- Kilchoan
-
Coordinates: 56°41′53″N 6°06′12″W / 56.698014°N 6.103306°W
Kilchoan Scottish Gaelic: Cille Chòmhghain 
Kilchoan
Kilchoan shown within the Lochaber areaOS grid reference NM488637 Council area Highland Country Scotland Sovereign state United Kingdom Postcode district PH36 4 Police Northern Fire Highlands and Islands Ambulance Scottish EU Parliament Scotland List of places: UK • Scotland • 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).
Kilchoan has a population of about 150.
Contents
History
Donaldson equates 'Buarblaig' (now Bourblaige about 5 miles east of Kilchoan on the other side of Ben Hiant, grid reference NM546623[2]) with Muribulg, where the Annals of Tigernach record a battle between the Picts and Dalriads in 731.[3] It may also be the 'Muirbole Paradisi' mentioned by Adomnán.[2]
The ancient Mingary Castle is situated on the coast about a mile to the east of the village.
Tourism
A ferry service runs regularly from Kilchoan to Tobermory on the Isle of Mull. From Fort William, two buses per day connect with sailings of this ferry: one via Lochailort and Salen; the other via the Corran Ferry and Salen.
Kilchoan Bay has four visitor moorings that are close to the jetty where there is a shop and showers and a petrol station.
The Sonachan Hotel is the most westerly bar/hotel on the mainland of the UK. The shop and post-office used to be run by author Jon Haylett.
Geology
The minerals kilchoanite, dellaite and rustumite were first found at Kilchoan.[4]
Very good examples of a type of igneous rock structure called a cone sheet are found at Kilchoan.
Notes and references
- ^ "Kilchoan" Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
- ^ a b Site Record for Ardnamurchan, Bourblaige, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/
- ^ Donaldson, M E M (1923), Wanderings in the Western Highlands and Islands
- ^ Alec Livingstone, 2002, Minerals of Scotland, Edinburgh, National Museums of Scotland
External links
Settlements Ach' An Todhair • Achaphubuil • Acharacle • Achnaha • Achluachrach • Achriabhach • Ardechive • Ardshealach • Arisaig • Back of Keppoch • Ballachulish • Banavie • Blaich • Cleadale • Corpach • Corran • Druimarben • Fort William • Glenborrodale • Glencoe • Glenfinnan • Glenuig • Inverie • Kilchoan • Kilmory • Kinlochleven • Lochaline • Mallaig • Morar • Ockle • Onich • Portuairk • Roybridge • Sanna • Spean Bridge • StrontianGeography Landmarks Glencoe House • Mingarry Castle • Castle TioramTransport Categories:- Populated places in Lochaber
- Ports and harbours of Scotland
- Highland geography stubs
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
