Craignish facts for kids
Craignish is a beautiful peninsula on the west coast of Scotland. It's located in an area called Argyll. Imagine a long piece of land sticking out into the sea – that's a peninsula! Craignish is about 25 miles (40 km) south of Oban. It's also 10 miles (16 km) north-west of Lochgilphead. The peninsula stretches for about 5.5 miles (9 km). It points from north-east to south-west, just like many other landforms along this coast.
To the south, you'll find Loch Craignish, which has several small islands. To the north are the Slate Islands, with Shuna Island being the closest. The island of Jura is only 3 miles (5 km) west of Craignish Point. This is the southern tip of Craignish.
There are two main villages in Craignish. Ardfern is on the south coast. Craobh Haven is a newer village, built in 1983. It's a popular holiday spot with a marina for boats. A single-track road, the B8002, runs along the south shore.
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Exploring Ancient Sites in Craignish
Craignish is full of history! You can find many ruined duns here. These were ancient forts or settlements. There are also rocks with cup and ring marks. These are mysterious carvings made long ago.
Dunan Aula: A Viking Story
One interesting site is Dunan Aula. This is a cist, which is a stone burial box. People say it marks the grave of a Viking prince named Aula. He supposedly died in a battle against the native Scots.
Kilmarie Chapel: A Place of Worship
At a place called Kirkton, you can see the remains of the early 13th-century chapel of Kilmarie. A chapel on this site is believed to have been started by Máel Ruba, a saint. The modern name of the chapel comes from him. The chapel was repaired in the 1800s and again in 1926. Today, it holds a collection of beautiful carved grave slabs from the 1300s and 1400s.
Craignish Castle: A Stronghold's History
Near the chapel is Craignish Castle. This was originally the home of the Campbells of Craignish family. A castle was first built here in the early 1100s. However, the tower house you see today was built later, around the late 1300s.
The castle survived a siege in the 1640s. This was when Alasdair "Colkitto" MacDonald attacked it. A new part was added to the castle between 1698 and 1710. Later, offices and stables were built around 1770. In 1800, the estate was sold to another Campbell family. In 1837, a new mansion was built next to the tower house. This replaced the older additions. The design of this new mansion might have been by William Burn or Joseph Gordon Davis.
In 1850, the estate was sold again to the Gascoignes of Parlington Hall in Yorkshire. They made even more changes. Today, half of the 1837 mansion has been taken down. A stair tower was added where the new wall is.
Lunga Tower House: A Family Home
Close to Craobh Haven is Lunga. This is a 16th-century tower house that was first called Daill. It was also built by the Campbells of Craignish. But it was sold to the MacDougalls around 1785. The MacDougall of Lunga family has owned it ever since. Part of it is now used as a bed and breakfast.
A memorial stands at the edge of Craobh Haven. It remembers two members of the MacDougall of Lunga family, a father and son, who died in the First World War.
The PS Comet: A Shipwreck Story
The early 19th-century paddle steamer PS Comet sank off Craignish Point. This happened on December 13, 1820.
Craignish in Books
The writer Naomi Mitchison visited Craignish with her family. She wrote about how incredibly beautiful it was. She described the islands, sunsets, and sea lochs. She also wrote about the local people she met there.
