History of Quinish

Quinish takes it’s name from Old Norse, as the “nish” means penninsular.

Back in the 1600’s Quinish Estate was part of the lands owned by the MacLean’s of Coll. However in 1847, James Forsyth bought Glengorm and in 1857, he also bought Quinish in 1857 from Hugh MacLean of Coll.

Sadly in 1863, Forsyth was killed in a riding accident between Glengorm and Quinish Estate. During his short time on the Isle of Mull he built Glengorm Castle, extended the old pier at Quinish as well as building the Steadings at Antuim, Druimnacroish, Achnacraig along the Glenbellart Road.

Aged only 18, James Noel Forsyth inherited all the properties from his father and went on to build the Steadings at Quinish as well as enlarging Quinish House.

In 1898, James Noel joined forces with the owner of Glengorm Castle (Frederick Morgan) to improve the fishing.  They did this by recoursing the Mingary Burn to create a new permanent loch, Loch Torr, with Byewash and natural overflow.

The wooden Norwegian lakeside house, known as Cuckoo Cottage was built in the 1970s.  The design was chosen to complement the existing dykes, trees and views. Although a relatively new house, the site itself is an old one as a Bronze Age food vessel was found near Cuckoo Inlet and donated to the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland!

“Once you have seen the lands of Quinish, you will want to go no further.”  Lachlan MacFadyen, 1837, Estate worker at Quinish