A Heritage Christmas: Step Back in Time at Fort Augustus Abbey

Heritage Christmas in Fort Augustus | Highland Club Direct

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A Heritage Christmas: Step Back in Time at Fort Augustus Abbey

Some Christmas breaks are all sparkle and speed. Others are slow, thoughtful, and steeped in charm. At The Highland Club, we offer something timeless. Our guests don’t just stay in a former Benedictine abbey on the banks of Loch Ness, they become part of its ongoing story.

A visit to Fort Augustus in December is an invitation to step back in time. The Highland air feels different here in winter, still and sharp, with a scent of pine and peat smoke. Behind the stone walls of St Benedict’s Abbey, centuries of Highland tradition linger in the cloisters and courtyards. And Christmas? It has always found a way to thrive here, long before mince pies and fairy lights.

Let us take you through what Christmas might have looked like throughout the ages, right here on the same ground where you could spend yours this year.

Christmas in the 18th Century: The Military Fort Years

Before the Abbey, Fort Augustus was a military outpost. Built in the 1720s after the Jacobite uprisings, it was designed to house British soldiers sent to control the Highland clans.

Christmas during this era was not a grand occasion. The soldiers were often far from home, and celebrations would have been modest, especially in such a remote and cold location. A small meal, perhaps a dram of whisky, and a few letters from home may have marked the day.

There may not have been Christmas trees or crackers, but one can imagine a gathering in the mess hall, boots drying by the fire, and a Highland piper playing a tune to lift spirits.

Christmas with the Monks: The Abbey in the 19th Century

When the Benedictine monks arrived in 1876, they brought with them centuries-old Catholic traditions. By then, Christmas had begun to take on a more familiar form in Britain, but within the Abbey walls, it would have been celebrated with reflection, music, and community.

Typical monastic Christmas observances might have included:

• Midnight Mass in the Abbey Church
  
  
• Gregorian chant and carols sung by candlelight
  
  
• Simple meals shared in silence on Christmas Eve
  
  
• A more festive meal on Christmas Day, with extra bread, cheese, and perhaps preserved fruits or a pudding
  
  
• A focus on spiritual preparation during Advent
  
  

The Abbey Church, now part of the Highland Club grounds, would have been central to this celebration. While the ornate decorations of modern times were absent, the beauty of the Gothic arches, flickering candles, and winter light streaming through stained glass must have made for a magical setting.

A Victorian Highland Christmas: Community & Change

As the 19th century progressed, so did Christmas traditions across Britain. The Victorians shaped much of what we recognise today – Christmas cards, tree decorating, and the idea of giving gifts became part of festive life.

Fort Augustus, though remote, was not untouched by these trends. In the surrounding village, families likely embraced the new customs:

• Decorating homes with holly, ivy, and perhaps even a tree
  
  
• Attending services at the local parish
  
  
• Preparing goose or beef for Christmas dinner
  
  
• Sharing homemade cakes, shortbread, and preserved fruits
  
  
• Singing carols passed down through generations
  
  

For the boys attending the Abbey’s school in later years, the season would have brought a break from studies, a sense of festivity in the dormitories, and time for ice skating or games on the nearby lawns if the weather allowed.

Christmas in the Present Day: Heritage with Comfort

Today, The Highland Club offers a blend of this rich history with all the comforts of a modern festive break. Guests can walk the same cloisters once trodden by monks, explore the remains of the old fort walls, or simply sit by the window of their apartment watching the mist rise off Loch Ness.

Our apartments feature:

• Fully equipped kitchens for preparing your Christmas dinner
  
  
• Spacious lounges perfect for games, films, and festive gatherings
  
  
• Original features like stone windows and vaulted ceilings
  
  
• Central heating and double glazing to keep things cosy
  
  
• Access to a heated indoor pool, spa, and Club Lounge
  
  

Whether you’re roasting chestnuts or simply opening a bottle of wine after a Highland walk, it’s easy to feel the weight of history and the warmth of Christmas at the same time.

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How to Enjoy Your Own Heritage Christmas

Slow Down & Embrace Tradition

A heritage Christmas is not about rushing or overdoing it. Instead, it is about taking time to:

• Cook together, rather than eating out every night
  
  
• Play cards or board games instead of scrolling screens
  
  
• Take walks, not taxis
  
  
• Light candles and enjoy the quiet
  
  

Add Some Historical Touches to Your Stay

Want to bring a little history into your holiday? Try:

• Making traditional mulled cider or spiced wine
  
  
• Reading aloud from a favourite book or poem
  
  
• Listening to carols sung by cathedral choirs
  
  
• Skipping the tinsel and decorating with greenery and candles instead
  
  

For those travelling with children, a simple storytelling evening in the lounge can feel just as festive as any party.

Book Your Own Place in the Story

If you have ever dreamed of a Christmas that feels meaningful, quiet, and surrounded by centuries of heritage, you will find it at The Highland Club.

A stay at St Benedict’s Abbey during the festive season is about more than just scenery, though the loch and mountains provide that in abundance. It is about connecting to a sense of place and time, and enjoying the things that matter most.

Book your Christmas break now and step into the story of a Highland Christmas that spans generations.