Garden

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Little Charlottes Cafe

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Copper Still Coffee

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Bowmore Hotel Restaurant

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Bowmore Hotel

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Essential bars & hidden hideouts

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Dmitry Severianov's piece of Laphroag

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AVS-Ls

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DUFFIE'S BAR

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Colonsay Pub

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The Corner House

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McCuaig's Bar

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Lochranza Country Inn

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The Coast Inn

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Anglers Arms

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Hunters Bar

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Harbour Bar

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The Argyll Inn

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The Anderson Lounge

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Nellie Rua's, Ballycastle

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Nightclubs & after hour spots

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The Islander Bar

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The Galatea

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Your Ultimate Free Travel Guide

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Kildalton Cross

A brief summary to Kildalton Cross

Local tips

For the on-the-go comforts that matter to you

Getting There

Car via single-track road

Walking from Ardbeg Distillery

Minibus tour from Port Ellen

Bicycle via single-track road

Kildalton Cross location weather suitability

Unlock the Best of Kildalton Cross

Buy tickets

Book tours with entry

Book tours without entry

Discover more about Kildalton Cross

A Monument to Early Christian Artistry

Biblical Narratives Carved in Stone

A Preaching Tool and Spiritual Centre

The Chapel and Its Medieval Legacy

The Thief's Cross and Local Lore

Artistic Influences and Scottish Heritage

Iconic landmarks you can’t miss

Kildalton Cross

Leodamais

Port Ellen War Memorial

The Machrie

Skerrols House

Peatzeria - Restaurant and Takeaway

The Island Bear

The Whisky Island Gallery & Studio

Islay Ferry Terminal

Old Lochindaal Distillery Warehouses

Cultoon Stone Circle

Tormisdale Croft Crafts

Monument to Irish immigrants aboard the Exmouth Castle

King's Caves

Lochranza Youth Hostel

Unmissable attractions to see

Ardbeg Distillery

Lagavulin Distillery

Dunyvaig Castle

Laphroaig Distillery

IsleAdilla @ The Old Excise House

Vista point

Randal R. Plot

Carey Estate

Islay65 Self Catering

Port Ellen Community Garden

Little Charlottes Cafe

Charlotte St Park

Copper Still Coffee

Port Ellen - Kennacraig Ferry

Rubha a' Chuinnlein

Essential places to dine

The Old Kiln Cafe

Luxury on Islay

The Ardview Inn

No. 1 Charlotte Street

SeaSalt Bistro & Takeaway

Trout Fly Guest House

The Islay Hotel

The Balaclava Byre

Bridgend Hotel

Bridgend Restaurant & Katie's Bar

An Cuan

Ballygrant Inn

Bowmore Hotel Restaurant

Bowmore Hotel

Taj Mahal Indian Restaurant

Markets, malls and hidden boutiques

Co-op Food - Islay Port Ellen - Frederick Cres

The Blue Letterbox

SPAR Port Ellen

Shop in the Box, Islay

Islay Woollen Mill Co Ltd

Bridgend Shop

Mackinnon's Marmalade

The Islay Whisky Vault

The White Room

Islay Quilters