Scottish Highlands - Historic Churches

An ancient holy well said to have healing properties stands near the site of a church founded by St Columba around AD 565. The saint is said to have cast out evil spirits infesting the well and turned the waters pure. He then used the well to baptise converts to Christianity.
A82, Invermoriston, Highlands and Islands, Scotland, IV63 7YA

Attraction Type: Church - Holy Well
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Heritage Highlight: Founded by St Columba
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In a stunning location by the shore of Loch Eynort stands a pair of historic chapels. The oldest chapel dates to the medieval period and stands on the site of a much older building possibly established by St Maelrubha.
Eynort, Isle of Skye, Highlands and Islands, Scotland, IV47 8SQ

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Heritage Highlight: Links to 7th century St Maelrubha
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A superb medieval cathedral begun in 1137 in honour of St Magnus, Earl Magnus of Orkney. The building is mostly Norman in character, built of alternating bands of red and yellow sandstone. The saint's bones are buried within a pillar in the nave.
Broad Street, Kirkwall, Mainland, Orkney, Highlands and Islands, Scotland, KW15 1NX

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Photos of St Magnus Cathedral
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The roofless ruins of a 12th-century church stand in the north-west of the little isle of Egilsay, off the eastern end of Rousay. The church was built in the late 12th century and is composed of a rectangular nave which terminates in a square chancel.
Egilsay, Skaill, Orkney, Highlands and Islands, Scotland

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The first cathedral on Orkney, established in AD 1064 by Earl Thorfinn. Earl Magnus was buried here after his murder in 1116. When miracles were reported at his grave the Earl was canonised as St Magnus and a new cathedral in Kirkwall was built to house his shrine. The church we see today dates from 1664, rebult in 1760.
Birsay, Orkney, Highlands and Islands, Scotland, KW17 2LX

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Heritage Highlight: The first burial place of St Magnus Orkney, dating to c. 1064
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The oldest ecclesiastical ruin in the north of Scotland, St Mary's is a roofless 12th-century chapel on a headland overlooking the sea. The chapel is surrounded by a graveyard that was in use until sometime after 1872, and a short distance away is a holy well also dedicated to St Mary.
Crosskirk, Highlands and Islands, Scotland

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The partial ruins of a 14th-century chapel founded by Amie MacRuari (MacRory), the wife of John, first Lord of the Isles. Lady Amie is said to have established the chapel to serve the fishermen of Kallin, many of whom are thought to have been buried in a nearby graveyard associated with the chapel, though no trace of this now remains.
Kallin, Highlands and Islands, Scotland

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Tarbat Old Parish Church incorporates a Pictish monastery church erected as early as the 8th or 9th century. The monastery itself goes back to the 6th century and was one of the most important early Pictish Christian sites. The church now houses the Tarbat Discovery Centre, a museum dedicated to the Picts and local heritage, with displays of carved Pictish stones found on the site.
13 Tarbatness Road, Portmahomack, Highlands and Islands, Scotland, IV20 1YA

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Heritage Highlight: The church stands on the site of the earliest Pictish monastery in Scotland
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Just off the coastal round on the extreme east end of Berneray stands a roofless ruin of a church designed by famed Scottish engineer Thomas Telford. Though Telford was most known for his engineering works, especially bridges, he also undertook several architectural commissions, and the Berneray church is among these.
Bays Loch, Berneray, Highlands and Islands, Scotland

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Known in Gaelic as Teampull na Trionaid, this ruined chapel dates to the late 12th or early 13th century. It is traditionally said to have been established by Beathag, daughter of Somerled. The chapel was expanded and rebuilt from 1350-1390 by Ami Nic Ruri, wife of John, Lord of the Isles.
A865, Cairinis, North Uist, Highlands and Islands, Scotland

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