Kintail & Morvich

Heritage Site in Ross-shire

Scotland

Kintail & Morvich

The steep valley of the Allt a' Chruinn, Kintail A stalkers&#039; path follows the valley to the Five Sisters ridge. — The steep valley of the Allt a' Chruinn, Kintail Credit: Julian Paren

Kintail & Morvich is a heritage site located in Ross-shire, Scotland. It encompasses a stunning area of natural beauty, offering visitors a chance to explore both historical and scenic attractions.

The site is known for its picturesque landscapes, with rugged mountains, rolling hills, and shimmering lochs. It boasts some of the most iconic views in Scotland, including the famous Five Sisters of Kintail, a series of majestic peaks that dominate the skyline.

In addition to its natural wonders, Kintail & Morvich is also home to several historical sites. One of the most notable is Eilean Donan Castle, a striking medieval fortress situated on a small island where three sea lochs meet. The castle has a rich history and offers visitors an insight into Scotland's past.

The area is also renowned for its walking and hiking trails, attracting outdoor enthusiasts from far and wide. The Kintail & Morvich Heritage Trail, in particular, is a popular choice, offering stunning views of the surrounding countryside and showcasing the area's diverse flora and fauna.

For those interested in wildlife, Kintail & Morvich is a haven, with a wide range of species inhabiting the region. Red deer, golden eagles, and otters are just a few examples of the wildlife that can be spotted here.

Overall, Kintail & Morvich is a must-visit destination for nature lovers and history enthusiasts alike. Its captivating landscapes, historical sites, and abundant wildlife make it a truly unforgettable experience.

Show me another place!

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Kintail & Morvich Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 57.236/-5.379 or Grid Reference NG9621. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

The steep valley of the Allt a' Chruinn, Kintail

A stalkers' path follows the valley to the Five Sisters ridge.

Julian Paren

The steep valley of the Allt a' Chruinn, Kintail

The burn cuts a sharp defile on the steep slope.

Julian Paren

Staircase of the NTS path beside the Allt a' Chruinn

Much care has been spent creating this path which follows a different route to the current (2021) OS mapping.

Julian Paren

Loch Duich from the hill path leaving Allt a' Chruinn

The village of Allt a' Chruinn is visible below.

Julian Paren

The head of Loch Duich

As seen from the hill path leaving Allt a' Chruinn.

Julian Paren

The village of Allt a' Chruinn at the head of Loch Duich

This is a view after a rather steep section of the hill path beside the Allt a' Chruinn. The causeway that shortens the original A87 is clearly visible at the head of Loch Duich.

Julian Paren

View from Lower Slopes of SgÃ¹rr an Airgid

Generally in Scotland the word 'strath' is used to signify a wide flat valley bottom, whereas a 'glen' signifies a narrow steep one. Strath Croe here follows the rules to the letter - there is a striking contrast between the brown autumn hillsides and the bright green pasture land below. The path to the summit of Sgùrr an Airgid is very straightforward, though only the first part is indicated on the OS map. There is a gate directly opposite a parking area near to a burial ground which leads to a good path that takes you NorthEast up the lower slopes. The path than veers left (West) at an obvious cairn which leads to the top. The cairn is rather redundant now, as the path marked on the map disappears at this point, but it must have been built to alert hillwalkers of a junction once upon a time. It would appear that these days walking up hills is far more popular than shooting animals!

Ian Dodds

South slopes of SgÃ¹rr an Airgid

Alan Reid

Motorcyclists on the A87 Causeway near Ault a' Chruinn

Crossing the causeway over the Croe estuary at the head of Loch Doich.

David Dixon

A87, Allt a' Chruinn

The A87 runs 99 miles from Invergarry to Uig on the Isle of Skye NG3863 : End of the A87, Uig. Link

N Chadwick

Loch Duich

N Chadwick

A87 The A87 runs 99 miles from Invergarry to Uig on the Isle of Skye <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7374675">NG3863 : End of the A87, Uig</a>.
<span class="nowrap"><a title="https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/index.php?title=A87" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/index.php?title=A87">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>

A87

The A87 runs 99 miles from Invergarry to Uig on the Isle of Skye NG3863 : End of the A87, Uig. Link

N Chadwick

St Dubhthach's Church and Burial Ground

A Scheduled Monument consisting of St. Duthae or Dubhthach's church and burial ground of Kintail. St. Dubhthach is thought to have died in 1065 and a dedication stone, probably Victorian, just inside the gates reads 'Dedicated to St. Dubhthach. C 1050 Though Probably In Use Three Centuries Earlier'. However nothing is known about the origins of the church. In 1719 it was used by the Jacobites as a hospital for the Battle of Glenshiel and burnt by Government forces. It was repaired and remained in use into the 1830s and probably until the present church was built in 1856. In the walls of the church are the burials of the chiefs of Clan Macrae.

Jo and Steve Turner

St Dubhthach's Church

Jo and Steve Turner

St Dubhthach's Church and Burial Ground

Jo and Steve Turner

Macrae War Memorial

Category B Listed memorial unveiled by Sir Colin G Macrae Saturday 15th July 1922. The inscription reads 'Erected by the Clan Macrae and friends in memory of the Macraes and relatives at home and abroad who fell in the great world war 1914 -1918 "GUS AM BRIS AN LA."' Sir Colin reported that '.... not less than five hundred Macraes, an unusual proportion of the number served, made the supreme sacrifice ...' The decision to promote a 'Lasting Memorial' was taken by the Clan Macrae Association at a meeting on 28th January 1920. It is believed that the memorial stands on land owned in 1539 by Duncan Macrae who slew Donald Gorm Macdonald at the siege of Ellandonan, saving the stronghold. The sculptor work was carried out by R Gray & Co. Glasgow. Robert Gray established the business at 44 York Street Glasgow in 1857. The firm moved to 335 St. Vincent Street in 1909, and eventually traded at 167 Clarence Drive in the late 20th century. The firm was purchased by J & G Mossman in the 1970s and is still trading.

Jo and Steve Turner

Allt a' Chruinn from Macrae War Memorial

The name Ault-a-chrinn does not appear on the 1st edition 1874 OS map, although it is used in the 1861 census. Roy's survey of around 1750 does not record a township here and it seems that this may be a settlement that developed during the 19th century following the displacement of cottars and crofters when sheep farming was introduced.

Jo and Steve Turner