Kilchoan (Scottish Gaelic: Cille Chòmhain)[1] is a village on the Scottish peninsula of Ardnamurchan, beside the Sound of Mull in Lochaber, Highland. It is the most westerly village in mainland Britain,[2] although several tiny hamlets lie further west on the peninsula (of these, the most westerly is called Portuairk). The western linear, coastal parts of the village are Ormsaigmore and Ormsaigbeg.
Kilchoan
| |
|---|---|
 Kilchoan Bay. Ben Hiant, the highest point of the peninsula rises beyond the small moored boats and bay. | |
  Kilchoan Location within the Lochaber area | |
| Population | 150 |
| OS grid reference | NM488637 |
| Council area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Acharacle |
| Postcode district | PH36 4 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| Scottish Parliament |
|
Kilchoan has a population of about 150 people.[3]
History
editM.E.M. Donaldson equates "Buarblaig" (now Bourblaige about three miles (five kilometres) east of Kilchoan on the other side of the eastern mountain of Ben Hiant at 528 metres (1,732 feet), grid reference NM546623[4]) with Muribulg, where the Annals of Tigernach record a battle between the Picts and Dalriads in 731 AD.[5] It may also be the 'Muirbole Paradisi' mentioned by Adomnán.[4]
For many years following the 1688 overthrow and exile of the House of Stuart, the historic parish church at Kilchoan, which was dedicated to Saint Comgan and which is now in ruins,[6][7] was a Non-juring Episcopal parish within the Church of Scotland. South Uist native Mhaighstir Alasdair MacDhòmhnaill, 1st of Dalilea, was the rector of Kilchoan until his death around 1724. In addition to being well known locally as a folk hero,[clarification needed] Maighstir Alasdair MacDhòmhnaill was the father of poet Alasdair mac Mhaighstir Alasdair,[8] who served as the Gaelic tutor to Prince Charles Edward Stuart during the Jacobite rising of 1745 and is one of the most important figures of Scottish Gaelic literature.
Landmarks
editThe ancient Mingary Castle is on the coast about 1 km east of the village.
Examples of a type of igneous rock structure called a cone sheet are found at Kilchoan.
Below the slope north-west of the village street is a chambered cairn, Greadal Fhinn.[4]
Ben Hiant is the highest point of the peninsula at 528 m and lies between the village and the coastal hamlet of Ardslignish.
Tourism and amenities
editTransport
editA regular CalMac ferry service runs from Kilchoan to Tobermory on the Isle of Mull. To and from the regional centre of Fort William, one bus per day Monday to Saturday connects with the ferry via Salen and the Corran Ferry[n 1]
| Preceding station | Ferry | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terminus | Caledonian MacBrayne Ferry |
Tobermory |
Kilchoan Bay
editKilchoan Bay has four visitor moorings, a ferry jetty, a shop with a post office,[n 2] showers and a petrol station.
Hospitality
editThe Kilchoan House Hotel is now the most westerly bar/hotel on the mainland of the UK, after the closure of Sonachan Hotel.
Ardnamurchan Campsite, Kilchoan.[n 3]
Geology
editThe minerals kilchoanite, dellaite and rustumite were first found at Kilchoan. A natural history museum is adjacent to the hamlet to the east at the coastal hamlet of Glenmore.[9]
Notable residents
edit- Hamza Yassin, cameraman and Strictly Come Dancing champion.[10]
Notes and references
edit- References
- ^ "Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba - Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland - Database Kilchoan". www.gaelicplacenames.org. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
- ^ "Kilchoan". Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
- ^ Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics: Data Zone S01003739[permanent dead link] Kilchoan forms an imprecise division no more than 5% of the land and has no more than a third of the population of this area, 541 people.
- ^ a b c "Site Record for Ardnamurchan, Bourblaige". Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.
- ^ Donaldson, M.E.M. (1923). Wanderings in the Western Highlands and Islands: Recounting Highland & Clan History, Traditions, Ecclesiology, Archaeology, Romance, Literature, Humour, Folk-Lore, Etc (2nd rev. ed.). Paisley: A. Gardner. OCLC 858596051.
- ^ Highland Historic Environmental Record: Cemetery - Kilchoan Old Parish Church
- ^ Clan MacIain - History of Ardnamurchan, St. Chomghan's Church, Update October 21, 2014.
- ^ Charles MacDonald (2011), Moidart: Among the Clanranalds, Birlinn Unlisted. pages 117-123.
- ^ Livingstone, Alec (2002). Minerals of Scotland. Edinburgh: National Museums of Scotland. ISBN 1901663469.
- ^ "Strictly star Hamza can't wait for Scotland's home crowd roar". BBC News. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- Notes
- ^ The route is 50 km long, and passes beside Loch Sunart, Glen Tarbert and Loch Linnhe
- ^ This shop was once run by author Jon Haylett
- ^ About 500m west of the centre
External links
edit Media related to Kilchoan at Wikimedia Commons