“Once during the saint’s life of pilgrimage he was on a journey when a child was brought to him for baptism by his parents. But there was no water to be found in that spot. So the saint turned aside to the nearest rock, where he knelt and prayed a little while. When he stood up, he blessed the face of the rock, and at once water bubbled out from it in great quantity. Thereupon he baptised the child making this prophecy concerning him. “This little boy will live a long life, into extreme old age. In his youth he will be more or less a slave of the desires of his flesh, but afterwards he will devote himself as a soldier of Christ to the end of his days, and in old age will depart to the Lord.”All this happened to the man as the saint foretold. His name was Ligu Cenncalad. The place where his parents where was in Ardnamurchan, and a little spring is still to be seen there which is powerful in the name of St Columba.” Life of St Columba, P161-2.

Local History and Geology

There is an ancient spring associated with St Columba on Greenwood Retreat’s land. Humble and unassuming it is located just next to the B8007 near the top of the hill to the west of the property. 

The story about the spring is best told in the words of Columba’s biographer, St Adomnam:

Just up the hill…

Continuing West along the B8007, just a 10-minute walk around the corner from Greenwood Retreat, is Camus Nan Geall, a beautiful bay with Ben Hiant as a backdrop.

Depending on the Gaelic spelling, Camus Nan Geall could mean “the bay of promise, the bay of the stranger, or the bay of cells or churches.” The bay has been occupied for at least 5,000 years, since the Neolithic times. Amongst other remains of dwellings in the bay, there is a burial ground, a standing stone from the Bronze Age, which also has Christian carvings from the times of the early Christian saints.

Ben hiant

Gaelic for “blessed mountain”

Above Camus Nan Geall sits Ben Hiant. The remains of an ancient volcano that erupted over 60 million years ago. Sitting at 528 meters, this is the highest mountain on the peninsula.

Ben Hiant epitomises the fascinating geological history that sculpted the dramatic landscape of Ardnamurchan.

And so much more…

Ardnamurchan boasts many archaeological remains, with 22 scheduled monuments and protected sites including Neolithic cairns, Bronze Age Standing stones, 12th Century St Comghan’s Church and 13th century Castle Mingary and the more recently discovered Viking warrior in a boat burial in Swordle Bay.