Kilchoan

Kilchoan
Scottish Gaelic: Cille Chòmhghain
Kilchoan Bay. Ben Hiant, the highest point of the peninsular rises beyond the small moored boats and bay.
Kilchoan  Kilchoan shown within the Lochaber area
OS grid reference	NM488637
Council area	Highland
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Acharacle
Postcode district	PH36 4
Police	Scottish
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
EU Parliament	Scotland
Scottish Parliament	Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch
List of places UK Scotland

Coordinates: 56°41′53″N 6°06′12″W / 56.6980°N 6.1033°W

Kilchoan (Cille Chòmhghain in Gaelic) is a village on the Scottish peninsula of Ardnamurchan, in Lochaber, Highland. It is the most westerly village on Great Britain,^[1] 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 altogether has a population of about 150.^[2]

History

Donaldson equates 'Buarblaig' (now Bourblaige about 3 miles east of Kilchoan on the other side of the eastern mountain of Ben Hiant at 528m, grid reference NM546623^[3]) with Muribulg, where the Annals of Tigernach record a battle between the Picts and Dalriads in 731.^[4] It may also be the 'Muirbole Paradisi' mentioned by Adomnán.^[3]

Landmarks

The ancient Mingary Castle is on the coast about 1km 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.^[3]

Ben Hiant is the highest point of the peninsular at 528m and lies between the village and the coastal hamlet of Ardslignish.

Tourism and amenities

Transport

A ferry service runs regularly from Kilchoan to Tobermory on the Isle of Mull.

To and from the regional centre of Fort William, two buses per day connect with sailings of this ferry:

• via Salen, Ardnamurchan and Lochailort^{[n 1]}
• via Salen and the Corran Ferry^{[n 2]}

Kilchoan Bay

Kilchoan Bay has the following:

• Four visitor moorings
• Ferry jetty
• Shop with post office,^{[n 3]}
• Showers
• A petrol station.

Hospitality

The Sonachan Hotel, Kilchoan is the most westerly bar/hotel on the mainland of the UK.

Ardnamurchan Campsite, Kilchoan.^{[n 4]}

Geology

The 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.^[5]

Notes and references

References

1. "Kilchoan". Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
2. Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics: Data Zone S01003739 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.
3. "Site Record for Ardnamurchan, Bourblaige". Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.
4. 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.
5. Livingstone, Alec (2002). Minerals of Scotland. Edinburgh: National Museums of Scotland. ISBN 1901663469.

Notes

1. Approximately 80km, passing beside Lochs Shiel, Moidart, Ailort, Eilt and Eil
2. The route is 50km and passes beside Loch Sunart, Glen Tarbert and Loch Linnhe
3. This shop was once run by author Jon Haylett
4. About 500m west of the centre

External links

• Kilchoan slipway