Kilchoan

Kilchoan (Template:Langx)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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 has a population of about 150 people.<ref>Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics: Data Zone S01003739Template: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.</ref>

History

M.E.M. Donaldson equates "Buarblaig" (now Bourblaige about Template:Convert east of Kilchoan on the other side of the eastern mountain of Ben Hiant at Template:Convert, Template:Gbmapping<ref name="RCAHMS">Template:Historic Environment Scotland</ref>) with Muribulg, where the Annals of Tigernach record a battle between the Picts and Dalriads in 731 AD.<ref name="Donaldson">Template:Cite book</ref> It may also be the 'Muirbole Paradisi' mentioned by Adomnán.<ref name="RCAHMS" />

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,<ref> Highland Historic Environmental Record: Cemetery - Kilchoan Old Parish Church</ref><ref> Clan MacIain - History of Ardnamurchan, St. Chomghan's Church, Update October 21, 2014.</ref> was a Non-juring Episcopal parish within the Church of Scotland.

Landmarks

The 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.<ref name="RCAHMS"/>

Ben Hiant is the highest point of the peninsula at 528 m and lies between the village and the coastal hamlet of Ardslignish.<ref name="m801">Template:Cite web</ref>

Tourism and amenities

Transport

A 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 FerryTemplate:Refn

Kilchoan Bay

Kilchoan Bay has four visitor moorings, a ferry jetty, a shop with a post office,Template:Refn showers and a petrol station.

Hospitality

The 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.Template:Refn

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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Notable residents

• Hamza Yassin, cameraman and Strictly Come Dancing champion.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Notes and references

References

Notes